Fitness has never been about gender: Devyani Jha

Yoga originated in India several thousand years ago as a system of physical and spiritual practices. It was formalized in the second century BC in the form of the Yoga Sutras, attributed to the scholar Pantanjali. The word 'Yoga' means 'union' or 'yoke' or 'joining'. Originally, Yoga was (and is in places where it is practiced as such) a method for joining a regular imperfect human being with the divine principle.

Yoga provides the health benefits of physical exercise as well as promotes relaxation and emotional control. Devyani, a fitness instructor, yoga guru, and body weight trainer, says that Yoga helped her battle anxiety through the lockdown. It made her calm and patient enough to move forward in her fitness journey.

Devyani says that being consistent and motivated in the beginning of the fitness journey was a difficult part, however, the struggle has been worth it, since her physical as well as mental health has developed. 

Through yoga, you get to know yourself and cultivate a more nonjudgmental relationship with yourself. Devyani attests to the fact, as she says that giving time to her body "made me realise everything will happen in its own time" and helped her understand herself.

Fitness is a field that is not very welcoming to women, considering them as the weaker sex. However, Devyani says that fitness is not about gender at all. Will power matters more than physical strength when it comes to fitness. 

She now acts as an inspiration to countless others who want to achieve a holistic development of their health. Her message to the masses is to prioritise physical and mental health over everything, afterall, in a happy body resides a happy soul.