Pay For Subway Ticket With Squats in Russia

Subways in Russia are getting into the Olympic spirit. If you live in Moscow and ride the subway to work, getting your exercise in before your work day just got a whole lot more convenient. Of course, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics have a lot to do with this. And, thanks to the upcoming Olympic games, getting a free subway ticket has never been easier, or harder. All you have to do is 30 little squats. That doesn’t sound too overly difficult, right? (Try to do 5 squats right now). It’s a lot harder than it sounds.

All About Fitness

The Russian Olympic Committee wanted to do something that would encourage everyone in Russia to participate in a sporting lifestyle. I have to admit – it doesn’t get much more “sporting” than doing 30 squats, and they have set up these squatting kiosks all throughout the subway system in Moscow.

And don’t think you can just bend up and down and fool the squatting machine; no, it has eyes everywhere and is able to tell when squatters are cheating or not doing the exercise correctly. I’m not sure if you have to pay double price for a ticket if you are caught cheating…

This is undoubtedly a good way to promote fitness during the commute to work; that is, as long as you don’t mind all kinds of people watching you as you squat for your train ticket. This also presents a unique opportunity for Russians to encourage other Russians as they struggle to get to squat number 30.

I’ll be the first to admit that I couldn’t do 30 squats to save my life, but I do think this is a very creative way to promote fitness. Would you be able to do 30 squats in exchange for a free subway ticket? Would you even be willing to try it out in front of a room full of complete strangers?

I have been unable to determine if this is something they will eventually try in the USA.

[Image via ABCNews]

SOURCE: http://mashable.com/2013/11/12/russian-subway-squats/