In a society where women often have to balance family responsibilities with their professional ambitions, Rukhsar Khan has built an identity of her own through yoga. A Muslim woman from Husainabad, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, she is now a yoga instructor and health coach based in Mumbra, Maharashtra, helping women improve their fitness and well-being through offline and online classes. Her journey demonstrates how personal determination and an inclusive approach to health can bring people together across social and religious boundaries. Rukhsar grew up in a modest family. Her father worked as a salesman in a footwear shop, while her mother managed the household and hoped her children would receive a good education. As the eldest of five siblings, Rukhsar assumed responsibilities early in life. She married at the age of 18 and moved to Maharashtra, where family duties gradually took priority over her education.
She completed her schooling up to Class 12 in Mumbra Mumbai but could not continue her studies because of domestic responsibilities. Yet her desire to learn and achieve something independently never disappeared. Her first professional experience came through teaching. When her eldest son began attending school, Rukhsar helped him with his studies at home. As his academic performance improved, neighbouring parents began approaching her for tuition. She eventually became a sought-after tutor in Kurla, discovering that her ability to teach could become a source of professional identity.
After moving to Mumbra, Rukhsar began experiencing recurring health problems. Seeking to improve her fitness, she joined a local yoga studio. However, she felt that the sessions lacked adequate attention to correct postures and proper instruction. Rather than abandoning the practice, she decided to study it seriously. Rukhsar pursued formal training in classical yoga, including the study of human anatomy and the appropriate use of yoga practices for different health conditions. She received a government-recognised certificate after completing her training in 2017. Her performance during practical sessions and demonstrations impressed the institution, which offered her an opportunity to work as a trainer. She subsequently established her own venture, Fitness Yoga Shala, to provide structured fitness guidance, particularly to women in 2020.
One of the distinctive aspects of Rukhsar’s work is her effort to address misconceptions about yoga within sections of the Muslim community, where some people associate the practice exclusively with a particular religious tradition. Instead of allowing these concerns to become barriers, she developed an approach that takes participants’ beliefs and comfort into account. She adapts certain elements of her sessions for different groups. Her classes for non-Muslim participants may include traditional chants, while sessions for Muslim women incorporate meditation practices aligned with their faith, including Quranic verses.
Rukhsar’s professional journey received a boost through social media. One of her clients, who worked in digital marketing, recognised her potential and helped create her Instagram account. She began sharing videos demonstrating yoga exercises and offering fitness-related guidance. Gradually, her online presence attracted a wider audience. People began contacting her from outside Maharashtra and beyond India. Today, she conducts online classes for clients in countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, while continuing to train people in and around Mumbra. Her work includes fitness routines, weight-management guidance and exercises tailored to clients’ individual needs. For Rukhsar, the expansion from local instruction to international online classes represents more than professional growth. It demonstrates how digital platforms can help women turn specialised skills into sustainable work, even when family responsibilities limit their ability to travel or work outside the home.
Rukhsar is also raising three children. Her eldest son studies in Class 12, her daughter in Class 8, and her youngest son in Class 1. Alongside household responsibilities, she manages her teaching schedule and the demands of her clients. Her husband, Imran Khan, an electrical engineer who runs his own business, has supported her professional ambitions, including her training and travel for classes. His encouragement has been an important part of her journey towards greater professional independence. Rukhsar has also encountered comments and criticism concerning aspects of her appearance and the way she presents herself. However, she has continued to focus on improving her skills and building her work rather than allowing such remarks to define her ambitions.
Rukhsar’s most clearly documented achievements are her formal yoga training, her certification, the opportunity to train others at her training institution, the establishment of Fitness Yoga Shala and her growing international online clientele. Her story nevertheless offers a meaningful example of achievement. She encourages women not to regard age, marriage or domestic responsibilities as reasons to abandon their ambitions. With continued learning, effective time management and family support, she believes women can work towards personal and professional goals at different stages of life.