Srinagar, July 15: Two months ago, Dafiq Yaqoob Batoo (21), a fitness coach, started his gym in Srinagar’s Khayam area. Unexpectedly, he received an enormous response as people made a beeline to his facility.
From his teenage days, Batoo wanted to create a world-class infrastructure for fitness enthusiasts to put Srinagar on the global map.
“I toyed with setting up ‘Royal Wellness’ six months ago. Two months ago I operationalized the facility. I thought of establishing a state-of-the-art facility in my area so that people can achieve their health goals,” he said.
With an investment of nearly Rs 50 lakh, as many as 150 fitness enthusiasts have joined the facility within two months. “The response is encouraging and even more people are joining my gym to gain fitness,” Batoo said.
Just a kilometer from Khayam, a new facility Arnold’s Gym, has also come up in the Barbarshah area. The facility is being set up by Mr. Jammu and Kashmir title holder Waseem Jan.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Kashmir is witnessing rapid growth in the fitness sector with many gymnasiums and health clubs coming up to cater to the health needs of people.
Given the increasing health-related issues among people, these facilities are witnessing a burgeoning response.
As per the fitness entrepreneurs, gymnasiums and health clubs are lucrative investments.
“It is proving a good income source as fitness is becoming an essential part of one’s life. People have health issues and under such circumstances, doctors also advise them to join gyms and health clubs to cure fitness-related health issues,” Jan said.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khan, president World Fitness Federation(J&K) told The Kashmir Monitor that more than a dozen new gymnasiums have come up in Srinagar this year.
He said similar facilities are also being established in the rest of the districts of Kashmir by youth to offer fitness-related services to the people.
“New gyms, wellness centers, and yoga studios are springing up across the valley, reflecting a significant shift in the local population’s lifestyle and attitudes towards health. This surge is driven by a growing awareness of fitness, influenced by global trends and a renewed focus on personal well-being. With increasing stress levels, sedentary lifestyles, and lifestyle-related diseases, the importance of regular exercise and physical activity for maintaining overall well-being is gaining more recognition,” he said.
