It’s a gym alright, but it doesn’t have the fancy equipment that promise to sculpt your body at gyms. In fact, it runs out of a room with just the bare essentials. But what it offers is far more crucial.
Started by the National Institute of Design, the ‘emotional gym’ is a place where students can go to strengthen their inner selves. Run thrice a week, students can reach out to a psychologist to help tackle life issues or simply vent out.
Dr Anwar Ali, 65, who has spearheaded the project says, “Students at NID come from different parts of the country. This is a platform where students can share their thoughts and feelings with confidence, especially undergraduate students who might face adjustment issues. Such students need ventilation, re-assurance and cognitive dealing.” He said clamming up can eventually lead to depression which can affect health.
Citing the example of a student, Ali said, “A student was extremely worried as he felt the urge to talk to his parents every day. When the student realised none of his friends would do that, the student felt depressed. This is a positive model and works at the betterment of students.”
Institute director Pradyumna Vyas said, “Earlier, we had a counselling centre, but we later realised students wanting to talk about personal issues should not be termed ‘patients’. Hence, we came up with this concept of an emotional gym where students can share what they feel. Not every student feels comfortable to discuss with their friends or faculty members. A third person with a good understanding of such issues comes to the rescue in such situations.
Most of our students also grapple with family sickness issues and adjustment- related issues.”
