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Fitness instructor Poonam Bhatewara is from Surat, Gujarat. She has balanced her full-time responsibilities as a mother, a nutritionist, and a fitness trainer. Poonam Bhatewara takes multi-fitness classes that combine yoga, pilates, dumbbell exercises, and body weight training.
Here is a delightful conversation with Poonam Bhatewara on her journey about fitness, yoga, nutrition, and meditation with Icy Tales. Let’s delve into the conversation to learn more about Poonam Bhatewara.
Q) What is your favorite part about fitness, meditation, and yoga?
Poonam Bhatewara: Yoga and meditation have been the most integral part of growing up and being who I am today. It’s been 12 years since I have been meditating. The journey has been remarkable. The growth I have witnessed in myself is something I haven’t dreamt of; Meditation is very close to my heart. It has given me strength in the lowest of times, and I can also help others. Out of all these mediation is one which will always be my priority.
Everything fades, but learning the art of being into yourself helps you a lot in many things in life. Mediation and yoga are very much interconnected for me because the practices I do in daily life are a mix of physical activity, which leads to the state where I can do meditation, even though I am trying to promote it in my classes, as well.
Yoga and fitness I do to keep my body fit, but I do meditation to keep myself fit in all directions. Though I am taking multi-style sessions, I ensure I also hit on my client’s mental health. The only reason is our lifestyle; I think it’s very important for everyone to get introduced to this beautiful thing, even if one person can help through this, it will be my achievement.
Q) There are so many certified yoga and fitness instructors; according to you, what makes you different?
Poonam Bhatewara: I don’t compare myself with anyone. We all are working on ourselves and growing differently; we all have a specific goal. Everyone is different in their way. I am no different, but I try to be inclusive with my clients. I try to make them very comfortable with me; in case they go through some personal trauma, they can share it with me without hesitating, and also, I can be aware of their state of mind.
I try to keep flexibility in my program; by keeping that, my major plan is for all ladies should feel confident about themselves. No matter what shape and size you are in, once you start feeling confident from the inside, then your shape and size don’t matter after a certain point.
All the ladies joining me should take one hour for themselves. The motto that I follow is “Love yourself.” Family and kids will all stay there, but you can’t give the same love to the family unless you do not love yourself. I want all the ladies to look up to me and come to me to learn the art of loving yourself first.
I am not saying to be selfish but to self-prioritize yourself at least one hour in a day where you can take “Me time” and do things that you love doing. You have to be healthy to take care of the family.
Q) Meditation can be surely associated with a calm and peaceful mind. How well do you think meditation can help keep good mental health?
Poonam Bhatewara: Meditation is a tool that helps you to keep your mental health in check if you are doing the practice regularly. Meditation is something that calms down your nervous system, brain, and everything which is going on in your body. If you are doing meditation through breathing techniques, it helps.
When I take meditation sessions, they are mostly based on breathing techniques. There is a certain process that takes time to get into the zone of being thoughtless; even if they are not, they feel they are looking inside themselves and not outside. There is a certain process and energy that needs to be transmitted to my clients, and I am grateful for the grace that the real blessing is coming upon me and that I can help people in need.
Meditation is spiritual that has all kinds of scientific significance. All the nervous and energy passages in the bodywork through the breathing patterns. Once you can regulate your breathing pattern with your mind, many things get sorted out.
Once you start practicing things daily, your mental state becomes stable, even if you are going through a rough phase. You sit and practice, and it gives emotional stability and it clears your aura as well. In a signal human body, there are five-six bodies, and one is the energy body which is a different dimension.
When you start practicing these things, the energy body gets energized through breathing techniques. When the energy body meets with the higher energy body, it makes everything work around you. When your body and mind are in sync, everything comes in sync.
Q) How would you describe your journey as a fitness coach?
Poonam Bhatewara: My journey as a fitness coach has been amazing till now. The growth I have seen in me being a coach and how I have picked up is amazing. Of course! I have a long way to go, but whatever the universe is showing on me, I grab it with both hands by being very grateful for everything coming and who is coming to me.
I have been blessed with supportive and inclusive clients who are serious about working on themselves, which greatly boosts me. They are very serious about working on themselves because I am ready to give them what I have to offer.
In the first place, I never thought I would be a fitness trainer. This was the turn my life took three years back, and I never looked back. I am grateful that this whole fitness journey came to me, and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The whole journey has been miraculous till now.
Q) What are some things you would recommend someone to follow to be active and lead a healthy life?
Poonam Bhatewara: The thing that I would recommend is firstly eating mindfully. Secondly, never miss your workout. Thirdly, have a lot of water. And the fourth one is the most important meditation. We as a generation won’t be able to help our kids when they grow up and struggle in their life emotionally and everywhere else. We won’t be helping them to get away and keep ourselves in solitude when such things happen.
Q) Tell us about your fitness regime; how do you maintain your fitness?
Poonam Bhatewara: My day starts at 4:30 in the morning; I do my morning chores, do my workout, and do meditation practice in the morning. I take classes. I make sure I take meals on time. I make sure I am eating my dinner by 7- 7:30 pm. I take my lunch at 1 pm. I have a batch to take between 12 to 1 noon. The time you are taking your meals also sets the tone of your body and how it works.
Since I am taking batches all day, I work out all day. If someday I am eating junk, I make sure I am compensating the next day by having more vegetables and fibers and fewer carbs. This is what my day looks like.
Q) What keeps you motivated when you are faced with challenges?
Poonam Bhatewara: There are days when I am demotivated. It takes me a day to two to come back in action. My mental state starts recovering from whatever thing has demotivated me. Mediation is something I rely on whenever I am upset about some emotional turmoil. That’s when these things come into the picture more. Mediation and affirmations keep me going.
Q) What do you feel is the most important skill a fitness coach should possess?
Poonam Bhatewara: You should be a good listener; you should understand enough to understand your client’s needs. I think this is the most important thing if you are not listening to your client, then you probably won’t be able to do the job; you should have enough knowledge about the things you are keeping on the plate. The skill of a fitness coach is a combination of knowledge and how you are incorporating into the whole process of the client’s journey.
Q) What would you advise people who are just starting yoga?
Poonam Bhatewara: The only advice I would give is that never give up on something you want because if you give up, you will never be able to achieve that goal you are aiming for.
Poonam Bhatewara is a self-made person who delicately balances her role as a mother, fitness trainer, and yoga instructor. She has shared some workouts and interesting vlogs on her YouTube channel. Make sure you visit!
Watch the full interview with Poonam Bhatewara on our YouTube channel.
Last Updated on by Sathi