The Benevolent Trainer

“Every day around 5.30 am,I call people,wake them up and force them to join me for the morning jog and exercise,” says the 42-year-old,who owns a soap factory but works out for six hours a day at various grounds including Balewadi,Sanas and Fergusson College. Currently almost 100 people from different age groups and professional backgrounds join Kasbe every morning for the jog at Teljai Tekdi. They follow it up with a routine consisting of simple stretching and basic yoga. He also regularly arranges road marches in which trainees jog a certain number of kilometres for fitness. The last road march,which was organised in April at Teljai Tekdi,saw 6,500 people participating of whom 30 per cent were senior citizens.

Dr Sudhir Kothari,a city-based neurologist,is one of Kasbe’s trainees who vouches for his methods. “I even advice my patients to get in touch with him,” shares Kothari. Another trainee,social activist Sushil Kumar says those who train with Kasbe are guaranteed to lose about five kilograms in a month without any special equipment.

Kasbe feels strongly about the use of fancy equipment used in gyms for staying fit. “I refuse to believe in exercising inside an air-conditioned room where I don’t sweat naturally,” comments Kasbe,who also feels that machines just cater to particular parts of the body while exercise and yoga are much more holistic techniques of burning calories and toning the body.

Recently starting Teljai Tekdi Physical Centre,where he trains candidates aspiring for National Defence Academy and civil services,the trainer advices people on maintaining proper sanitation and diet. He feels that GenY is prone to severe diseases because they thrive on fast food. “People should have a healthy diet that includes adequate levels of protein and carbohydrates,” he says.