1. What inspired you to pursue your career?

 

It’s interesting actually. Like every other Indian, I pursued engineering while doing my bachelors, and did the 9-5 corporate grind for almost a decade. But around the time my daughter was 2 yo, I actually went through a stressful time in life (both personally and professionally), and began to lead a very unhealthy lifestyle. I had never before been into any kind of fitness, but joined a health club  to start working out as a form of stress buster. I still remember attending my first group ex class. There was no turning back after that. I can vividly recall the feeling of happiness I got walking out of that workout session that day. And over a period of time, I began to realize that this was my true calling; spreading a feeling of accomplishment and elation in the form of fitness. And through this, in helping as many people as possible!

 

2. What do you most enjoy about your profession?

 

Without doubt, helping people. Helping people make fitness a part of their every day routine. Helping people achieve their goals. Helping people, period. And a part of that help comes in the form of educating and spreading knowledge and awareness, so that the clients become independent. I always quote the following often; “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

This is my mantra when it comes to coaching about leading a healthy and fit lifestyle. 

 

3. What difficulties have you endured to get to where you are today?

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Well, it has definitely been a roller coaster ride. Switching from a secured 9-5 job to being self-employed has had its share of obstacles. Having to face the questions of relatives who couldn’t understand why I took this step, to facing financial instability (something I’m sure a lot of self-employed/entrepreneurs can relate to), to having self doubts, has been harrowing in the past. Plus it was at a time when I was also going through divorce proceedings. So all these factors did pose difficulties. But all I knew was that this is where my future lay. And I did everything possible to cross these hurdles. And I must say that I am blessed to be surrounded by incredibly supportive family and friends, who have always been my backbone.

 

4. What would you like to be doing five years from now?

 

The same thing I am doing now. Helping people. Only hoping that my reach has spread far enough that I am helping as many people as I can. In whatever capacity I can. At the end of the day, this is what brings me happiness. 

 

5. What advice do you have for women who are in pursuit of their dreams?

 

Be independent. That’s always going to be at the foundation of anyone pursuing their dreams. The moment you start being dependent, be it financially or emotionally, on someone else, you start opening up ways for their voice to matter in your dreams. And then it no longer is yours. Secondly, Be a doer. Start doing and not just dreaming. Even a small action of yours can have ripple effects that will make you that much closer to you achieving your dreams. So execute. And execute consistently. And lastly, surround yourself with likeminded positive people, who believe in you and your dreams. Your very own support system. Could be family, friends, co-workers. 

 

6. What life lessons have you learnt from Covid-19 that you would like to share with other aspiring women?

 

That life is unpredictable, and will keep throwing one curve ball after the other. And the only way you can get through it is if you are living your life with gratitude for all that you have today. Don’t obsess over wealth. If you have your health with you, and are surrounded by your loved ones, you are already winning this game. And also, don’t be afraid of changes. There is strength in change. Be open to it. That way you will be miles ahead of everyone, who are still stuck in the ways of the old. So Gratitude + Adaptability to Change.

 

7. What is your greatest strength and weakness?

 

I like to think that my greatest strength lies in my ability to see a ray of hope in any difficult situation. And as for my greatest weakness…well I have two actually. One, my time management skills, which on some days are really really bad (and this of course leads to procrastination), though I have been actively working on changing this. My 2nd greatest weakness is my fear of showing any vulnerabilities. And this is another area that I have been working on. To get out of this fear, and to take small baby steps in showing my vulnerabilities.

 

8. If you were to go back in time, what would you have done differently?

 

Would have added fitness into my daily routine as a kid. Would have started working on my dreams much earlier and started doing, and taking action on things more often, instead of waiting and procrastinating. And would have learnt to be independent earlier, at the age of 18 itself. Which just goes to prove the point that, in life, we will most often regret the things that we didn’t do, and very rarely regret those that we do.