“Health is a right and not a privilege they say!”
Being fit and healthy has both physical and mental benefits, but it is not always possible for us to squeeze it into to a busy schedule. Even the media is filled with images of what is considered “to be fit”, yet these seem unattainable for many of us.
So how does the average person find a way to be active in both easy and achievable way?
Shane Bilsborough, Co-Founder and COO of Stepathlon Lifestyle Pvt Ltd was asked a similar question quite frequently, particularly by people working in office buildings, who found it hard to be active when their work required them to sit at a desk for long hours. From this thought, Shane was determined to find a solution and successfully co-founded an internationally proven model –that encourages people to take at least 10,000 steps a day to stay fit and healthy!
Based on this concept he co-founded a unique initiative called ‘Stepathlon’. Stepathlon seeks to create an ecosystem that promotes corporate health, fitness and productivity by encouraging participants to take at least 10,000 steps a day, and increase their daily activity.
What is Stepathlon?
A majority of corporate employees take as little as 2,000 – 3,000 steps per day due to intense work schedules and long hours, which takes a toll on both body and mind. Global health authorities recommend a minimum of 10,000 steps per day to be active.
Stepathlon is a race around a ‘virtual world’ for companies of all sizes, across all industries and countries.
It is a pedometer-based, mass participation event which takes place over 100 consecutive days and motivates individuals to take at least 10,000 steps a day.
It encourages activity in a simple, inclusive, fun and relevant manner to complement hectic lifestyles.
How does it work?
- Companies can participate with as many employees as they choose. Employees form teams of 5 and are provided with a Stepack that includes a backpack, cap and pedometer. Employees then become part of a community of like-minded people from across the globe, through an innovative, interactive and insightful interface.
- Over 100 days, participants then put their step count for each day into the Stepathlon Course Website, these steps are then converted into kilometres and mapped on a “virtual world”, where they race others around the “virtual world” and visit some great locations along the way
- The race is conducted over 100 consecutive days to promote positive habitual change, for “anyone, anywhere, anytime”
With more people experiencing a decline in physical activity, resulting in increasingly sedentary lifestyles, health concerns are increasing worldwide. Risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer can be reduced by walking more. Simple, isn’t it?
The company was co-founded by Shane Bilsborough and Ravi Krishnan. Shane chose to come to India, because he believes that, as a country with one of the highest rates of diabetes and heart disease, India needs to be more physically fit!
Stepathlon can help make that positive change and contribute to a healthier country. Ravi’s experience in sports, media and entertainment and relationships with corporate India, coupled with Shane’s domain expertise has worked well to ensure Stepathlon’s success in achieving their mission to ‘Move the Nation. Lead the World’.
In our next post, read Ravi Krishnan’s views on how employee wellness initiatives undertaken by corporates influence their productivity levels at work.
Stepathlon 