Those were the days when we had justsniffed at the exhilarating potential of fitness and had begun to enjoythe tautness of a muscle and the actual feeling of physical well-being.Today, we'd add on a few more qualities. "Fitness," we'd say, "is awell worked-out body, a feeling of total 'wellness, a mind free ofagitation, a sense of being spiritually at peace and a pleasant,invigoratingly lively attitude towards life." To that: we'd furtheradd, "Tuning totally into the natural forces within and without you."

Thekey word here is natural. Every single human being is an athlete on thetrack of life. We are all Nature's children - each one endowed with hisor her own beauty and specialness. We have within us a natural powerwaiting to be tapped. Yes, tell yourself boldly and unashamedly, "I amNature's child. I am a special individual" And know it to be true. Itis true.

For you are a citizen of a larger world residing in theeternal land of mystique and mantras. Within and without you there is aflood of golden sunshine. Just beneath the surface is the security ofan ancient shared culture, a common outlook, an Indian beat that throbsthrough your veins and keeps you moving. There are many gods -manifestations of every aspect of life - up there somewhere and thethought of an after-life that shimmers like a distant, but possiblepromised land.

But know for a fact that the promised land is hereand now too. Those mantras course through you even as you read thesewords, washing you with a power. A power that is limitless, invisible,but tangible and real. A power that enables you to shape your presentand your future.

For, you have a God within you. A dynamiclife-force. Your breathing proves that you are connected to a hugegenerator which is inexhaustible. A humming, vibrant power that cannever be turned off. There's a simple way to find out for yourself.

Pressyour palm lightly against your ear for a few seconds, shutting out allexternal sounds. Can you hear it? It is a continuous vibration, like athrumming generator that is constantly on. The very essence of yourlife ­force that can be heard in the roaring voice of the sea or evenin the vibration of the air-waves as an aeroplane flies overhead.

It is the 'Om' in your life.

'Om'is Nature. Listen to Nature's sounds - for example, the twittering ofsparrows. Now, compare it to the hammering of laborers working at aconstruction site. The sound of birds is eminently pleasing whereas theartificial pounding is an assault on the ear. Or, if you call up anoffice, you would hear the rat-a-tat of a typewriter. Such unnaturalnoises do nothing for you.

But, listen to the sigh of the oceans,the rustle of leaves, and analyse their effect on you. They quietenyour mind, fill you with a pleasant sensation, a peaceful feeling. Why?The answer is simple: you are a child of Nature and it is that naturalelement in you that responds positively to her various manifestations.

Exercisingtoo is an intrinsic part of our natural heritage. It is a valuableprocess built into us by Nature to keep us in our natural form - a fitand healthy form. The only threat to our life is from our lifestyle.