Innovation is everywhere, but strangely, exercise is the last place where you'll hear this buzzword. What's there to innovate in, say, running, or swimming? Imagine a startup dudebro coming up with a big-brain idea to make you run miles without leaving your bed. That's closer to quackery than innovation. But what's not quackery is Hyrox Races, a unique fitness movement that has an entire Europe in its sway. Devised in 2017 by Christian Toetzke, a veteran in organising international races, and Moritz Furste, an Olympic medallist in field hockey, Hyrox has become one of the largest fitness movements in the world, boasting more than 2 lakh participants in over 25 countries so far. It's a hybrid fitness routine that combines running with eight functional exercises. A good mix of cardio with strength exercises can never go wrong. You run for a kilometre, then stop at one of the eight workout stations carefully designed, and run again.
It’s now spreading its tentacles far and wide from Europe. On October 17, India became the seventh nation in the Asia Pacific region to join the Hyrox bandwagon, after the race was launched in partnership with Yoska, a fitness company that also brought Ironman 70.3 to India. Deepak Raj, the CEO and Chief Coach at Yoska, was introduced to this phenomenon by his friend, and after taking part in an event in Vienna, his resolve to get Hyrox to India strengthened. “I was really convinced that people in India would love this format,” says Deepak, who's on his way home after conducting another successful event of Ironman 70.3 in Goa. "We worked together with a global team for months to get Hyrox to India. They realised that India and China are big markets they were yet to enter, and unlike Europe, they couldn’t start on their own. They were looking for partners and different business models. Since we were already managing the Ironman franchise, we had experience and connection with the community. This made it easier for us," he adds. The first edition of Hyrox India will be held next year in Mumbai, on May 3, where they are expecting a footfall of 1200-1500 participants.
The Fastest Growing Fitness Sport
What makes Hyrox so popular among both experts and novices is its simplicity. It's an exercise that combines running with functional fitness, and you only compete with yourself, meaning the insecurity that comes with finishing last is non-existent. It doesn't any extra preparation and has no time restriction. Although the competitive events are held in a floodlit stadium with thousands of viewers, you can do it at your own pace. The inclusive format and entry criteria make it accessible to everyone. With sufficient training, anyone can successfully complete the sport. There are options for singles, doubles, and relays, allowing individuals to experiment and familiarize themselves with the sport before committing to a full individual race. "I think it's the right combination of running and strength training that makes it so popular. Runners who also incorporate gym sessions or callisthenics into their routine can easily transition into this sport," says Deepak.
The easy acceptance of Hyrox Races across the world also owes to an ever-rising trend of functional fitness in modern lives. People are drawn to implementing a set of exercises that mimic their daily actions, aimed at improving their strength and stamina. They are not obsessed with having bulging biceps and chiselled abs but just want to do enough to be fit and healthy. The accessibility of doing simple exercises like lunges, squats, and push-ups from the comfort of your home is more alluring and possible than committing time to play team sports or run marathons.
What It Takes To Complete Hyrox Races
All you need is a bit of willpower and an active lifestyle to see yourself through the eight stages of Hyrox. In case you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, you would like to get into the groove with light exercises like running, squatting, or swimming. “You just have to give yourself some time,” advises Deepak, adding that running, along with general conditioning and fitness from a gym perspective is also important. “Getting comfortable with squats, lunges, and improving core strength will make your races extremely smooth. You can start with some strength and conditioning exercises for both upper and lower body,” says Deepak.
Unlike Crossfit where the entry barrier remains out of reach for most people, the Hyrox Races are conducive for everyone. All eight exercises consist of movements that people are already doing in their daily lives.
What Are Exercise Junctions?
SkiErg, Sled push, Sled pull, Burpee broad jumps, Rowing, Farmer's carry, Sandbag lunges, and Wall balls—these are the eight exercises you'll have to go through after every kilometre of run. These are carefully curated drills that take care of cardio while also allowing you to do strength training.
“All these exercises have different purposes and objectives in keeping you mobile and fit. They have been designed so that some of these you are already doing in your daily life even if you are not exercising. You are lifting things, you are carrying things, you are pushing things, you are lunging, you are doing squats, and various other movements. So, these are things with which you will already be familiar,” uips Deepak.
