Leaders

As a marker of expansion and impact, the fitness and lifestyle enhancement industry has embraced a holistic approach that goes beyond physical exercise. A spectrum of needs ranging from physical health to emotional and psychological wellbeing, are addressed making wellness a central part of modern living.

Organizations are adding value in people’s lives by helping them manage stress, prevent lifestyle diseases, and adopt healthier routines.

Championing this cause is Reshma Bhoir, Founder of Sama Lifestyle Studio. She takes a holistic approach to fitness by integrating health, performance, and work-life balance. A true pioneer in fitness, Reshma is also India’s first female bodybuilder.

Over the years, she has broken barriers and overcome prejudges to become a trusted coach to several high-profile individuals.

Today, she leverages her expertise built over the last three decades to passionately design solutions for busy professionals, addressing lifestyle diseases and postural challenges caused by sedentary work patterns.

However, the impact of Reshma’s work also extends to several athletes who are given the opportunity by Sama Lifestyle to build alternate careers in the fitness industry and coaches. Her business model hinges on an extremely active community motivating a population to move away from sedentary lifestyle.

Take us through your initial journey with bodybuilding and fitness.

My journey began in school athletics, where I developed a love for sports and fitness. Later, I joined a gym to stay fit and my progress drew encouragement sparking the idea of stepping into the fitness and bodybuilding space. At that time, female bodybuilding did not exist.

My professional engagement in this industry spanned from 1995 until 2002.

But what began as my personal passion for weight training soon turned into a serious career path.

What inspired you to establish Sama Lifestyle? What’s the underlying idea and vision behind the venture?

During lockdown, I began studying the impact of sedentary lifestyles, especially in corporate employees who spent long hours at their desks. Watching my friends struggle with sedentary and long work hours during COVID made me realize the gap in workplace wellness. I also noticed that most employees lack time and motivation to engage and reap the benefits of gyms and fitness setups at their offices.

Working with individuals from diverse demograph­ics, I have observed that each group has its needs. At Sama, we close the gap in physical activity with short, structured fitness breaks that restore energy and re­sets posture. We bring short, online five-minute ses­sions into people’s workday. By focusing on small but powerful stretches, we help professionals break seden­tary patters while strengthening workplace wellbeing.

The platform is digital, driven by years of expertise in training, coaching, and weightlifting instruction, making fitness accessible and practical for everyone.

How does Sama Lifestyle help companies create a healthy workforce? What larger impact do your services create?

Working with various people over the years has brought a realization that individuals need different types and intensity of exercises and tools. The real impact is when participants feel at ease despite of their initial hesitation. That is why we include simple, inclusive moves that anyone is capable of doing from anywhere.

Some exercises break the ice and build an environment that deepens the need for natural, human-centered movements.

We focus on unlocking career opportunities for athletes, helping them to become certified fitness professionals. By building a dynamic ecosystem of role models, we drive cultural shift where communities inspire healthier, more active lifestyle as compared to the stagnant sedentary way of living.

Since meditation alone does not always address all deeper issues, we have in-house soft skills trainers, experts and counsellors, creating a platform where employees can share personal concerns confidently. This holistic approach helps us create a lasting impact; participants feel relaxes, healed, and return motivated to continue their wellness journey.

What challenges do you encounter as a fitness entrepreneur? How do you navigate through these roadblocks?

Earlier, people hesitated to even step into a gym. Back then, the challenge was overcoming rigid mindsets rooted in ignorance and convincing people to prioritize their health. To bridge this gap, Sama emphasises on workshops, training, and coaching sessions.

Group formats helped us introduce people to the larger picture of health and why it mattered. Now there’s greater accessibility to gyms and fitness clubs, which reflects how deeply wellness has permeated into our daily lives.

Another challenge we encounter is combatting misinformation and risky practices promoted by unqualified influencers digitally. There must be a framework to validate credentials and monitor content. Credibility should come from knowledge and responsibility, not just from follower counts on social media.

Going forward, what is your vision for Sama Lifestyle? Which industry trends are you aligning the company with?

Sama offers a program around the fitness break concept and I want to stay tuned to that promise. My priority is to target the mid-level employees and I see real impact in natural, human-driven activities like digital marathons and outdoor events. While I often receive requests for week-long, in-person sessions, but shifting to an offline model would mean altering the foundation that I committed to my athletes.

Technology will always evolve and I see its value in automating repetitive tasks like FAQs. But when it comes to training, I do not want to replace athletes with robots or pre-recorded sessions. Nothing can replace the human connection when it comes to promoting fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Reshma Bhoir, Founder, Sama Lifestyle Studio

Reshma Bhoir, Founder of Sama Lifestyle Studio, leads the industry with a mission to create balance in health, fitness, and work-life. She embraces discipline, and has evolved into a respected fitness entrepreneur, consultant, and mentor. Her programs help to empower individuals with unique challenges to achieve strength and transformation.