The Strength Builder
Namrata Purohit transformed early adversity into purpose, redefining Pilates in India through discipline, science, and sustainable strength that prioritises longevity.
Namrata Purohit, Founder, The Pilates Studio
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Purohit entered the fitness industry unusually early. At 15, a fall from a horse pushed her toward movement as recovery. What began as rehabilitation soon became purpose. Backed by parents who instilled discipline and confidence, and shaped by a life immersed in sport, she started training clients at just 16. Skepticism was inevitable. Many questioned whether someone so young could instruct others. Her father’s response was simple: try a session, then decide. Over time, results did the talking.
Starting young forced Purohit to learn faster and deeper—about bodies, biomechanics, and people as individuals. It also meant making mistakes early, absorbing lessons firsthand, and developing business instincts grounded in fundamentals. From the beginning, she focused on consistency, structure, and avoiding shortcuts—principles that would later define her brand.
When Pilates entered the Indian mainstream, Purohit saw a gap others missed. The discipline was largely positioned as either rehabilitation or a gentle, optional workout—often mislabelled as slow, feminine, or secondary to “real” strength training. What was missing was respect for Pilates as serious resistance and bodyweight training. Historically, Pilates was built around strength and control long before aesthetics. Purohit recognised its potential as performance training—something that could support demanding careers, athletes, injury recovery, and long-term health.
Her transition from trainer to entrepreneur did not involve stepping away from the floor. Instead, training became the foundation of scale. She focused on standardising how trainers are educated, how sessions are delivered, and how outcomes are tracked—without diluting individualisation. Trainers were taught not just the method, but how to think, adapt, and customise. Systems enabled growth; staying deeply involved in practice kept it honest.
Training high-profile clients brought visibility, but also pressure. For Purohit, celebrity was never the metric—retention was. “When clients stay consistent for years, not months, that’s the real measure,” she believes. Her programmes are designed to hold up under real-world stress: unpredictable schedules, travel, injuries, and role changes. Credibility, she says, is not something to protect; it’s a byproduct of work that consistently delivers.
One of the biggest misconceptions, she notes, is that training celebrities is superficial or easier. In reality, it is highly demanding. Yet across celebrities, athletes, and everyday clients, the fundamentals remain the same: strength, mobility, and recovery. The difference lies not in the person, but in how intelligently those fundamentals are applied.
This philosophy shapes every business decision. Purohit consciously says no to fast transformations, viral formats, and trends that compromise health. Equipment choices, trainer education, and programming are filtered through one question: will this still work five or ten years from now? Longevity, for her, is not branding—it’s an operating principle.
Presence: 40+ studios across 15+ cities, supported by 150+ certified trainers and serving a community of 5,000+ clients nationwide
Purohit entered the fitness industry unusually early. At 15, a fall from a horse pushed her toward movement as recovery. What began as rehabilitation soon became purpose. Backed by parents who instilled discipline and confidence, and shaped by a life immersed in sport, she started training clients at just 16. Skepticism was inevitable. Many questioned whether someone so young could instruct others. Her father’s response was simple: try a session, then decide. Over time, results did the talking.
Starting young forced Purohit to learn faster and deeper—about bodies, biomechanics, and people as individuals. It also meant making mistakes early, absorbing lessons firsthand, and developing business instincts grounded in fundamentals. From the beginning, she focused on consistency, structure, and avoiding shortcuts—principles that would later define her brand.
When Pilates entered the Indian mainstream, Purohit saw a gap others missed. The discipline was largely positioned as either rehabilitation or a gentle, optional workout—often mislabelled as slow, feminine, or secondary to “real” strength training. What was missing was respect for Pilates as serious resistance and bodyweight training. Historically, Pilates was built around strength and control long before aesthetics. Purohit recognised its potential as performance training—something that could support demanding careers, athletes, injury recovery, and long-term health.
