While most women choose not to follow their passion and dreams post marriage, here is a lady with a difference who not only pursued her goals but also made a mark for herself in a mostly male dominated area breaking the cultural Indian stereotype mindset.
Meet Sonali Swami, a fitness freak, who chose to walk the ramp to flex some muscles after giving birth to two kids and has bagged many laurels including the 2016 bronze medal at Asian Body Building Championship. Sonali is a certified Zumba and Bokwa Fitness instructor and is a TRX suspension trainer, which is imperative for weight lifting.
In an exclusive chat with Newskarnataka Sonali took Pushparaj Poojary through the journey of her passion. Here are the excerpts…
The beginning:
“As an army officer’s daughter, discipline and focus comes to me naturally. Though I am a Hotel Management graduate, my love for dance always took the first priority and so I pursued it as a career.
As a certified Zumba and Bokwa Fitness Instructor, I was leading a near perfect life with my hubby and two kids till I felt the urge to learn more about fitness. And that is how I got hooked to weight training. The results were amazing! After all the hard work, I won India’s first ever Fit Factor by Body Power in 2014. This confirmed what I always knew that age is just a number. At 41, with two school-going kids, I am proud of myself and want to spread the awareness and motivate other women, especially those in India.”
How do you manage your family with your career?
My day starts at 5 am and by seven, after packing off children to school, the training session commences. I manage my time in such a way that I have enough time to pursue my passion, manage the house and finish all the training before my children return from school. The rest of the evening is spent with them.
How does family respond to your ambition of becoming a fitness athlete?
I couldn’t have got this far without my family’s support, which includes my parents and parents-in-law as well. When my mother-in-law saw the trophy, she was thrilled and said that I should work hard to bring home more of them. Also my husband Sanjay is not only supportive of my passion for bodybuilding but also keeps a close watch on my diet.
Achievements:
· Bronze at the recently held Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Championship 2016
· First ever FitFactor by BodyPower 2014
· 2014 Fit Factor India Winner
· 2014 Muscle Mania India Fitness Winner
· 2014 Muscle Mania Model Wnner
· 2015 Top 10 in World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships
· 2016 Bronze Medalist at Asian Bodybuilding Championship
· Adidas India Sponsored Athlete
Finally before signing off Sonali has a word of wisdom for all, “It’s never too late ! Age is just a number, when it comes to following your dreams or passion. Take care of your health. That’s the best gift you can give to yourself!
Read also:
‘One life, take chances, be everything you wish to be: Ankita extreme
