A coach who reads before she prescribes.

A former software developer who found her way back to herself through movement.

I'm Purnima, an ACE-certified personal trainer, movement enthusiast, and Vipassana meditator. My journey into fitness wasn't a straight line. It began with a growing realisation that the way I was living wasn't the way I wanted to feel.

I started my professional life as a software developer. Although I had a technical background, the work didn't feel right for me. The long hours in front of a screen and the sedentary routine took a toll on my well-being. I went through a difficult period in my life, experienced depression, and sought therapy to help me navigate it.

During that time, movement became an important anchor.

Working out, dancing, and simply moving my body helped me feel more connected to myself. Movement gave structure to my days, helped me work through difficult moments, and reminded me that caring for my body was not a luxury. It was a part of caring for myself.

That experience changed how I viewed fitness. I began to see it as something much deeper than changing how we look. It could be a way to build strength, develop awareness, improve mobility, and cultivate a more meaningful relationship with our bodies.

Beyond Fitness

Outside of training, I'm deeply curious about the mind, human behaviour, psychology and consciousness. I enjoy reading Carl Jung, Neville Goddard and other writers whose work explores the inner world, along with spiritual and philosophical books that invite us to question how we think, live and perceive ourselves.

My Vipassana meditation practice has also influenced the way I approach movement. It has encouraged me to pay attention, observe without immediately reacting, and become more aware of the relationship between the mind and body.

I love dancing because it allows me to experience movement freely. I love strength training because it teaches me discipline and shows me what the body can learn to do. And I value mindful movement because it brings attention to the experience itself, rather than making every session about an external result.

These interests may seem different, but to me, they share a common thread: the desire to understand ourselves better through direct experience.

Why STHIRA?

I created STHIRA around a simple belief: strength and awareness can be developed together.

We are living increasingly sedentary lives. Hours spent sitting, working on screens and moving less can make it easy to neglect our physical well-being. I believe that, in the years ahead, taking care of our strength, mobility and overall health will become increasingly important.

My approach combines strength training, Pilates-inspired movement, mobility and mindful practice to help people build a more capable, resilient and connected relationship with their bodies.

I want movement to be more than another task on your to-do list. I want it to become a practice that supports you through the demands of everyday life.

You don't need to be exceptionally fit, flexible or experienced to begin. You need a willingness to show up, pay attention and build gradually.

Through STHIRA, my intention is to help people become stronger, move with greater ease, and develop a more conscious approach to their physical well-being.

Because fitness isn't just about what your body looks like. It's also about how you live in it.

Strength. Mobility. Mindful Movement.

That's the practice I'm building with STHIRA, and I'd love for you to be part of it.

Connect with me on Instagram: @purnimaa.sthira