Pumping iron in the gym has often been related with relieving stress. And sometimes, the gains get addictive, and the weights become friends. Naturally, there is a desire to level up.
Australian national-level weightlifter Raagini Rampal gave fitness enthusiasts a taste of what it is to perform at the top level, with a workshop on the Basics of Olympic Lifting at Gridiron, Ballygunge.
The Kolkata-born Raagini Rampal, who moved to Australia while in school and has since had a meteoric rise in the world of weightlifting, shared insights from her own experiences. In keeping with the theme, throughout the session, Raagini emphasised on getting the basics right. Apart from mobility exercises, she also made students begin with bamboo sticks rather than barbells. The agenda was not to lift heavy, but to lift right. The focus was on form.
The session was enriching for (left) Adnan Ahmed and (right) Aakash Dave, both of whom are trainers at Gridiron
Aakash Dave, a strength and conditioning trainer at Gridiron, had always been keen to master the nuances of snatch, and clean and jerk. “While I knew the basics, Raagini helped me understand the technical aspects of these movements. At Gridiron, we’re always looking to learn about aspects like these. She’s promised to share more videos on this too,” he said.
Fellow trainer Adnan Ahmed, who teaches boxing, also appreciated Raagini’s teaching methods. “I get anxious about learning new things, but Raagini was a very calm coach. This class helped me know a lot about myself and my body. I really think I understood the movement at its depth,” he added.
As the session concluded, Raagini remarked that teaching in India was distinctly different from Australia. Looking back upon her own learnings, she said, “In Australia, it’s generally quite awkward for a girl to teach guys, which is quite unfortunate for them (chuckles)! I love teaching people here because they really appreciated and respected me, and were keen to learn. When I saw people successfully snatch, I was so happy!”
