A zone for fitness

Na Murali's 25-year fitness journey leads to opening Fitzone gym, charity trust for underprivileged children and athletes.

Na Murali’s tryst with fitness began during his teenage years, when he got fascinated with judo, a Japanese martial art. His coach would teach him the basics , but that seemed insufficient for him. As a restless and enthusiastic 17 year old, he was desperate to get access to a gym, which he could not afford to back then.

It was then that a friend requested him to take charge of his gym in the evening , and he grabbed the opportunity. “Though I was not paid for this, I made use of the gym to work out, and developed an interest in fitness. Even when I joined college, I would make my way to the gym in the evenings. Following this, I was offered a full time job at a gym in Alwarpet, based on my experience,” says Murali.

It has been 25 years since Murali set foot in the fitness industry, and 16 since he opened his own gym, Fitzone, at Alwarpet.

Recalling his journey in the industry, Murali says that N Kumar, chairman of The Sanmar Group, motivated and encouraged him to pursue fitness-related education seriously. “He mentored me, and it was with his moral and monetary support that I went to the US in 2008 to train at the Chek Institute founded by Paul Chek, a holistic health practitioner, wellness coach, corrective exercise specialist and educator,” says Murali. He completed a level 1 certificate course in strength and conditioning and went on to do multiple certifications over the next 10 years.

“I developed an interest in golf biomechanics and rehabilitation, and in other martial arts. Gradually I also trained as a corrective exercise trainer and specialised in posture correction,” he says. Murali also completed his degree in yoga therapy at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University.

“ Clients for whom I was a personal trainer supported me by becoming gym members. I am currently working on my PhD on effective corrective exercises for school children, and I have completed training in acupuncture and other alternative therapies,” he added. He is currently general secretary of the Tamilnadu Judo Association 

To mark the occasion of completing 25 years in the fitness industry, he launched a Fitzone Charity Trust, through which he aims to financially assist children from underprivileged backgrounds, sportspersons, and conduct fitness awareness camps.