Fit can also be fun

We all know that sitting is the new smoking. But what if we tell you that a fitter lifestyle doesn’t demand too much of you? At Star, we are always thinking of how we can make our work culture more fun, more productive, and more importantly, easier. We want to offer a work-life that factors in all that is important to build a workforce that’s healthy, happy and energetic.

But how do we ensure our employees ­are physically fit as well? How can we introduce some cardio in your high-intense workday, a few stretches in your already over-stretched schedule, some calm in your chaotic life, and a few extra steps towards a ­­­­fitter you?

At Star, convenience, easy access, and value-creation are core to our cultural policies. We do a few things, but we do them right. To promote a fitter workplace, we want our employees to take just a few simple steps.

Staying fit doesn’t need to be a debilitating task for which you need to carve out a few hours. You can start small, and be a #EverydayAthlete. We host yoga and meditation workshops on a regular basis to ensure employees are well-acquainted with easy fitness tips, deskercises, quick stretches and quick hacks.  

In a yoga workshop conducted by the Stepathlon team at the Star HQ in Mumbai, our employees learnt how they can stay fit with simple healthy changes, quick stretches at the desk, and rejuvenate in under 10 minutes.

Ashwini Prabhu, on the other hand, will be sitting ‘more consciously’ to get the posture right. “I learnt how to sit correctly to avoid knee troubles, how to stretch my back and specific joints to re-energise, and to ensure I walk on a regular basis,” she says.

For others simply learning to take 10 deep breaths with eyes closed has proven to be calming, relaxes the eyes, and also helps stay oriented in high-stress situations.

We wanted it to be easy for our employees to stay fit – so you can simply finish your last meeting, change into your workout gear and head up to the 31^st floor for a dance workout with colleagues.

At Star, we have placed Table Tennis tables on every floor, to encourage games as a way to de-stress. We want our employees to tear away from the screen, get away from their desks and engage in movement that’s not strenuous. A 10-minute game of TT can be a better way to take a break instead of indulging in unhealthy watercooler gossip or browsing through social media websites. On the Star Sports floor, we also have trampolines – jump and shake off all that pent up tension! 

“A short game of TT every afternoon is great fun and the perfect de-stressing activity. It is also encouraging as I am trying to learn a new game, a new skill and I want to get better at it,” says Deval Marolia, Big Data Analytics.

So start today, make good choices and tell us how you feel!