Urmi Kothari aka Coach Urmi is an energy coach and believes that one can transform the mind, starting with the body. With an experience of over 21 years in fitness, sports, martial arts, professional dance and yoga, she is currently spreading the philosophy of “Kinetic Living” at her HQ in Mumbai and online, via my Kinetic Living podcast and recently via TEDx talk.
She is also a Nike trainer and a Master trainer who has coached over 200 aspiring coaches in the country all while building up an eclectic mix of clientele (artists, actors, comics, models, writers, directors, photographers) over the last 7 Years.
Women Fitness India got an opportunity to get in touch with the stunning, energy-packed celebrity trainer, Coach Urmi to talk about her life, passion, work, and much more. Read on.
Namita Nayyar
Your first venture in workout routine was at the age of 12 and as of today, you are one of a kind fitness coach. Please share your journey with your achievements.
Urmi Kothari
wow! That’s a demanding question haha. Well as the question itself suggests that it is has been a ‘journey’ …and achievements are just milestones in the journey and while they have a motivating and validating factor, the true journey is the time and mindset between these achievements.
I think my biggest achievement and a source of gratitude has been the physical, mental, and financial ability to spend time and energy on learning different forms of fitness. I started learning Bharat Natyam when I was 8 years till I was 10. I started out with shot put and throw all at 12 Moved on basketball full time – 2 hours EVERY single day from the age of 13 to 21 In junior college, I continued to also play basketball and represent Jai hind and KC colleges
Between 2004 to 2006, as I studied BMM graduation, I ventured into Kickboxing for almost 2 years where my fitness skyrocketed. During This time, In college, I indulged my dance keeda with Shiamak Dakar’s SDIPA for a year where I got the opportunity to also be a part of one of his Filmfare performances as part of the troupe with headliners like Hrithik Roshan and Bipasha Basu and John Abraham. When I started working, from 2007, I started regular gym training which would continue till 2008 when I left for my MBA abroad. There again I started playing basketball, every evening or running very regularly. Till 2009.
In 2009, I switched careers and turned towards professional Indian contemporary dancing with Daksha Sheth where I learn Kalaripayattu, Iyengar Yoga, Mallkhamb from 2009 to 2012 full time
In 2012, I started Kinetic Living and learned and certified myself as a professional in Pilates, Kettlebells from three different schools, Trampoline, Functional Training, Animal Flow, Barefoot Training, Core and Metabolic conditioning.
Started training TV personalities like Rajesh Kumar, Gul Khan, Gorky M. In 2014, became best women lifter in EKFA National Kettlebell Championship under 60kg weight category.
In 2014, I became a master trainer to train other trainers in functional training.
In 2015, I was Mumbai’s first Nike certified trainer delivering training’s to women at large through Nike Live session in Mumbai and certain influencers in helping them achieve their fitness goals like Rohan Joshi (stand up comic) for pull-ups, Archana Walawalkar, co-founder of Style Cracker, for running and Priyanka Kapadia who is Editor at Vogue Magazine for weight loss.
Was Featured in Nike’s Cannes Award-Winning Ad, ‘DA DA DING’. In 2016, went to LA to participate in the Ultimate Beast Master show by Netflix
In 2017, Started my own studio “Kinetic Living” – coached clients like Sarah Jane Dias, Dayana Erappa. In 2018, launched the Pilates Studio at Kinetic Living and also became an expert with Apple. Worked with brands like Red Bull, and started coaching celeb clients like Kubbra Sait, Kaneez Surka, Sumukhi Suresh, Mallika Dua, Veer Das. Worked as a Fitness Technical Head for Shilpa Shetty App for her fitness programs from 2018-2019In 2019, Featured in Making the Listen World Campaign by NikeIn Feb 2019, was awarded the Women’s Super Achiever award by 6th NAtional World Leader Ship congress 2019, Worked with TATA sky for featuring Kinetic Living workouts on their platform started as the fitness coach for the celebs for YouTube India’s First original related to FitnessIn 2020, winner of the TIMES OF INDIA SHE Unlimited Entrepreneurship Award in Aug 2020.
FULL INTERVIEW ON NEXT PAGE!
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness Org
Namita Nayyar
You started off at a time when there weren’t as many women trainers. Your piece of advice for girls & women in the lookout for a fitness coach to achieve weight loss & optimum fitness in the right term.
Urmi Kothari
Being a fitness coach I WAY WAY WAY beyond just losing weight. So let’s not mix the two. Becoming a fitness coach not just requires you to work on your fitness, but also requires you to have the drive to empower other people… be part of their fitness journey. Have patience, have the willingness to understand and motivate them but also be strict and their true friend.
And honestly, there is nothing like being a woman or a man in the fitness industry. Yes, it happens to be more commonly pursued by men. BUT the difference lies in YOUR Mind. I honestly feel the reason I didn’t face major sexist differences (at least to my face) is that I never saw myself as ONE woman among MANY men. For me, it has always been about being MY best self in any room that I went in. I never differentiate between genders…be it a student or a fellow coach.
Remember, If you don’t have it in your head, it will show in your actions and your actions will speak and influence the way other people perceive you.
Namita Nayyar
Your personal fitness routine, please share input on how it has evolved over the years. 5 Expert exercises to build a strong core?
Urmi Kothari
This answer will run into pages…but my earlier I would be go through phases of pursuing each workout discipline individually. Now, I integrate all the disciplines I know in a span of 2 weeks.
Now my workouts are based on my energy levels. They are more intuitive and reflect more towards my internal energy balance.
The components I focus on often endurance: cardio vascular strength: Spine and pulling strength because that is the hardest for me. I also have functional scoliosis still work: handstand, animal flow Focus and tuning into to my internal center: meditation for chakras, pranayama
5 CORE exercises :
Beginner level
- Hollow Hold
- Superman
- Side plank
- Single leg bridge hold
- Scapula pull-ups and push-ups
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness Org
Namita Nayyar
Please share the diet pattern you follow? First meal you like to kick start your day with? Foods you keep to a minimum?
Urmi Kothari
THERE is no DIET pattern I follow Please check out my IGTV on united women for any guidelines I focus on consuming the macronutrients like protein, fats, and complex carbs limit fruits to a max of 2 a day I consume green leafy veggies very often kick start my day with my keto coffee Foods that I keep to a minimum: all regular desserts and bread and biscuits that have refined flour, table sugar, and vegetable oil
Namita Nayyar
5 Nutritional Tips to gain healthy weight? Supplements according to you every girl over 30 must-take.
Urmi Kothari:
Gain healthy weight by working out and eating complex carbs and protein post the workout. Dont restrict calorie intake Eat calorie-dense fruits like banana or Chikoo before workout Never workout on empty stomach Sleep mini 8 hours a day BE happy and dont stress Run and do cardio BUT not more than 20-30 minutes for 2- 3 times a week.
Supplements:
- VIT D from the Sun and
- Supplement protein: Supplement IF you are not consuming enough protein from natural foods.
- Vitamin C
- Vit B complex
- Ashwa Gandha, and
- probiotic is also good
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness Org
Namita Nayyar
You were diagnosed with PCOS in 2009. Share the physical & emotional turmoil you underwent.Also how did you go about managing with the same.
Urmi Kothari
In the beginning, there was a lot of confusion because I was so active. I tried to treat it only with exercises without realizing that it was also about my lifestyle and food because I was just a student then. I wasn’t a fitness professional. There were frustrating times too but I educated myself. I started reading books and the internet (at that time there was no Instagram) and started doing my research I changed my lifestyle
Namita Nayyar
Being a Nike master trainer who has coached over 200 aspiring coaches in the country, how does it feel when you look back. Quote you live by.
Urmi Kothari
“Whatever you fear, that is what you need to do”
“ Listen to your GUT”
Namita Nayyar
Please share a professional experience which made you re-affirm the need for a healthy diet & lifestyle.
Urmi Kothari
The quality of my own health – both mental and physical has improved over the years.I am my own student first before I teach anyone else. My philosophy is based on my own learning. I am not a believer in DRASTIC FAST transformations.
Like my own life, I teach my students to make slow PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS …these are not quick fixes. I have seen and facilitated slow, and sustainable changes where they choose healthier foods WITHOUT any FORCE from my side. They WORKOUT ON HOLIDAYS without me forcing them to do it. They START TO LISTEN TO THEIR bodies…
Namita Nayyar
How significant is right breathing and body awareness while working out?
Urmi Kothari:
Extremely. Because it is not the end Goal. it is the start point of a personal evolution. Once you are on the path, you will not stop.
Namita Nayyar
Body coordination while practicing yoga. Urmi’s Combination training guide for women at 50.
Urmi Kothari:
Extremely subjective to the exercise and injury history of each woman in her previous years. But for old age, resistance training is extremely important, train your balance, train your core and spine because immobility ages you so move. But move mindfully and not with high impact movements. Joint health is highly based on the strength and flexibility of your tendons and ligaments ..not just muscles.
Pilates, Slow hatha yoga, slow weight training, and gentle trampoline or water treadmill or cycling is great for the joints while still reaping immense benefits.
Namita Nayyar
5 Key to build stamina? According to you what are the biggest challenges in training to run long-distance races? Recommendations for beginners?
Urmi Kothari
Sleep. Start SLOW and small —-most beginners start running fast and gas out.
The Key is to focus on longer duration and slower intensity till you build a base Train different energy systems once you have built a base of 4 weeks Graduate slowly to hill runs, interval runs (fartlek) and speedrunning (first focus on running technique and form before attempting any of these) You can go to a Physio and ask them to do a gait check
Namita Nayyar
How do you like to unwind your day after a hectic routine?
Urmi Kothari:
I spend time with my family or partner, MOVE (depending on y energy levels if I am physically or mentally exhausted, I choose the type of movement) I listen to music or spend time in nature
Namita Nayyar
Message for your fans & WF followers?
Urmi Kothari
Dont listen to other people’s opinions. No one can make you feel what you dont want, WITHOUT your permission. It is not EASY to listen to your inner voice. But it is SIMPLE. Dont expect greatness without giving your energy, attention, and time to anything that you desire. Take action and let go…results will come to you.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness Org