Manager’s Fitness
Managers try to take their companies to new heights by looking after the corporate fitness. But how are the Nepali managers managing their own fitness?
Anil Shah, CEO of Nabil Bank says: “Unless you are mentally and physically fit you cannot give a hundred percent in your work.” He has given up drinking and smoking due to health concerns. Shah’s daily schedule begins with “Puja” at 7 am followed by about one and half hours at the Clarke Hatch Gym in the Radisson Hotel. Buddhi Karki, the fitness expert/trainer there, ensures that he pushes Shah’s morning workout to the limit everyday and never lets him get lazy. He is also lucky as his wife Rati is a professional physical fitness trainer and nutritionist, and according to Shah, she is a constant motivator for him to stay fit.
Suman Neupane, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Bank Ltd., believes that no one should work at the cost of his fitness. That is why he spends two hours early in the morning doing warm-up exercises and yoga. “You can make yourself physically fit working out in a gym. But for mental fitness, yoga and meditation are very important,” explains Neupane, who has a gym at his own home. He is also planning to join a health club so that he can be helped by a professional trainer. However he hardly gets adequate time to play any sort of sports these days. Neupane wants to play golf but he is unable to do so because of time constraints. When asked about his diet, Neupane says, “Everyone is tempted by good food but I have a habit of eating healthy food at home”. Also, he is a social drinker and limits himself to only a couple of drinks at a time.
Radesh Pant, the CEO of the Bank of Kathmandu, too works out regularly with a trainer. His specialty is Tai Chi (Chinese martial arts), which he practices regularly. Besides that, he likes to play tennis and basketball and swims whenever he gets time to do so. He even goes for short treks or hikes during the weekends. According to Pant, he doesn’t mingle his professional life with his personal life and this makes him stress free. “I leave the work stress at the work place,” says he. Spending time with his wife and four Labrador dogs after he gets home is also very relaxing to him. Regarding diet, he prefers green vegetables, fruits and milk and he makes sure that he does not take starch and protein-rich foods too often.
Pradeep Shrestha, Executive Director of Panchakanya Group, is an equally dedicated sportsperson. Shrestha, the former president of FNCCI was also a player of international level in golf and squash. He is still an avid golfer. His regular mornings start in the golf course nearby the international airport and he dedicates his entire Saturdays to golf at the Gokarna course. “I have won medals whenever I have played,” boasts Shrestha. He is equally conscious about his diet and always returns home from office for lunch.
