Harshad Naik's fitness mantra: An hour of badminton daily, dinner before 8PM

Harshad Naik, MD, Huntsman International India, stays in shape thanks to a daily dose of badminton and meditation:

Body
“Physical exercise has always been an important aspect of leading a disciplined life, and it’s integral to my daily routine. I make it a point to play badminton every day for an hour. This enhances my productivity and overall well-being. Badminton also helps build and tone core muscles, especially those in calves, quads and hamstrings.

“Even while at work, I try and walk as much as I can. I try to burn calories at a rate faster than the calorific intake. This is what keeps me fit.


“I begin my day with a South Indian breakfast, plus fruits and basil tea. Lunch consists of roti, dal, vegetables and a little rice. I try to have my dinner before 8 pm, and prefer having soups/ salads, rotis and vegetables. I prefer fresh food over processed or refined items. Two days a week, I have a sattvic diet. Being from the Konkan region, I relish seafood and a moderate dose of white meat. Most importantly, I make it a point not to waste food. I believe food is precious and should be respected.”

Mind
“Meditation is a powerful tool to help one gain control over the mind, and consequently one’s life. It’s been five years that I’ve been meditating, and it’s helped me with my personal and professional well-being.

“I’m a morning person, and usually wake up by 5 am after going to bed by 10 pm, seven days a week. I begin my day with half an hour of meditation. The Sukhasana posture helps strengthen muscles of the back and improves posture. This also helps build physical and mental balance and improves concentration. I follow multiple fitness gurus

Soul
“I am a spiritual person and I have inherited this quality from my parents. I believe in education for all; it’s the most important tool that helps the all-round development of a child and advances academic curiosity in society. I consider myself fortunate that I’m able to help in this regard.”

and use guided meditation practices. I also attend rejuvenation retreats once every couple of months. Attending these retreats has laid the foundation to a further understanding of the practice and how it can change one’s life.

“The human brain has a natural tendency to focus on the negative aspect of any unfavourable situation. Therefore, I practice ‘positive manifestation’ to train my mind to think, imagine and dream positive thoughts.”