A Day at the Akhada: A New Meaning of Fitness

It is said that “if you want new ideas, read old books”.

I have been a fitness enthusiast for almost two decades now. But till date it’s the fear of becoming obese and unhealthy that drives me to the gym rather than the “uneasiness of missing the gym” that people talk about.

Deep inside, the gym is just a convenient place to exercise my muscles more than anything else.

I just pat my back for being so disciplined and start my morning with a long walk to gym in the darkness before sunrise, 5 days a week.

but how did people work out when there were no gyms? is the more to fitness than just loosing weight and lifting more? Does it even matter in real life if I have 10% body fat or am I chasing a made-up goal to keep the treadmill running?

to find my answers I went all the way to Varanasi to spend a day at a traditional Akhada - and it completely changed how I think about fitness.

Unlike modern gyms, where the focus is on losing fat or building big muscles, the wrestlers here trained for functionality. Their goal was to keep their bodies strong, agile, and useful as they aged. It wasn’t about how they looked but what their bodies could do.

I was coached, rather politely ragged by the national champion of Kushti - Pehelwan Mukesh, fondly called Munna bhaiya.

He and the complete akhada clan warmly accepted me into their community.

The sense of community at the Akhada was inspiring. The bond between the guru and the students was built on respect and trust. The wrestlers learned from their guru and supported each other like a family. This sense of friendship and teamwork is often missing in modern gyms, where people train alone with little connection to others.

the day starts early with worshipping lord Hanuman and cleaning the akhada. There is no caretaker, whoever shows up early takes the broom and starts sweeping. It is followed by ploughing the akhada ring followed by a warmup and Kushti rehearsal.

within just two days of spending time at the Akhada, I was feeling at home. Initially, I was a little aloof and nervous with my camera gear and “urban” tourist vibe. But as soon as I explained why I was here, the ice was broken and we all became friends.

Fitness at the Akhada isn’t just for physical strength. The wrestlers practised meditation and rituals that reduced stress and improved focus. They understood the importance of good sleep for recovery and growth. These simple yet powerful habits are often ignored in today’s fast-paced gym culture.

There were barely any modern machines like the ones we take for granted in our gyms. An Akhada is a ground for building functional strength rather than isolated muscle hypertrophy.

most exercises look like rigorous farm activities rather than something done in counts of 10 and sets of 3.

I left the Akhada with a new understanding of fitness. It’s not just about looking good or following a diet plan. It’s about building a strong, useful body, nurturing meaningful relationships, and finding balance in life. I hope to apply this lesson in my own life and share it with others.

have you ever had such an experience? was your grandpa a wrestler? do you do functional training? reply to this email and tell me..

I would love to know what you think.

Cheers,

Dr. Vishal.

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