With the board examinations just round the corner, students are all set to aim for the Holy Grail, and for many, marks will become synonymous with their existence. “The stress confronting students today is incredible. The biggest factor is prestige in society, whereby every student and parent is trying to outdo the other,” points out Brendan MacCarthaigh, founder of the SERVE centre in Calcutta that offers counselling for students. If that sounds a bit benign, the biggest shock comes when he reveals that India has the highest suicide rate in the world among students. “It is no exaggeration to mention that we are approaching the suicide season,” he mourns.

But not all is lost, provided you know how to look for ways out of this grim scenario. Dr Pritam Mukherjee, a fitness consultant who runs Gyms and Spa in south Calcutta, offers sound advice. “The biggest mistake students make before exams is to study to the exclusion of everything else. No matter how important the exam, you just can’t study 24 hours a day,” he claims. He suggests students should exercise for 20 minutes every day before the onset of the examination season.

Shibshankar Giri, a freelance fitness trainer based in Howrah, concurs with Mukherjee. “Warm-up sessions along with meditation and yoga help students to relax,” states Giri. Exercises offered by fitness experts range from cardiovascular exercises to yoga and simple stretches.

A recent study in the US quoted by Mukherjee shows that students who exercise before exams do better than those who relentlessly slog over studies. “I would tend to agree with that,” pipes up a cheerful Gaurav Mukherjee, a class XI science student studying in Calcutta Boys’ School. Going to the gym for relaxation is an integral part of his daily life but he is quick to admit that with exams knocking on the door, time management becomes a bit dicey. “It gets a bit tight closer to the dreaded dates,” he smiles.

Video games and sports also provide diversion for youngsters when exams are round the corner. Sayan Mukherjee, a class VIII student at Methodist School of Dankuni, revels in cycling. “While video games occupy me mentally, cycling provides an outlet for pent up energy,” he informs. Brendan MacCarthaigh is all for students indulging in sports before an examination period as a convenient expression of dormant feelings. “It achieves great things for mind and body,” he says.

Examinations cause mental blocks and it is a well known truism that able students sometimes flounder during exams. “Yoga can alleviate such duress since it is a non-drug therapy with no side effects,” advises director of the Asian Yoga Research Centre in Tollygunge Dr Ujjal Kumar Ghosh. Insomnia, indigestion, back pain, eye irritation and chronic anxiety can all be dealt with by practising yoga, he explains. To stay fit before and during the exams, he recommends simple exercises like Matsasyana, Suryaveda Pranayam, Sahaja Pranayam, Bhramari and Shabasan.

While Matsasyana helps to keep breathing relaxed, Suryaveda Pranayam aids in maintaining an erect demeanour. Sleep, too, is quintessentially important. “No matter what, seven hours’ sleep is an absolute must during the exams,” argues Brendan MacCarthaigh. Lack of sleep can cause cramps in the examination hall, he warns.

Obsession with studies can lead to skipping meals and can be harmful during a test. “Diet matters a lot and it is better to avoid spicy and oily preparations,” warns Ghosh. He is also against the intake of stimulants like tea and coffee in the period approaching an exam.

Fitness drills can boil down to circumlocution of inanities if students are not prudent enough to study throughout the year, warns Kabita Guha, pro-rector of Garden High School on Rashbehari Avenue. “I always recommend regular periods of study and equally regular periods of rest for students throughout the year as an antidote to fitness problems during exams,” she adds. Father Jacob, principal of Don Bosco School in Park Circus, has similar views. He emphasises that moral assurance from teachers is extremely important for students to maintain fitness for exams. After all, he says, a board exam is just another exam.

That may just be the best advice for the seasoned bookworm who is more often than not a fitness acolyte.

Pre-examination tips

Break down study periods into 40 minute chunks u Take five to 10 minute breaks. Take large breaks after three study sessions u Go for evening walks and listen to music

Approach a counsellor if need be

Have regular meals

Go to a gym if you have the time

Get enough sleep

Work hard, play harder

Benefits of doing yoga and physical exercise before exams:

Non drug therapy
No side effects
No overhead cost and not time consuming
No special place needed for practice
No extra food required
Helps normal breathing
Keeps blood pressure stable
Reduces anger
Alleviates tension
Controls the mind, reduces stress and introduces vital discipline