in honour of Sri Chinmoy’s 40th Weightlifting Anniversary

In 1985, at age 54, Sri Chinmoy began his amazing weightlifting journey, after a knee injury made his beloved running almost impossible for him and inspired him to look for other ways of self-transcendence and keeping fit.

So on June 26, 1985, he officially started by lifting a 40 lbs dumbell from the ground overhead at Aspiration-Ground. Only a few weeks later, on Sept. 6, he lifted an 85 lbs dumbell from the ground. More on: https://www.srichinmoy-reflections.com/weightlifting-anniversary.

In his own words:

“The reason I have entered into bodybuilding and weightlifting is to inspire everybody to pray and meditate so they can bring to the fore their own inner strength. If everybody brings to the fore his own inner strength, the world will eventually be inundated with peace.”

More quotes: https://www.inspiration-lifts.org/sri-chinmoys-quotes-on-weightlifting/

But Guru still kept exercising his whole body:

“I take exercise for each part of the body: arms, legs, back and whatever muscles are required to keep the body fit. I do at least 20 different exercises daily for my upper and lower body…“

„I wish to say a few words about the physical aspect of life, which, to my great sadness, many of the disciples are ignoring…. Dear ones, you do not have to be the champion supreme. Only keep your body fit. Physical fitness, again and again I am saying, is of paramount importance.“ From: https://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/tms-7

„Until we breathe our last, let us aspire, and let us inspire others.

„No matter how old you are, if you want to make progress in your spiritual life, if you want to make progress in your vital, mind, heart and soul, then physical fitness is absolutely necessary… I am not physically perfect; I get so much pain in my back and my knee. But still I take exercise every day.“ https://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/lpj-11

To celebrate this anniversary we are inviting you to join

40 Consecutive Days (or more) of Weight-Training or Lifting – anytime between May 7 – August 7, 2025

• in 3 weight categories:

• 100 lbs, 400 lbs or 400 kg per day. You chose your category for 40 days – or create your own. Or do 2x 40 days in different categories. Stronger people/ boys may want to aim higher.
• If you miss a day, you have to start again and can still count the „solo“ days as extra days for a cumulative number. From May 7 to August 7 it is 92 days – enough time even for 2x 40 days.
• Weights can be anything: proper weights, water bottles, bean cans, books etc., and „lifting“ includes any type – front, side, back, overhead, curls,  – basically „moving a weight with your hand and arm muscles“, also only short distances, up to you. The main thing: to do it very consciously and not get injured.

It is easy: even 400 kg can be lifted easily within a day in several sessions. Example: take two 1 liter water bottles (1kg each in left and right hand), and curl them 20x front and 20x back = 80 kg. 10x overhead lifts and 20 overhead curls = 60 kg – do this set 3x a day and you have 420 kg! Each set takes less than 2 minutes! Create a set that is comfortable for you and repeat it. If you feel something hurting, immediately change or vary your set and use different lifts. There are so many ways to use weights. See illustrations below.

IMPORTANT: It is not a competition for most weight lifted, but about consistency, oneness with Guru’s weightlifting and building muscle without getting injured – since muscles tend to atrophy when not used and joints getting rusty – and Guru always encouraged us to exercise, with no excuse for age! Suggestion: combine small weights with easy squats, lunges, stretching, yoga etc.for a full body workout. Or do it lying down, or meditatively sitting in front of your shrine etc.
When you feel you are getting stronger and wish to do more or extra sets on different days, we might either still do cumulative weight or count extra sets as extra days (we will see, happy for feedback!). Or you can jump to the next /a higher category for another 40 days. But again, be careful to stay uninjured.

AWARDS: We may have a special item or awards at August Celebrations for each category, for most consecutive days and for the most cumulative days on top of the minimum 40 consecutive days. And ask all participants to perform one of the weightlifting songs together: https://www.srichinmoysongs.com/weightlifting-songs

It is not a competition for the most weight lifted, but for the most consistent lifting. (But you can still count your sets, if you do multiple sets of your category on several days. Main thing: to stay uninjured!)

MAIN GOALS of the 40+ Day Challenge in short:

1. Oneness with Guru’s weightliftung
2. Consistency over mass – without getting injured! (Means: never even go close to your limit!)
3. building upper body strength (and to prevent muscle loss for the older generation)
4. exercising more, and consistently (as recommended by Guru recommended a few hours a day!)

Main Rules:

• if you miss a day you have to start over again, but can count the individual days as extra days. The goal is at least 40 consecutive days by August 7th (you have 90 days to try!). Otherwise still count your cumulative days.
• if you want to do multiple sets of your category on some days as you get stronger you can count them as an extra (non-consecutive) day.
• Ideally: briefly meditate before and after the lifting, or consciously dedicate it or offer gratitude – for more lifting-joy 🙂

Please share with your Center and friends to inspire others to participate. It would be great to have at least 40 people in each of the 3 categories (100lbs, 400 lbs and 400kg).

I am happy to make a list of participants to inspire each other. Pls. send me your names, Center, age (!) and category.

Contact – and pls. don’t hesitate to ask questions or give suggestions:

Vasanti (mms) or vasanti@heidelweb.de or Whatsapp +49 176 88 447 963.

CAUTION:

Illustrations still to come – pls. come back later!