Snooty health goals serve as an escalator at India Inc

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₹20,000 a month. On top of that, close-knit groups often head out for big-ticket health retreats or costly treks. If this is the investment needed for basic participation in the fitness race, then those who have educational loans to pay off, or other family-related financial burdens, find themselves at an instant disadvantage.

In Mumbai, membership of neighbourhood fitness groups can serve as tip pick-up points of corporate affairs, with stock markets often discussed at the gyms and swimming pools of fancy high-rise apartment blocks. Middle-order managers looking for ascent paths often choose to squeeze their pay-cheques to rent expensive flats just for access to another kind of ‘health talk.’ Health patches are not just a sign that one is careful about one’s health, but have transformed into a kind of calling card. At another end, there are displays of aggression on squash and tennis courts, games that roll health into a competitive spirit seen as vital in the corporate world .

The line between an active lifestyle choice and advertising an alpha personality for peers and superiors to note could, however, be a thin one. Getting fitter in India’s big but cramped cities requires access to facilities and advice that only the well-off can afford. It also demands time, and women who have home chores are often at a particular disadvantage on this count.

Those who must travel long distances to reach their offices, and also have other responsibilities, rarely get the time for dedicated health pursuits. For many, especially after the pandemic’s effects, going back home only to open a laptop and wrap up work is now common. The ones who have the luxury of time tend to live in closer proximity to their workplaces, work from home or