Namrata Verma’s journey from a career in retail to becoming an fitness expert

Namrata Verma, a 35-year-old fitness entrepreneur from Bengaluru tells us how she pursued her passion for fitness, after getting stuck in an uninspiring job in the retail industry.

, who quit a career in retail to follow dance and fitness full-time, chose Bengaluru to restart her career as it offered her the opportunity to pursue her passion.

Namrata studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) New Delhi, and began working in the retail industry. It was during her short visit to Canada, working as a visual merchandiser for a retail giant, that she discovered various dance-fitness forms.

For Namrata, it was the coming together of her childhood passion for dance with a new genre of fitness – both fields she was passionate about.

Few years later, Verma along with her family moved to the UK, where she found inspiration in her fitness instructor, which finally gave her the courage to switch her career to fitness full-time. The very next year, she moved back to India, determined to make a career in fitness.

Namrata decided to chose Bangalore to pursue her dreams, and here’s why.

“Bengaluru, being the fitness capital of the country, was the natural choice over other cities. I knew that the city had a great mix of a vibrant population that is young, well-travelled and focussed on living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a work-life balance,” she says.

What sets fitness enthusiasts in Bengaluru apart from others is the fact that they are very particular about their workout regimes, she says. “The attention towards end goals is very high in Bengaluru fitness followers,” she says.

In Bangalore investors are more open to investing in alternative professions as they see money in delivering a passion, which is unique, she feels.

Today, she teaches Aqua Zumba in Bengaluru after being trained and certified by Richard Gormley, a well-known trainer in the fitness domain.

“Aqua Zumba is my new love as it brings new meaning to the idea of a workout. It’s fun, fast-paced while enjoying the benefits of water resistance,” says Verma who conducts workshops in Bengaluru.

“Bengaluru made my career shift from retail to fitness possible. It gave me and my academy an ecosystem to create a difference in people’s lives,” adds Verma.

So when are you planning to make that career shift, which have been panning for years?