“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” ~ Virginia Woolf. On this International Women’s Day, GlobalSpa recognizes and celebrates the women in the industry as we delve into their success mantra they follow, mistakes that have helped them grow, and of course, their WELLNESS philosophy.

One of the leading fitness and wellness experts in India, Sumaya has been a pioneer in the industry since 1997. She started her entrepreneurial journey with ‘SUMAYA’ – Delhi’s first state-of-the-art personal training studio, which focuses on customized fitness routines with a complete focus on individual lifestyle management.

What is your wellness philosophy?

Over the period of years, wellness for me has become more than just aesthetics and fitness – it is about being happy, at peace and enjoying every moment of your present day.

Your success mantra?

If you’re passionate about something, the universe just aligns to make all good things happen for you. So you need to work hard and believe in yourself and I really believe that things just fall into place.

A lesson you learned from making a mistake?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is – Till you ask, you don’t get. All the times I have been shy to ask for things, even if work related; the thought of “what if i had asked” always lingered. Now it’s my mantra, at least then I know that I tried.

Any piece of advice for all the women out there?

I hope you’re not too hard on yourself while juggling multiple roles. Be present in what you’re doing – if you’re at home, pay attention to your home and kids, if you’re at work, give your best.

What has been your biggest pride as a doyenne?

I don’t know whether I’ll call it pride, but I feel happy that I have inspired people that age is just a number. If I can make a small difference in anyone’s life by imparting good knowledge or influencing them towards a positive aspect in life, or if people can learn from my mistakes – I think that to me is my biggest pride.