Lockdown 2.0: Harsimran Kaur begins the day with a run, turns to meditation for a healthy mind

Harsimran Kaur, Indian basketball player is in Punjab's Kapurthala, her hometown, having a great time with her family and pets which she usually doesn’t get to do because of tournaments and travel.

The 16-year-old told ET Panache, "Daily exercising keeps me upbeat and helps with, both, my physical and mental health. I work out two-three times a day and focus on strength and conditioning of my muscles. I also ensure to keep myself hydrated through the day."

Kaur agrees these are hard times and makes sure she does yoga and meditation apart from her daily physical exercises. "Accepting the situation is the first step of the process and I am taking one day at a time which has helped me. For a healthy mind, I spend some time doing yoga and meditation in addition to my daily workout routine. Spending quality time with family and playing board games together also keeps the mind fresh. My pet dogs, Roxxy and Diddo, are a big source of love and entertainment for the entire family. Apart from this, I watch and study WNBA games as I really miss basketball, but I am at peace knowing we are all safe at home," she said.


The basketball player suggests variations in plank holds for the core, single and double leg squats for the lower body and other basic exercises like push ups and sit-ups for those who don’t have training equipment back home.

"I already know how to cook rajma and dal but now that I have the time, it is always good to learn new dishes. My mother is teaching me how to cook besan ki barfi and kachoris. I am enjoying the process and have realised that I could cook these dishes for myself when I travel," Kaur shared.

Reading and writing are also something that the basketball player is spending time on. "I have also picked up reading autobiographies of sportspersons. Their lives are so inspiring and one can learn many lessons. I am currently reading My Story: A life in basketball and beyond by Lauren Jackson. I have started journaling as it helps me organise my thoughts and feelings. I figured I could always read this, if and when, I feel low and get inspired again," she elaborated.

The youngster's day starts at 7 am, when she goes to her front yard and starts running in the lawn. "Post that, I get ready and attend online classes with my basketball coaches. After lunch, I rest for some time and then do some shooting and dribbling drills in my backyard. Thereafter, I study for a while, finish my submissions by evening. I spend time with my family after finishing my studies and later if I am not sleepy, I do some more exercises and watch basketball videos on my phone until my eyes shut. My day pretty much still revolve around basketball, as usual," Kaur ended.