Dubai resident Drisya Pai has turned her experience with postpartum recovery and weight loss into a successful coaching career. Following her self-journey of shedding 20kg, she now helps other mothers tackle their postpartum challenges with personalized fitness programs.
Drisya, 29, from Alleppey in Kerala, started her career in engineering after graduating from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering. While she was an active student and won the Kalathilakam title for her talent in arts and dance, fitness was not her main focus at that time.
Her focus on fitness changed when she was chosen for the Indian Navy, which inspired her to prioritize her physical health. Seeking better career prospects, Drisya moved to the UAE in 2018, married her husband Arvind in 2019, and welcomed her son Dhruvaen in 2021.
After her son was born, Drisya faced many challenges. She weighed 20 kilograms more than before her pregnancy and dealt with severe back pain, feelings of loneliness, and even depression, which were made worse by the isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She recalled: “I couldn’t sit down for long to feed my baby or bend over to change diapers.”
Determined to heal herself, Drisya began researching postpartum fitness and quickly realised how unsuitable standard workouts were for her needs.
“After four days of trying YouTube workouts, I experienced breast engorgement and couldn’t feed my baby. That’s when I knew I needed a specialised approach,” she told Khaleej Times.
Subsequently, she completed certifications in pre and post-natal fitness training, and is now a level 4 personal trainer.
Personalised approach
Drisya built a platform to share her journey and tips on postpartum fitness. Her coaching model allows for customised, non-time-bound programs tailored to weight loss, fitness, and recovery.
One of her clients, Rajani, did not expect to lose weight while joining the program. She was particularly concerned about face fat and black pigmentation on her neck but after two months, she is now 9kg lighter and has a remarkable reduction in both face fat and pigmentation.
Gehan, a bride-to-be from Syria, achieved her fitness goals in preparation for her wedding while training with Drisya. Gehan lost 7kg through a mix of customised workouts and personal coaching.
Radhika was suffering from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age) and did not know where to start. In 12 weeks, she lost significant weight.
Crucial support
Drisya, meanwhile, credits her husband, Arvind, for his crucial support. “He encouraged me every step of the way. From being an estimation engineer, I became a woman with just a vision but no concrete plan. He helped me learn and apply my skills to benefit other women,” said Drisya.
Looking ahead, Drisya plans to extend support to women with PCOS and those preparing for subsequent pregnancies. She firmly believes in sustainable fitness and advises mothers to incorporate movement at any time of day, rather than abandoning workouts if their set time is missed.
Her advice: “Exercise doesn’t need a strict schedule; it needs consistency. If you have set a particular time of the day to exercise, and miss that for some reason, most people tend to abandon it altogether. It is always ideal to make up for that at any time of the day that you are free. Portion control and a balanced diet alongside exercise are keys to a healthy body.”
Source: Khaleej Times
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
