Taking a stroll along the Muttrah Corniche wouldn’t be just a walk for breathing a fresh and letting the breeze fall on your face alone, but it is more than that.
Jaywalkers are given the option to peddle away their extra calories and get fit with a noble initiative currently available on the sea side.
A number of bicycles are available for a health-conscious people who wish to peddle for some time to fitness, thanks to the efforts of the Muscat Municipality and an Omani citizen, Nabeel Khamis Saif al Toqi, one of the five-member Omani team that runs the bicycle venture on the Corniche.
Starting at 4pm till midnight, as many as 65 bicycles are lined up for cycling enthusiasts who can make use of them for a joy ride along the beachside and check on their fitness status on a regular basis.
“We implemented the idea of cycling on the Corniche along with the Muscat Municipality well before the Covid stuck the world but had to shut it down temporarily and now we are back with a bang. Individuals and families can enjoy a ride on the walkways of Corniche while devouring the beauty of Muttrah,” said Nabeel.
The response from the public has been overwhelming and more girls than boys are fond of this cycling affair as they visit with their families. As an added benefit, light refreshments are served by the makeshift kiosks located next to the bicycles.
“They are available from 4pm to 12 midnight daily except weekends and public holidays when they are open from 4pm to 3am.”
Corporates which are concerned of their staff fitness of their employees can also have contract with the service providers and their service doesn’t end there.
“We provide dietary plans and advice on fitness status of individuals, advice on the duration of cycling and other information for those who have lifestyle diseases which will help them check on their fitness status.”
A Ministry of Health statistics show that at least four percent of children above the age of 5years are overweight and more women are obese compared to men, and the remedy to reverse the scenario lies in the hands of every individual who would like to lead a healthy life.
"Leading an active lifestyle, rephrasing the eating regime are two important factors that can help get rid of those extra calories from the body," says Dr Shadha al Raisi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD).
Having high rate of obesity is paving the way for a number of non-communicable diseases which are not contagious, chronic and often progress slowly. Major non-communicable diseases found in the Sultanate are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease.
Fitness freaks and health experts advise to engage in some form of physical exercise like 30 minutes brisk walking 5 times a week or 20 minutes jogging to stay fit and far from diseases to a great extent.
“People who ride bicycles and lead a healthy lifestyle never go to hospital,” Nabil shared his idea of perfect fitness.
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