I was foolish. To assume weight = fitness. Life shocked me with one single blow at the age of 37.

Meet Moushumi Saini - Founder & Director at Spandhan Yoga. A science graduate from Delhi University with an MBA from Goa Institute of Management. Moushumi had 15+ years of Corporate experience before making a switch into the Wellness space. Looking at her physique if you assumed she may have always been a fitness enthusiast, you are mistaken my friend. You'd be surprised to know Moushumi had never practiced Yoga or any form of fitness regime until the age of 37. Until her body started to revolt.

Read on to discover Moushumi's unbelievable journey from illness to wellness.

NS: Was Yoga a significant part of your early life? Is that the reason for a slim body like yours?

MS: (Laughing!) A lot of people assume so! Would you believe if I told you that I had never in my life tried Yoga until the age of 37? Not just Yoga. I hadn’t tried any form of fitness regime until then. Fitness, in my mind, was at best, occasional post dinner walks. My life, until 37, was like anybody else’s. Childhood. Education. Job. Marriage. Children. I had foolishly assumed, like most people do— that weight is equal to fitness. But I was wrong! Life shocked me with one single blow at the age of 37.

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NS: What happened at 37?

MS: One fine day, my right hand did not move. The pain was so sharp that I had to be immediately hospitalized. After a bunch of scans and x-rays, I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. That is when I realized that this wasn’t sudden at all. In my hustle between managing a home, two children and a job, I had clearly ignored the symptoms. A nagging shoulder pain did present itself from time to time. Instead of listening to my body and its needs, I just popped some pills and went on with a demanding life. What we fail to understand is that —Fitness has a shelf life too. With more pills and injections pumped into my body, things only got worse.

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NS: Did you try physiotherapy?

MS: I did. But symptomatic treatments only gave temporary relief. The pain would return every time the body went back to its original state. After trying all forms of medication, someone suggested that I tried Yoga for long term relief. I almost laughed inside my head. How can I practice Yoga when I’m barely able to move my shoulder?

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NS: How did Yoga happen?

MS: I was in Abu Dhabi at that time. I enrolled myself into a Fitness Studio that offered a bunch of fitness classes – Dance, Aerobics, Zumba, Salsa. There was Yoga too. I was at my exploratory best, trying to find the easiest way out of my current problem. And then, I accidentally landed into a Yoga class along with many students of different nationalities. To my surprise, a 20-year-old Portuguese girl walked in, greeted the class with a graceful Namaste and told a class full of students in UAE, how she learnt Yoga in Rishikesh, India. It was ironical for me, an Indian student, to learn an ancient form of yogic science from a foreign national in Abu Dhabi. I had travelled so far from my own home. My own roots. Something inside me had changed that day.

NS: So, what happened next?

MS: I couldn’t even lift half-a-kg of rice at that point, so I continued my Yoga sessions with her for a year until my body started healing. Once my body regained its strength, I enrolled for the 200-hour Yoga Certification course. I learnt Yoga from different places – Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore | Bodhi Yoga, Hyderabad | Sidha Samadhi Yoga, Bengaluru. But wherever I went, I had to compete with young adults whose bodies flowed like water. While mine had lost its flexibility turning into a log due to its acute underutilisation. All Institutes offered placements for their students, except me. I had to carve my own path, find my own students. But I wasn’t ready to give up. Getting my frozen shoulder to move was a huge milestone in my life. And, I had made a firm resolve to help people get fit and flexible with all my learnings. It’s been 6+ years now and I have students across the globe learning Yoga, Pranayama, Surya Namaskar, Meditation etc. from me through both offline and online classes.

NS: That’s so wonderful! What is your fitness advice for women?

MS: Weight is not equal to Health. A lot of women are weight-obsessed or obsessed with their physical features. Will I get a chiseled face? A square jaw? A nice pout? Well, Yoga isn’t a cosmetic course. Moreover, the right questions to ask from a health/fitness standpoint are:

??Can I stove my own luggage in an aircraft overhead bin?

??Can I play freely with my kid without having to pant or huff?

??On a day where the lift isn’t functional, can I take the stairs without a challenge?

??Am I free to travel without a bag full of medicines wherever I go?

??Are my knees/joints going to support me all through my life?

Fitness has a shelf life. Our bodies deteriorate with time. We must invest in its upkeep and maintenance. BE ACTIVE. LOVE YOURSELF. LOVE YOUR BODY. JUST MOVE YOUR BODY. In whatever form or manner. Dance, Walk, Run or practice Yoga... whatever works for you.

NS: What do you like outside work?

MS: I’m a foodie. I love trying different cuisines. I love to travel, explore cultures or be in the lap of nature. I also love spending time by myself.

NS: How can our readers reach you?

MS: Email me on [email protected]

I recently had a chance meeting with Moushumi on a bright Saturday evening for a quick #coffee conversation. While the coffee wasn’t so warm by the time we finished, my heart certainly had warmed up. For me in particular— I’ve never been a fitness enthusiast despite my #plussize body. Through our conversation, I discovered it was my own form of secret #rebellion against all those people who made me believe my size was more obvious than me or my accomplishments. I didn't know of any better way than to show them that I didn’t really care. Until very recently, when I half-heartedly joined the #fitness bandwagon realising that my unused knees would soon end up paying for my stubbornness.

Meeting Moushumi wasn't an accident. She was more of a gentle nudge. Or perhaps, a final call. I have signed up for a #Yoga & #Meditation class which starts next week. What are you waiting for?