Walking the Walk

How a Duke couple turned group fitness into two decades of motivation and connection

A couple stands on a walking path
Jayabalan Sundaravelu, right, and Rama Arumugam, left, have been devoted participants in LIVE FOR LIFE’s fitness programs for more than 20 years. Photo by Travis Stanley.

An email arrived in Rama Arumugam’s inbox soon after she started working at Duke in 2000. It promised group fitness opportunities in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. She couldn’t wait to sign up.

Arumugam went to a Duke Run/Walk Club gathering on West Campus, not realizing it would be the start of a two-decade relationship with fitness programs run by Duke’s employee wellness program, LIVE FOR LIFE.

In 2003, Arumugam married Jayabalan Sundaravelu, known as Bala to his friends, and he began attending LIVE FOR LIFE group fitness outings, too.

For Arumugam, a Laboratory Research Analyst I in Psychiatry, it was a place to find motivation.

“I always loved group exercise rather than doing it by myself,” she said. “I would cheat a little if I am doing exercise by myself. But group exercise has really motivated me to keep going.”

For Sundaravelu, a Provider Support Associate in Pediatric Nephrology, the outings provided a chance to practice his English after moving from India, while also incorporating regular exercise into his daily routine.

“When I came here, I had lot of sleeping issues because of the time difference between here and India,” he said. “This exercise helped me a lot – getting the sleep without taking any medication.”

At left, Jayabalan Sundaravelu poses with LIVE FOR LIFE's Esther Granville and Julie Joyner during a Duke Chapel Climb event offered by the Duke employee wellness program. At right, Rama Arumugam stands with LIVE FOR LIFE's Granville and LeAnna Johnson. Photos courtesy of Rama Arumugam

For the couple, LIVE FOR LIFE programs have been a constant at Duke, a dedicated way to make movement a priority.

“You can count on them,” said Debra Smith, a Staff Assistant with LIVE FOR LIFE. “If nobody else comes, they’ll be there. And it motivates me.”

Stop by any Duke Run/Walk Club gathering during the twice-yearly, 12-week programs, and you’ll see the couple walking the East Campus loop. They have attended in-person group strength classes, yoga and Pilates classes and climbed to the top of Duke University Chapel with LIVE FOR LIFE. Sundaravelu even adjusted his remote work schedule so that his at-home days coincided with times when there were no on-campus LIVE FOR LIFE activities.

“Especially with this sedentary work lifestyle, sitting so long for eight hours looking at the computer – we need some motivation,” Sundaravelu said. “We need some physical exercise, fitness and motivation.”

Among the movement, they found community. Arumugam calls Smith one of her dearest friends at Duke. And both Arumugam and Sundaravelu took LIVE FOR LIFE fitness specialists to Lime & Lemon Indian Grill on Durham’s 9th Street in 2024 to thank them and introduce them to food from their culture.

“Their dedication and enthusiasm have not only enhanced their own health and well-being but have also been a tremendous source of inspiration to the Duke community around them,” said Carlos Velasquez, a LIVE FOR LIFE Fitness Specialist. “We couldn’t be more proud to have individuals like them leading by example, reminding us that with determination and support, a healthier, more vibrant community is possible.” 

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