Children health plays a very dominant role in our lives and that is why it is  often said  ‘Health is Wealth’.  To enjoy our lives to the fullest we should have good health. In fact health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it. We can improve our health by not only taking a proper diet but also by  doing  Yoga and Mallakhamb.Infact way back when there were no ‘Fitness Centers’ people in Bharat  used to pratice Yoga and Mallakhamb for acquiring a healthy mind and a healthy  body.
What is Mallakhamb
In Mallakhamb, a gymnast performs feats and poses in concert with a vertical wooden pole or rope.The word ‘Mallakhamb’ is composed of malla which denotes a gymnast or a man of strength and khamb which means a pole.

It’s a serious sport that requires intense practice and projects the perfect gymnast. It helps develop qualities such as flexibility, swiftness, and polish along with rhythm that is precious for any gymnast. The Mallakhamb exercises make the body light and strong and these are beneficial for stomach, back and thighs. It is a good exercise to our body especially for backbone. Our whole body is strengthened while performing on Mallakhamb. It is a sport that combines various exercises that improve flexibility, strength, coordination and agility. Along with neuromuscular development, areas of personal character, discipline and self-motivation will be strongly enhanced. It improves the concentration, helps enhancing immunity power, increases the competitive spirit, and to fight the stress levels in an organised and a better way. The manner in which the body is turned, twisted, stretched and balanced on the Mallakhamb keeps the spectators spellbound. Playing on the Mallakhamb  helps to develop ones speed, reflexes, concentration and coordination. Most of the exercises in Mallakhamb are fabricated keeping wrestling in view.  Training of Mallakhamb helps in practicing many other games which include Wrestling, Judo, Gymnastics, Athletics, Horse-riding, Tennis etc.
History of Mallakhamb
The origin of this ancient Indian sport can be traced to earlier part of the 12th century. A mention of wrestlers exercising on wooden poles is found in the Manasholas, written by Someshwar Chalukya in 1153 A.D and Manusmruti.   It was revived late in the 19th century by Balambhatta Dada Deodhar, physical instructor to BajiraoPeshwa II. He took great efforts to popularise this sport.  Though British colonialists did their best to outlaw traditional Indian athletic practices. The people of India have practiced Mallakhamb for hundreds of years. It was first introduced as an exercise for wrestlers. They would attack the pole like it was their opponent. The pole allowed them to practice holds and awkward body poses that could be used in the wrestling ring once perfected on the pole. Competitive Mallakhamb at the National level first made its appearance at the National Gymnastics Championships held at, Delhi, in the year 1958. It was here that the Gymnastic Federation of India proposed to recognise the game and include it in subsequent National Gymnastic Championships.
The first National Mallakhamb Championship was held at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in the year 1962, as part of the National Gymnastics Championships. It was continuously organised by the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFl) until 1976 when it was disassociated from the GFI. From 1977 to 1980, no recognised National Mallakhamb Championships were held. However, in the year 1968-69, the game was introduced in the All India Inter University Gymnastic Championships.
On November 21,1980, some Mallakhamb enthusiasts at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, founded an All India level Association, which was later called as the “Mallakhamb Federation of India”. The first All India Invitational National Mallakhamb Championships were organised by the New Sports Association from January 27th to 29th , 1981 at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The event brought in representatives from all over India, who participated in these Championships and together they officially formed the “Mallakhamb Federation of India” on  January 29th 1981. Since then, the National Mallakhamb Championships are being organised by different State Associations affiliated to the Federation. Now the sport has become well known with it being showcased in various talent shows, and the game is ever evolving. For Malkhamb the present generation is carrying forward and keeping the high flag flying, resulting in even growing popularity not only in India but also throughout the globe.
The Madhya Pradesh government on  April 9th 2013 decided to declare Mallakhamb as the State Sport.      
Aniket Raja