Fitness for All: When Covid strikes the Gym….
As the Covid-19 pandemic persists, gyms are forced to close intermittently. Fitness coach Lawrence admits that he is on the verge of starving. But it has also led to a breakthrough. When work was suspended, a more balanced diet and better schedule of training, recovery, and rest have helped improve his physical stamina. With much positivity, he said, “To the contrary, the pandemic has allowed me to enjoy life as an athlete.” On the day of the interview, Lawrence wore a constant smile and a zeal, with not a hint of negative energy. This calmness probably has a lot to do with his experience as a sportsman.
Lawrence believes a fitness coach must set a good example to boost hope for his students from 10 to 20%. (photo provided by interviewee)
Currently a triathlete, Lawrence used to be a member of the basketball team at South China Athletic Association. An accident has forced him to make the switch. He recalls that, during the final few minutes of a match, an offensive foul by an opponent led to his injury. The physiotherapist assessed on site that his cruciate ligament could have been torn. It felt like the end of the world, “I was angry, and worried that I might not be able to play basketball again. Back then I was also working as a fitness coach, and I was upset that I might not be able to work. It was very frustrating.” After two years of therapy, Lawrence signed up for a triathlon competition and regained his confidence.
Reflection, not Repulsion
Asked if he was ever bitter about the injury or towards the opponent who caused it, Lawrence said after a brief silence, “Normally, close to the end of a game that we were sure to win, the coach would arrange for backup players to take over. I did very well in that one, and insisted on playing through the last second. If I had obeyed instructions by the coach, I might not have gotten hurt. It was an intensive period with lots of games arranged. An exhausted body could easily get hurt. So I should bear part of the responsibility.” Injuries during matches are not unusual. Lawrence’s experience is a clear example of “resting is for going further”.
Besides workouts and competitions, Lawrence often organises runs for his students and friends so that they stay active.
Sports Transform the Person
Restless since a child, Lawrence has tried table tennis, swimming, basketball, trail running, cycling, and many more. And, never a quitter, he trained for long periods when practising each of the sports. He said that his personality morphed along with the sports he took up. As a basketball player who must often charge ahead, he was more impulsive and irritable. Now that he is into triathlon in which endurance is required, he has become more placid and patient. Lawrence used to think that basketball was the coolest sport. But switching to endurance competitions such as trail running and triathlon has helped him discover that each sport has its own charm.
Work-out is now all the rage in Hong Kong. Lawrence has presented the CIBS programme “Joggers Alliance”, followed by “Fitness for All” in which he shall share tips on working out and retrace the history of developments of local gyms.
