When and how to start working out

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- SAPNA VYAS

When it comes to fitness, one of the most common questions people ask is, "What's the right age to start working out?

The short answer: there's no perfect age.

The longer answer: how you start and what you do at different stages of life matters much more than the number on your birth certificate.

Childhood & teenage years (8-18 years)

For kids and teenagers, movement is natural. Running, cycling, swimming, climbing trees or playing sports like football or badminton are all forms of exercise. At this age, structured workouts aren't necessary unless a child is training for a specific sport. Instead, focus should be on building coordination, balance, flexibility and stamina.

Weightlifting for teens is often debated, but research shows that with proper supervision and technique, strength training is safe and even beneficial. The key is not to chase heavy weights early on but to master bodyweight movements like push-ups, squats and planks. Think of this stage as laying the foundation for a lifetime of fitness.