Fitness has been a way of life for Neeraj Surana ever since we have known him. The dashing model, the best of his generation, who can also give models half his age a run for their money, has realised a long-cherished dream of a gym after his heart with The Camp where he is the director and head coach. The state-level swimmer gives The Telegraph an exclusive tour of the fitness pad spread across a little over 7,500sq ft. “It’s been in the making for almost a year-and-a-half in my head but because of Covid, things got delayed. I have been working on this for six months,” says Neeraj. The Camp is made of soothing colours and a lot of sunlight. Over to Neeraj.
So, Neeraj, this is a dream come true, right?
Yeah (smiles). I always wanted to have a facility according to the way I look at fitness and health and I think I have gotten close to that. Honestly, when the pandemic hit, the gyms were the first to shut down and last to reopen. There was a point in time when I was thinking if there should be a change in my profession, but then I couldn’t think of anything else (smiles). Monica Khosla Bhargava of Kham Consultants has designed the facility and this dream wouldn’t have been possible without Sandeep Bhargava and Khusroo Khan.
Tell us about the name...
The way we want to do things here inside The Camp is very different from the way a normal gym functions or operates. We want to focus on a lot of classes, different types of group classes.
How many trainers do you have?
We have three trainers in the morning to start off with and three in the evening. I am definitely going to add to the team as and when the crowd increases.
What are the things that you definitely kept in mind when you started this gym?
I have always felt that having a facility should always bridge the principles that I have, that is the coach has and what the client wants. It should be informative enough to tell them that this is the way it should be done. I wanted a lot of free space, a lot of pull-up bars, squat racks... there is a lot of space for people to move and exercise. I have a lot of space to hang. Hanging is great for the upper body.
I also wanted to get some kind of cardiovascular (activity) because not everyone has the time to go running outdoors in the morning. Majority of our population are working people with families and they can barely take out 45-90 minutes in a day to come and train. So, I wanted to give them everything under one roof. The equipment which I have got for my cardiovascular endurance is unique and getting on them will be an experience.
The group classes will include the basic ones like yoga, Zumba, animal flow, kettlebell strength, easy strength, kick boxing and martial arts. I want to include meditation and stillness classes. If you are able to move, you should be able to stay still too.
The pandemic has completely changed the notion of fitness...
We also want to bridge the gap between health and fitness. They are two different things. I think the pandemic has shown that being fit is not good enough. Health is what we should be after eventually. The way I used to train has changed over the past years. I finish my training session with at least 10 minutes of breath work or meditation and I begin my session with breath work.
My main motto right now is if I am training, there has to be a purpose to it and I should be able to do a part of it even when I am 60. I should be able to move, be pain free and manage my stress levels better. I want to see people healthier, fitter and move better.
Careerwise do you think every model should have a plan B, considering they are in a profession which is so heavily dependent on how they look?
I definitely think so. With the cutthroat competition modelling has today, everyone wants to be up there. The life span of a model is becoming shorter and shorter. It becomes more about how you manage the stress of competition or not getting work. Today, I charge a particular amount and someone else will do it at a much lesser amount. You lose the job and then you don’t have any work and you have expenses. So, how do you manage stress? That’s where health comes into the picture.
I would say I switched tracks and at the right time. In my modelling days I was clear that if I am not paid (sufficiently) or if the work is not good enough or doesn’t appeal to me, I would say ‘no’. It did affect me at some point, but there is also this conversation going on within me every minute that could help me handle this situation better.... Fitness and training has to get you more control over yourself.
More about it
“This sports bike is the world’s first bike which takes you on an incline and takes you downhill also,” says Neeraj.
What: The Camp
Where: 9, Elgin Road, 2nd floor (opposite Marbella’s on Elgin Road)
Contact: + 91 6289874613/ 03335474695/ 03335474696
For more information: Log on to www.camphealth.com (there is a 40 per cent off Puja offer valid for a limited period)
Other key highlights...
Physiotherapy
Health, movement and fitness assessment prior to starting a training programme