From Skipping PT Periods to Living the Fitness Lifestyle: Here’s How Trekking Changed Ramon’s Life

"I recently came back from the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. This was my 5th trek with Indiahikes.

When I look back from where I started, I cannot believe how far I have come in my fitness journey.

Fitness was the last thing I could associate with myself during my childhood days. I was the kid who used to skip PT periods and prefer studying.

Back in 2018, when I signed up for the Sandakphu trek, I used to weigh 75 kgs.

As I started my preparations for the trek, I followed the fitness instructions sent by Indiahikes.

I remember in 2019 when I had gone for the Annapurna Basecamp trek. After reaching the summit point, I was beyond exhausted. So much that my Trek Leader Krunal told us about this hot water bath a little further from that point and I didn’t want to walk even one more step from there. I was so low on energy.

There was a 52-year-old man on our team and he was so comfortable on the trek. There was no sign of tiredness in his body or mind. It felt like he was truly enjoying the trek and I was just barely surviving!

An incident like this made me start looking at my fitness more seriously. I wanted to be fit so that I am always trek ready.

On KGL, I weighed around 66 kgs and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed trekking through all the days.

A similar incident happened when we reached the Satsar campsite and my KGL Trek Leader Dhaval told me to walk a little further to see the hidden Satsar Lake from a different point. I was all up and ready to go!

I thoroughly enjoyed the trek and every small to big view that came along the way.

During the lockdown last year, I got a bicycle only because I knew I want to prepare for the Goechala and the KGL trek.

I try to follow a mixed routine of either cycling up to 20kms, jogging/running for 3-5kms or bodyweight training.

Previously, I used to always ask myself in the middle of a trek - Why am I doing this torture to myself?

I don’t remember that version of myself anymore. Trekking and Indiahikes have given me the lifelong gift of fitness as a lifestyle.”

- Ramon Dharma Rajan, Indiahikes Trekker

P.S.: Indiahikes Trek Leader Dhaval gave Ramon the Spirit Of Trekking Award. Dhaval said, “I have given this badge to a handful of trekkers out of the numerous batches I have led so far. Ramon set a true example of the spirit of trekking. It was so fulfilling to see him on this trek.”