Bhakti Chalak

Rukhsar Khan, who hails from the small town of Husainabad in Uttar Pradesh and was married off at a young age, is today imparting health and fitness lessons to women in Mumbai.

Alongside raising three children and battling illnesses, she has established herself as a yoga instructor and health coach from Mumbra.

Rukhsar was raised in Husainabad, where her father worked as a salesman in a footwear shop. She is the eldest among one brother and four sisters. Her mother is a homemaker who wishes her children receive a good education.

However, the eldest among her siblings, Rukhsar, was married when she turned 18. After marriage, she moved to Maharashtra.

Rukhsar Khan broke the stereotype of a married woman who immerses herself in household responsibilities and raising children, and gives up on her dreams. Speaking to Awaz-The Voice, she shared her story.

Rukhsar Khan

Being the only daughter-in-law of the family, she took upon herself all the responsibilities of managing domestic chores. Amidst this hustle, she discontinued her education after the twelfth grade. She tried to strike a balance between her family responsibilities and ambitions, but it did not work.

Unable to strike a balance between the two, she put a temporary halt to her studies. However, the determination to learn and achieve something always remained alive in her heart.

Rukhsar says, "I knew one thing very clearly in my life; whatever I do, I have to do it with full strength and by giving my 100 per cent; otherwise, I shouldn't do it at all. I don't believe in wasting time."

Tuitions Started with Her Son's Education

Rukhsar's life took a turn when her eldest son started going to school. Rukhsar used to teach him at home. Gradually, he started excelling in school. Seeing the child's performance, neighbouring parents inquired with Rukhsar about tuitions.

Rukhsar Khan in a Yog Mudra

She soon became the most sought-after tuition tutor in Kurla.

A few years later, when Rukhsar's family shifted to Mumbra, she faced health issues. She frequently fell ill and joined a local yoga studio to improve her health.

However, she realised not many people were serious during the Yoga sessions. People moved in and out of the Yoga studio, and nobody corrected their postures, and the instructor also did not show much interest.

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Rukhsar says, "We are dedicating an hour, but it is yielding no health benefits. It felt very strange to me. Right then and there, I decided that I wanted to get proper education in this field and become a perfect health coach."