To motivate people to be more physically active, the Dawoodi Bohras of Ohio organized a “Step Challenge” between Nov 1st – Nov 7th 2021 and encouraged community members to take part by submitting their daily step count for that period. The top three achievers with the highest step count were awarded prizes.
The initiative was taken up with great enthusiasm by community members. Twenty-eight people with ages ranging from 23 to 72 years old participated in the challenge. A total of 1.6 million steps were taken by participants, with an average step count of 8,341 per day per participant
During the pandemic, most people’s lives have changed in a manner they had never imagined. Working from home, remote schooling and social distancing have had a huge impact on people’s mental and physical health.
It is said that a thirty minute daily walk provides numerous health benefits, such as burning fat, boosting immunity, and helping to control cholesterol.
Nisreen Henry, one of the elder members of the community and a motivated participant of the Step Challenge, said, “Exercise should be an important part of everyone’s everyday life. This is also applicable for older adults like me. Although I work very hard in my yard during the summer, the walk itself was very challenging for me. I tend to use the treadmill during the cold season, but I am glad that I faced the challenge and decided to walk outdoors. Another added advantage is that I met a lot of new and old neighbors during my walk, which I found refreshing.”
The initiative was planned in accordance with guidance from the leader of Dawoodi Bohras, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who urges Dawoodi Bohras all over the world to care for their physical health. Time and again, His Holiness reminds community members of the importance of one’s mental and physical health. For this reason, a Health committee has been established in each community which is designated to help and guide members to monitor their health, with particular emphasis on preventative care.
Moiz Leelwala, who leads the Dawoodi Bohra congregation in Ohio, said, “Islam is not a faith that teaches only about religion; it also teaches ways of living a balanced life. The guidelines from His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin speak to the importance of physical health, and devising ways to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle help implement them.”
Walking is one of the most ancient forms of exercise, and still remains a crucial part of our modern lives. The Dawoodi Bohras of Ohio are determined to make walking a daily routine and encourage others to join them.
