From: As told to Indrani Sinha

No Cake Walk   

Posted On Friday, February 11, 2011

Pursuing any sport can be equivalent to meditation, provided one takes it up seriously, says Anil Mukherjee...

I have been a sports enthusiast all my life. I have played different sports including rugby in the past, but currently I am into playing tennis and running on a regular basis.

Tennis has always been my passion. My two favourite players are Roger Federer and Rod Laver. My father, Shunil Kumar Mukherjee, was a well- known tennis player so you could say that my love for tennis runs in my genes. I started playing the game since I was 12 years old and in earlier days I enjoyed playing competitive tennis.

Along with tennis, I enjoy running outdoors. For both tennis and running, my preferred destination is the Tollygunge Club, which has lovely greenery in the midst of the city. So when I am playing tennis or running, I am in proximity with nature and the world around me — so much better than running on the cross-trainer or treadmill indoors.

The old proverb ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ holds true even today. We all need some sort of outdoor activities to refresh and energise ourselves. We all have professional compulsions, family responsibilities to cope with and keeping some time for oneself is necessary and if it happens to be an outdoor sport nothing like it.

Tennis or running helps me to cope with professional or personal issues. After all sports is a great leveler that helps one to handle the successes and failures of life better.

Often I hear of people practicing meditation but the time I spend on the tennis court is like meditating. I feel pursuing any sport can be equivalent to meditation, provided one takes it up seriously. In the beginning, it is important to take professional guidance to understand the technicalities.

As for running, build up your speed and stamina gradually. The speed should not be too fast and you should be able to carry on a conversation. Also try to alternate running with walking. And last but not the least; try to understand the signals your body gives to avoid serious injuries.

I keep myself up-to-date watching TV, reading books and through the net, especially YouTube. I feel it is better to take up any sort of outdoor sport as it brings you closer to nature and believe me there can be nothing as relaxing as this.

(Mukherjee is CEO & managing member, The Tollygunge Club)