PANAJI, Feb 9: More than two years after the Goa police squeezed its men and women into uniforms designed by couturier Wendell Rodrigues, the department has decided to sculpt their bodies to match the snazzy outfits. Some 200 policemen and policewomen clad in a variety of costumes ranging from trendy back suits to yellowing vests gathered at the Panjim police headquarters grounds for a dose of yoga, a few minutes of breathing exercises, some kick boxing followed by the grand finale -- aerobics to the tune of Bambai se aaya mera dost.It may not quite turn them into the towering hunks of the New York Police Department Blues variety, but policemen hope to at least replace a well-rounded pot-belly with a more agreeable oval protrusion. ``It is purely a voluntary effort. Policemen who want to look fit and live longer are joining this exercise programme,'' superintendent of police Ashok Kumar Singh told The Indian Express.
Dr Deepak and Dr Seema Rao from Mumbai who are conducting the programmesaid the regimen is devised keeping in mind the hectic schedule of the police force. ``It takes just three minutes of exercise every day for one to lose 2 to 3 inches around the waist,'' said Dr Seema. ``It may sound unbelievable but despite the erratic dietary habits of the police force, this result can be achieved,'' Dr Deepak added.
The duo pointed out that the pot-belly is made of three layers, outer fat, middle muscle and inner distended intestines. They advised out-of-shape persons to tone up the lax and sagging abdominal muscles even as they work out to lose fat. Dr Seema went on to demonstrate her abdominal muscle strength by asking three hefty policemen to stand on her stomach. Dr Deepak and Seema claimed to have achieved successful results with the Mumbai police. ``Several trials of this programme conducted with the Mumbai police have shown excellent results. Hence, we decided to repeat it elsewhere,'' said Seema, whose father was a Goan freedom fighter.
Both doctors, who claim to be conductinga fitness and rehabilitation practice in the metropolis, said they were conducting the workshop free of cost for all police and defence establishments.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
