STRENGTH IN EVERY STEP

THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF HELNA APTE

- By Rajesh Ghadge

From an overweight teenager to a six-pack-touting, globe-trotting fitness trainer and entrepreneur, Helna Apte's story is a testament to perseverance, self-belief, and lifelong learning. Today, she stands tall as one of Goa's most inspiring fitness professionals, balancing roles as a mother, a wife, and a wellness coach. But the road to where she is now was anything but easy. Born to Malayali parents and raised in Mumbai, Helna's journey began in hospitality. After completing her hotel management degree, she worked in the front office of renowned hotels such as Leela Palace, Bangalore, and Renaissance Mumbai (now Westin Powai), eventually becoming a duty manager. Her transition from hospitality to fitness was not immediate-but rather, a journey sparked by personal transformation.

"I was an overweight teenager. At 15, I decided I didn't want to feel sluggish anymore," Helna recalls. Without access to proper guidance back then, she tried extreme diets that led to a health scare and hospitalization. "That's when I knew I had to take control and educate myself."

Even while building a career in hotel sales and business development for travel startups, Helna's real passion remained fitness. She began studying international fitness programs, following experts like Chris Gethin and Rujuta Diwekar, and applying their methodologies to her life. Eventually, the transformation was visible-so much so that friends began seeking her help for their own fitness journeys.