Give your fitness a boost – Get Outdoors!
In today’s world, we are constantly leashed to at least one of our gadgets like smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. We’re ever so careful to ensure that these devices are constantly charged should it affect their functionality or worse, have a negative impact on your day. One key element we all conveniently ignore is to recharge our own batteries. Our bodies are quite similar to these devices and needs recharging and maintenance to keep it in optimum shape. If your energy levels are low, no amount of chargers, power banks or cables can ever help. You could take the conventional route, start hitting a swanky gym and spend part of your life savings on an annual membership. Workout in an air-conditioned environment, get a personal trainer, lift weights and run on treadmills. OR! Step out in the morning or evening, get some fresh air giving you a boost in oxygen and endorphins. 30 minutes of activity on #outdoorfitnessequipment that you can find all over the country, if not the whole world, can get you everything that a gym does and so much more at absolutely no cost. Here’s a list of reasons you should workout in an #opengym, instead of a traditional one: Fresh Air has numerous benefits over an air-conditioned environment. The amount of oxygen and natural air that is pumped through your lungs leaves you feeling more energetic and an improved respiratory system. Outdoor fitness equipment use a #calisthenic approach that uses your own body weight as resistance. This is a proven method to improve flexibility and helps weight stay off way longer than traditional methods. #Gardengyms help strengthen your body as it works your muscle groups through movement, instead of concentrating on a smaller muscle groups as done in weight training. The Natural setting in outdoor gym installations, #publicparks or #community recreation spaces builds resistance and helps improve your immune system. If you are looking for a place to start, we’ve installed hundreds of such equipment all over India. Visit your local park and start your routine. We have been the ambassadors of the outdoor fitness movement called #GetFitIndia. Keep an eye out for our installations close to where you live or contact the local governing bodies and we will be glad to get involved with a project that can aid your community in leading a healthier, fitter life. Visit www.koochieplay.com for more information.
An epidemic that existed before this pandemic and has now surely got worse
Once the lockdown is over and we beat the horrid virus, we are going to wake up nations from weeks of slumber to get them moving back to routines. While we shake ourselves up to return to pre-lockdown days, we will be faced with another very large problem that many of us have lost focus off – an epidemic that existed before this pandemic and has now surely got worse… Once the lockdown is over and we beat the horrid virus, we are going to wake up nations from weeks of slumber to get them moving back to routines. While we shake ourselves up to return to pre-lockdown days, we will be faced with another very large problem that many of us have lost focus off – an epidemic that existed before this pandemic and has now surely got worse… For centuries, the major threats to the health of all mankind have been the onslaught of epidemics, natural disasters and physical injuries [when people went to war]. In today’s modern world however, we are faced with an epidemic that would have the largest impact on humankind in all of history (NO! I’m not referring to the Corona Virus) I’m referring to “Non-Communicable Diseases” (NCD’s), like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular, respiratory & kidney diseases. The Corona Virus has just further aggravated this problem. After over a month of lockdowns, where families have been restricted to live within just the four walls of their homes, there will be billions of people across numerous countries who have been forced to live sedentary lives for weeks together. People are going to wake up to lower metabolic rates, excessive weight issues, poor systemic functioning etc due to a lack of physical exercise. Let’s bring the gyms free of cost to the people, in their neighbourhood, instead of hoping for them to go out to far off places and and having to pay for its use… ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS An interesting debate: According to The International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) it is estimated that physical inactivity costs Europe over €80 billion per year. Could this money be saved if governments invested more in sports facilities, outdoor gyms, green spaces etc? Or should it be up to individuals to keep themselves fit & healthy? Who should pay & be responsible for healthcare costs if you as an individual don’t exercise and keep fit? India merely allocates a little over 1 per cent of its GDP to public health despite an increase in health expenditure since 2009, according to the latest National Health Profile (NHP) data (in comparison the US spends close to 18 per cent of its GDP). I’m not going to get into a debate as to why we have such a low budget but what I will look at is how can we use this meagre budget more effectively? Let me ask this question of you. Is it better and cheaper to prevent a health issue from occurring? or should we simply focus on curative measures when the problem does occur ? “PREVENTION is always better and cheaper than CURE” right? So this means if we can prevent diseases from happening we will have a far more efficient and cheaper solution towards health care in the future – no matter which country we are in. The benefits of building these #outdoorgyms are far reaching besides also helping in the much required general immunity building – undoubtedly, the need of the hour. So now the question is can we do it? The answer is YES WE CAN! In my opinion every government must focus on establishing outdoor sports and fitness facilities that are available easily to the public free of cost in every neighbourhood park or community. Furthermore we must engage with the public (by conducting fitness camps) to encourage them to go and use these facilities regularly. While it is the government’s duty to provide their citizens with such facilities it is also every individual’s responsibility to look after him or herself by using such facilities to keep fit and healthy. Together, the health of a nation is a collective responsibility indeed! To help combat this epidemic we at KOOCHIE GLOBAL have set up a #specialtaskforce team and have also launched #TheKooFitRevolution, an initiative that will work closely with many government institutions / ministries across the country, where all consultation, expertise and design shall be provided free of cost to help establish scientifically engineered, easy & free access, holistic, health, fitness & sports parks for the public. KOOCHIE as a brand has already installed our outdoor fitness gyms across over 600 public parks in India and Bhutan and these gyms are available free of cost to the Aam Junta. For more information and to partner with our initiative “TheKooFitRevolution” kindly connect with us at tkfr@koochieglobal.com
Getting Fit: Are you IN or OUT?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a paradigm shift in our lifestyles and that true for everyone across the world. However, the control measures for this pandemic has had many levels of impact us as well. Mainly on our psychological health, relationships, education, work, and other activities. Staying indoors has resulted in a complete lack of physical activity, coupled with irregular diet patterns. Although we realize the need for physical activity, something as easy as walking into a gym has caused a complete a reevaluation of that step, given the importance social distancing we have observed over the past few months and has left us clamoring for other viable options. So, what are the other options one can think of: Walking Running Yoga Home Workouts None of these activities in isolation will either give you the satisfaction of working out or the results one expects after. Sunshine You will also reap the benefits of sunlight while you exercise outdoors. Fresh, Oxygen-Rich air and natural light stimulate the mind and body and provides more energy. Sunshine gives the vitamin D we need as well. Sunshine naturally boosts serotonin, a hormone that uplifts your mood. Social Interaction One of the advantages of outdoor workouts that often gets ignored: If you are exercising outside, you are more likely to do it with someone. This improves the possibility of lowered stress levels and increased happiness, as some psychological studies state as the benefits of social interaction. Mental Health Working out in an open gym or a garden gym has many mental health benefits over traditional gyms. The Open environment with fresh air and sunshine, allows the mind to relax and you tend to be more receptive to positive thoughts. Free of charge Your local public park does not have an entry fee or a charge to use the equipment. Beats shelling out a large portion of your life savings on an annual gym membership. While you start looking for options to workout in the open, please keep in mind the following: Stay Hydrated – Keep Sipping on water throughout your workout Social Distancing – Remember to Sanitize, Wear Marks and Protective Gear to safeguard yourself. Sanitize the equipment before and after you use it. We hope you look forward to start/resuming your fitness routine soon and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. Stay Natural, Stay Safe and Get Fit!
Is Calisthenics still Not a part of your daily fitness regime?
Is Calisthenics still Not a part of your daily fitness regime? Calisthenics, as abstruse as it may sound, has been a part of human civilization for over a thousand years or so. Be it the Spartans, the U.S army or the Shaolin Monks of China, all of them have used the power of calisthenics to empower themselves physically and mentally. So, what is Calisthenics? Simply put, calisthenics are bodyweight exercises to build physical strength. Squats, Planks, Push-ups, Sit-ups, jumping exercises and so on are a few examples of calisthenics. Doesn’t it sound familiar now? Benefits Galore Adopting calisthenics in daily fitness regime can help transform your physical and mental fitness in unimaginable ways. Who doesn’t wish for a sculpted body and an agile mind! With the given pandemic scenario, a plethora of benefits associated with this high intensity fitness regime have come to spotlight. Celebrities, fitness experts and sportspersons have been raving about it. Quick overview of its benefits: Suitable to all – any Age or Gender Better mobility – workout anywhere with minimal equipment Surge in metabolic rate; Rapid burn of Fat & Calories Proven to build Endurance, Core and Muscle strength Reduces the risk of potential injuries and improves posture Favorable impact on Long-term health as well as Mental health Calisthenics – KooFit’s Soul! In order to embrace health and fitness with zeal and vigor, outdoor equipment have been installed in open spaces and parks across India & worldwide. Koochie Global has installed thousands of fitness equipment suitable to practice calisthenics in an open gym format. Their outdoor equipment is customized to carry out high intensity workouts amidst nature for an exceptional fitness experience. With a range of Individual callisthenic equipment as well as full body workout sets, Koochie started a KooFit revolution with a motto of making India and the World a fitter space. Every equipment is carefully designed to aid fitness enthusiasts to perform all forms of functional bodyweight exercises. It may not be wrong to say that Calisthenics is the soul of Koochie’s outdoor equipment. Open Gym, are you worried about the safety? Koochie’s outdoor equipment is internationally certified and qualitatively most superior in the market. It is not only durable but also environment friendly. Considering the current COVID scenario, due precautions have been taken to ensure sanitization and safety of using the equipment. Be it kids, working professionals or older generation, anybody can use the equipment free of cost and take maximum advantage of working out in nature thereby boosting their immunity to fight against all forms of viruses. Meeting new people in an open environment also greatly favours in uplifting one’s mood and breaking the boredom of confined spaces. With many companies and educational institutions having extended work /education from home, prolonged confinement of workouts indoors brings down the motivation level for a regular exercise routine. Indoor gyms can seldom substitute the adrenalin rush that occurs while exercising in a lush green environment. Open gyms with calisthenic friendly equipment seem to be a sagacious and a sustainable fitness regime in the near future. Boxing legend, Mike Tyson, is set to make a comeback on Nov 28th and has been following a super intense calisthenics centric fitness regime. When the undisputed heavyweight boxer of the world can go for calisthenics for an extraordinary and transformational physique, you sure can make it a part of your fitness schedule for a Fitter body and Agile mind.
Our Vision for The Future of Playgrounds – Certified Playground Equipment Manufacturers | Koochie
Our Vision for The Future of Playgrounds – Certified Playground Equipment Manufacturers | Koochie https://koochieplay.com/India is a country of constant flux and growth. With the rate at which cities are growing, industries are spreading and structures are changing under the ruse of socio economic change. Recent statistics claim that in India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 61% of all deaths in the country (approx. 5.8 million people) according to data released by WHO on September 18, 2017. A recent WHO report states that approximately 62 million diabetic Indians are currently diagnosed with Hypertension. This is a prevalent problem which becomes manifest upon exposure to richer diets and consequent increase in body weight. The temporal trends point towards Indians having a genetic predisposition towards diabetes. Fitness Fitness does not mean being a diet fanatic and hitting the gym regularly, According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fitness is defined as ‘the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigour and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure time pursuits and respond to emergencies.’ In order to live a wholesome and fulfilling life, one must consistently address their fitness levels by incorporating activities such as walking and cycling into their daily schedules. The longer the amount of time an individual spends in exercising with exposure to greeneries and fresh air, the more benefits he/she will reap. Exercising in natural environments is associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Playground Equipment design We at Koochie Global believe that by revolutionizing the approach to health and fitness for the public, we can help bolster preventive health care, and thusly improve people’s standard of living. We offer an exotic range of ‘customised-made-to-order’ structures that are manufactured in world class facilities the world over, in conjunction with our global design centre in Chennai, India. Providing functional equipment which can help you and your family get healthy while also retaining the fun of a playground is our end-goal. For Children We plan to create/design world class, international safety standard certified children’s playground equipment which includes multi-level play systems. Modules such as swings and slides are well known, but the importance of rock walls and monkey bars are often overlooked, while they give some of the greatest benefits seen in exercise equipment. A lot of thought goes into designing equipment that help develop various skills in children. In this way, the exposure to a multi-sensorial environment not only fosters overall development in children, and provides for hands-on learning experiences. For Adults Outdoor equipment installed in parks are not an exclusively child-centric affair. They can be installed in parks, residential complexes, resorts et cetera, and form an important part of any city. We encouraged wholesome development by installing products which not only facilitate play, but also foster exercise and self-improvement. The use of these equipment makes exercise available to all while encouraging the use of green spaces, healthier living, social interaction and fitness and most importantly getting people outdoors. These units can be installed in a variety of public locations such as residential condominiums, public parks, beaches, school campuses, playgrounds, resorts, hotels, and many more. We aim to cater to niche and super premium projects that look to provide breath taking, state of the art, uniquely customized themed play space for their patrons. With the themed designs and attractive yet functional equipment, we hope to add to all our present offerings, and bring about greater value to our existing customer and client base. Our Efforts Today, thousands of people across the city of Bangalore can now use the trademark blue KooFIT GYMS that the city sports. Our outdoor fitness gyms are specially designed & engineered to allow people of all ages and gender to easily use the equipment and enjoy immense benefits, thus resulting in healthier communities. Thanks to the local authorities, these parks and playgrounds are now accessible to the public free of cost. We are humbled and bolstered by the testimonials and commendations we have gotten from some of the leading architects and entrepreneurial organizations of the country, from inaugurations by famous names to awards that we’ve been given for our services. We will continue to provide safe and fun ways to stay healthy and have fun.
Transforming Bangalore: World-Class playground equipment installed in Bangalore Public park
Transforming Bangalore: World-Class playground equipment installed in Bangalore Public park Koochie Global is not your average playground equipments manufacturing company. Since our inception over a decade ago, we strive to do things differently. Having been fortunate enough to work and interact with some amazing organizations, individuals and community leaders; our efforts to create need-based outdoor play experiences and fitness equipment have provided great value to the everyday lives of people. With a focus on holistic well-being, Koochie Global set out to bring forth yet another unique opportunity for families to explore. We hope to facilitate a wholesome recreational environment that everyone can be a part of. The most recent project where such a vision has been actualized, is the Janatha Bazaar Park in Bangalore, India. The park features some of our most popular Outdoor Fitness for adults & Play Systems catering to various age groups – Toddlers to 12 year old. This also includes Bangalore’s first-of-its-kind custom-designed equipment that enables ‘Inclusive Play’ with a focus on children with special needs and abilities. The park has been open to the public, post inauguration this Dussehra. This was made possible through the vision and motivation from of one of the most dynamic leaders we have worked with, Dr Ashwath Narayan – Member of Legislative Assembly -Bangalore, whose vision was to provide the residents of his constituency with truly world-class amenities that they could enjoy at their neighbourhood parks. After much research and planning, the foundation to metamorphosise the space was laid. What was once seen as a space with old, dilapidated, outdated and unusable equipment, transformed into an amazing public space that allows every resident, irrespective of age, to enhance their outdoor experience through different activities. We have received an overwhelming number of responses, and the testimonials are encouraging. Amongst the various bits of feedback we have received, this one in particular stands out, a testament to our efforts. Mrs Nandini, a member of the Resident Welfare Association, a regular visitor to the park with her two children gleefully commented, “The children’s park at Sadashivnagar has one of the best and state-of-the-art play equipment I have seen in Bangalore. My daughter Anika loves the swing, which is safe for toddlers. The park has become a new hangout space in the neighbourhood for kids and parents.” Some highlights of the equipment installed at the parks are: CAVALA (Adventure Series): One of the most popular Adventure Series Installations has become the centerpiece of this park. It is built for children in the age group of 3 to 12 years. Free play, as well as group play promotes independent thoughts alongside social interaction. Capacity: 15 to 18 Children. This installation provides a way to channelize a child’s energy and engage in various movements including running, climbing, jumping, etc. SCARBORUGH (Multiplay System): Alongside “Cavala”, there’s also the Multi-play System for children of the age group from 3 to 12 years. This colorful installation consists of 2 slides, a sun-roof, monkey loops and the number panel. This structure facilitates effective coordination, various muscle movements and conceptual learning. INCLUSIVE PLAY The park also showcases a first-of-its-kind multi-play station specially designed and engineered for children with special needs – an environment that caters to INCLUSIVE PLAY. This includes scientifically designed ramps for wheelchair access so it becomes easy for all children to play as part of a group. Post extensive research, need-analysis and understanding of learning outcomes, this equipment has been designed and manufactured using the highest quality materials. In compliance with European standards for Quality & Safety, this product has been professionally certified. OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT To ensure the park nurtures a complete family experience, Koochie Global has also installed 10 units of our Outdoor Fitness Equipment that are part of the Koofit Fitness Range. This allows parents and elders to work on their own fitness alongside keeping an eye on their children. “Families that play together, stay together” This is one of the guiding principles and motivator for this project. A large body of scientific evidence has identified various reasons to explain this prophetic statement. Eg. Effective communication, Social Tolerance and Conflict resolutions, are amongst the varied benefits of play. It is our endeavor at Koochie Global, to make it a fun learning experience for all.
The Story of a Consistent Optimist.. | Playground Equipment Manufacturers
The year is ending and what better way to bid adieu, than to recapture the moments that made 2017 special. This year has been an astonishing year for us, besides being able to successfully ride the tumultuous wave in India thanks to the series of reforms, [beginning with demonetization, the introduction of RERA and finally the implementation of GST] we bagged the most prestigious brand award at a remarkable event in Thailand, that made us glad to be amongst those set of beacons who have reinforced a profound meaningful marketing connect with their customers. As a brand, we received praises and accolades from across the globe, for setting up an organization that is dedicated to getting people Fit with our Get FIT programs, added to this we opened our 19th office this year in Milan, Italy. Our Joint Venture Partnerships with Galopín of Spain, a company with 30 years of rich heritage, being masters in pedagogy and PlayPlanet of Portugal that has rich experience in nouveau bespoke technology, KOOCHIE with its own pedigree, is today positioned as the only brand in this industry to have such a unique filiation that now allows it to offer playground equipment products and services like no other brand can. With all good things, one tends to forget the journey that got us to where we are today. It is very important for us not to forget “who we were, before we became, who we are”… We are, after all, a brand built of humble beginnings – the year, 2004, all of us packed in a small little office with limited resources, the senior management themselves being installers, sales team, logistics [yes many of us actually even unloaded trucks] and designers, our modest budgets, our first project, our first certification in France, our first overseas branch….. wow, it all seems like a different world today …. Like every other start up and self funded business we had our share of hardship and woes, we lost many more than we won, even today we keep learning…… The outcome…. In just over a decade, this wonderful brand has blossomed into one of the most respected icons in our industry, now spanning 19 offices across 11 countries, we owe this to every single member of Team KOOCHIE Global and their undying passion and hard work in tirelessly sculpting this corporation to what it is today, we also owe this to each of our customers, those who specified us and all those who put their belief in us and continue to do so. Over the years of being an entrepreneur, the one thing I’ve learnt is that to succeed, you need to be “Consistent” and Optimism is just another way of saying, always look at the bright side. When you set out to start something on your own, everything you think and consider as absolute, is a variable. You won’t have the luxury of being “set in your ways” because the world is fast paced, dynamic and it is always the most adaptive of the species which survives and thrives. Despite the circumstances, the only thing that keeps you going is your optimistic mindset and developing one can do wonders for you when things seem out of control. When you strategize all the efforts to overcome a hurdle and it works otherwise, you tend to ask yourself if you’re doing it right or is there a right way to make it work??? From my experiences, I can tell you that ‘the quality of your performance is always directly proportional to the quality of your practice’. It’s important to take stock of what is going on well. Failures must leave you as optimistic as ever. To be an entrepreneur, irrational optimism is necessary to systematically and continuously take on risk. But most of us aren’t wired that way. In any form of work, I feel you need to be optimistic about the barriers you can break, tasks that you can accomplish and deliver in a certain amount of time. When you decide to tread the path as an entrepreneur, your convictions and financial decisions are positively correlated. Optimism aids you to be a better problem solver. As corny as it may sound, affirmations help to train your brain to think positively. Overtime, you will start to internalize them. Success requires tenacity and tenacity requires confidence. Finding a way to focus on the positives take time but needs good amount of practice to feel credible while venturing out of your comfort zones. I loved every moment of 2017…… here’s looking forward to an even better 2018.. Signing off, wishing each of you and your lovely families a fabulous New Years.. With all my warm regards, Roben Dass…