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Sanju Samson's chain workout is viral, but trainers warn you to not try it

Debodinna ChakrabortyJuly 17, 2023 | 19:03 IST

The Indian Cricket team is known for its abundant talent and fierce competition. Among the aspiring players, only a few get the opportunity to represent the nation, and when they do, they strive to make it count. However, Sanju Samson seems to have taken this notion of making it count to an extreme level.

What

Sanju Samson, the 28-year-old explosive batsman of India, is displaying unwavering dedication as he prepares for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against West Indies.


Recently, he shared glimpses of his intense workout at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Instagram, catching the attention of fans. What stood out was his unique training method, which involved using heavy metal chains, leaving netizens both baffled and intrigued. Some even drew comparisons between Samson and American WWE wrestler and actor, John Cena.

Sanju Samson's chain has been compared to that of John Cena. (image: Instagram/ Sanju Samson)

In the Instagram post, Samson can be seen performing his workout routine with a considerably heavy metal chain around his neck. One might wonder about the purpose of this chain.

Why the chain?

It's evident that the exercise aims to add significant weight to his body during the workout. The photos reveal Samson performing lunges, an exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. Adding external weight to the process intensifies the workout itself.

The purpose of the chain is just to add external weight on your muscles that you are working out. (image: Unsplash)

This is precisely the purpose of the chain. Generally, any type of weight can be used to intensify a workout, including something as simple as a dumbbell in a gym.

We spoke to Ajinkya Mohite, the head trainer at Alpha Fitness, Thane, who candidly stated that using a heavy chain like Samson's around your neck is merely an exaggerated version of the concept of adding weights to your workout. So, if you're wondering if a huge metal chain is the key to achieving your dream body, think simpler.

Adding a chain that big is just overselling the simple concept of adding weights to your workout….I advise people to just stick to a dumbbell. 
- Ajinkya Mohite, Head trainer at Alpha Fitness, Thane, Maharashtra

So if you’re wondering if a huge metal chain is your key to the dream body you’ve been waiting for, think simpler. 

If I wanna do it..is it safe?

Now, let's address the question of safety. It's evident that when a well-known cricket personality like Sanju Samson shares an unconventional workout image, many people will be tempted to try it out and jump on the hype train. However, professionals advise against using a giant chain if you want to avoid unnecessary neck pain that could last for a week.

Such a weight around your neck can potentially cause trouble for your cervical spine, doing more harm than good, regardless of whether you are an intermediate or advanced trainee at the gym.

This type of workout might harm your cervical spine. (image: Unsplash)

Asheesh Thakran, a renowned prep and transformation coach at Reefit Gym, Gurgaon, highlights that this type of exercise carries a high risk of damaging your cervical spine due to the uneven distribution of weight.

In my 18-19 years of experience, I have never advised anyone of this sort of work-out and I will stick to that…No one should follow something simply because they see it on the internet and if it leaves you with a damaged cervical…I don’t see a point.
- Asheesh Thakran Prep & Transformation Coach, Reefit Gym, Gurgaon, Haryana

So, if you're contemplating recreating Sanju Samson's John Cena workout during your next visit to the gym, it's best to heed the advice of professionals and avoid it.

Last updated: July 17, 2023 | 19:03
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