Disha Methi Khandelwal helps Hyderabadis dance their way to fitness
Meet the city-based finance graduate who uses her dancing skills to train people in zumba
Hyderabad: Dance whether it is classical, fusion or modern — is an art but it certainly is not everyone’s cup of tea. And when it comes to choosing it as a profession, even fewer people would do it. Disha Methi Khandelwal is an exception who belongs to the ‘fewer’ category.
A CA by academic choice, she quit her studies and took up dance as her full-time career. What’s more, she uses dance as a means to stay fit and has been training others not just in dance moves but also using it as a fitness routine. So far, she has trained more than 500 people and has recently opened her own studio, ‘The DMK’, in Banjara Hills.
Though she started practising dance from the age of 13, she also ensured that she completed her Master’s in Applied Finance from St. Francis College for Women in Begumpet, before deciding to follow her dream. “It all started when I was pursuing my CA. Though I was good at academics, my heart was always on dance. But, my parents asked me to complete the course. But, after completing my Master’s I decided to quit CA course and focus on dance,” shares Disha, who trains over 80 people daily.
“I started out as a freelancer initially and trained corporate employees and participants at sangeet functions. Later, I started receiving calls from people to train them personally. As the pandemic was the biggest challenge for most of them, I started conducting online classes, which enabled a few interested people from other countries, too, to give my classes a try,” says Disha.
Disha, who has done 2,500-plus fitness sessions till now, also pays attention to her clients’ nutrition. “It’s more of what kind of food we eat that plays a major role; it’s not just the workout but also one’s daily routine which helps the person in the long run,” says Disha who mainly focuses on “married women who are busy with their family and outside work and won’t pay attention to themselves”.“I make sure they have the right food and good exercise which would help them stay strong and handle their homes better,” she adds.
To make her Zumba sessions interesting, Disha conducts a ’24-day commitment to be fitter’ challenge and motivates her clients enough to stick to the workout routine. “I make sure to come up with different concepts to make my client’s day go well. I am particular about the songs I choose and the steps I make them practice,” says the certified dancer-trainer, who has trained under Sucheta Pal.
She also has plans to open studios at a few other locations for those who want to join the
classes but can’t travel to Banjara Hills.
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