Guwahati: People in Guwahati, in the state of Assam, are literally 'walking on water' to get into shape - one of the latest exercise crazes involves a plastic sphere that allows you to run laps not on the treadmill but on water.
This plastic sphere was supposed to be used simply for fun, but now it's fast becoming a popular exercise option.
Shilpi, a water ball user, says, "First I used to go to gym. Gym was very expensive and time bound. But now that I found this water walking ball, it's very easy and fun way to keep fit. In this, once you learn the balancing act, you can easily burn a lot of calories"
This giant ball is capable of supporting a person's weight while staying afloat all one needs to do is keep one's balance once inside.
Another water ball user, Pallavi Dutta, says, "Though I still can't balance myself on the water surface and so I have to crawl, but then the good thing is that I lost one kg in just one week."
While the water walking ball will definitely get your heart pumping, fitness professionals are leery of any benefits that may come of it.
Pratibha, a Gym user, has a different opinion, "I don't think it would suit people of every age and weight as they might not be able to balance and I don't think it's practical. Pursuing this everyday is not practical...gym should be a regular routine... walking on the treadmill, using weights, machines. It should not be like once in a while.."
Practical or not, the water walking ball is proving itself to be a lot of fun. Some are looking at it as a fun way to shed those pounds while some just use it as a sport, something to have fun with family and friends.