Get fit with Devi

I am profoundly honored to serve as a speaker at the inaugural National Conference of the Indian National Strength and Conditioning Association. This occasion is doubly meaningful to me, as it grants the rare privilege of presenting on a topic close to my heart, representing a cornerstone within the realm of strength and conditioning.

Benefiting from extensive tutelage under my esteemed mentor, Dr. Haff, whose insights into the intricate principles of periodization and power integration are unparalleled, I am poised to explore “Maximizing Power Development – A Focused Discourse on Periodization, Planning & Programming.”

My deepest gratitude extends to Dr. Saju Joseph, the High-Performance Director & Sports Scientist at SAI (Sports Authority of India) for bestowing upon me this invitation to a truly seminal gathering. I eagerly anticipate engaging with the esteemed community of sports scientists and thought leaders in attendance.

Today stands as one of the most significant milestones of my life, as I proudly secured first place in the 24kg Elite Kettlebell category. From the very moment I resolved to participate in the Asia-Oceania Kettlebell Competition, I aspired to compete at the elite level. Transitioning from the sub-elite or professional division to the elite echelon demanded more than physical resilience; it required a profound mental transformation, imparting invaluable lessons and insights beyond the pursuit of a medal. I am filled with both immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility as the first woman from India to compete in the 24kg Elite category.

My journey has been meticulously crafted through a periodized plan, incorporating off-season, pre-season, and in-season phases. This structured approach allowed me to address all dimensions of training while maintaining nutrition as a central priority.

In embarking on this journey, the first person who came to mind was Fox
Her lifting prowess has long been a source of admiration and inspiration for me, prompting me to approach her to be my sports coach for the Asia-Oceania competition. The journey since then has been transformative. Eight months of relentless training under her guidance and unfaltering support has taught me far more than mere technique. Thank you, Kim, for your steadfast encouragement—I eagerly anticipate our continued journey together.

Another invaluable presence in this journey has been my dear friend and sports nutritionist, whose meticulous design of my nutrition plan ensured that I never experienced a drop in energy. Her steadfast support extended throughout this journey, both within India and abroad. Her expertise enabled a significant transformation, allowing me to build muscle mass while reducing body fat. Thank you, my dear, for addressing every query and supporting me unconditionally.

My heartfelt gratitude extends to my family, for their constant support of my rigorous training regimen. Lastly, I sincerely thank EKFA and Parag for their relentless efforts in bringing the WKSF Asia-Oceania competition to India.

Every Strength & Conditioning professional aspires to earn certification from the NSCA, with the CSCS,*D (Distinction) certification being especially prized. This certification is built on content developed by some of the world’s leading sports scientists, many of whom are associated with my university, ECU. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by these experts, gaining the privilege to work, learn, and engage with them on the latest advancements in Strength & Conditioning.

Achieving this milestone of earning the CSCS, Distinction is a gratifying moment, especially given the dedication and effort required. The journey—from analysing high-standard research journals to publishing articles and presenting at conferences alongside esteemed S&C professionals—has been long and challenging, demanding immense time, effort, and patience. I am sincerely grateful to my mentors, Dr. H and Dr. Soph, whose invaluable insights and guidance through conferences, journals, and assessments have been instrumental in this accomplishment. I am also profoundly thankful to the Almighty for His blessings and look forward to continuing my exploration under the esteemed guidance of my mentors.

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This moment feels profoundly surreal, representing the culmination of a journey that, though it may seem smooth in retrospect, was fraught with challenges and complexities. It all began with a vision ignited by my mentor during my formative training years in Singapore, a seed that has since flourished into a deeply held aspiration to study under the most eminent sports scientists in the world.

Countless hours of coaching, the rigorous crafting of assignments, the painstaking process of publishing journal articles, and the intellectual rigor of participating in scholarly forums have been my constant companions. Often, solitude in cafés served as the sanctuary for my ideas, while car journeys, flights, and airport transits became makeshift spaces for study and reflection. Yet, in the moment I don the regalia and hear my name resonating across the stage, all those efforts coalesce into a singular feeling of fulfillment. I remain eternally grateful to the Almighty for His boundless grace and wisdom, especially for guiding me back to the path whenever I faltered.

As a devoted mother to two adolescent children and a full-time Strength and Conditioning professional whose career necessitates extensive travel, I owe much of my success to my unwavering pillar of support—my husband. Without him, none of this would have been achievable. He ensures the seamless functioning of our home, consistently offering motivation in moments when fatigue or doubt threatens to take hold, always restoring my resolve within minutes. His selflessness, placing my ambitions before his own, has been indispensable to this journey. Likewise, my children, who eagerly count the days until I return from each professional or academic endeavor, have been a source of strength and inspiration.

It would be remiss of me not to extend my deepest gratitude to the ecosystem of support that has made this dream a reality—my cook, the diligent cleaning aunt, and our live-in helpers—whose contributions have been nothing short of invaluable. I offer my heartfelt prayers to the Almighty, seeking His continued blessings as I chart the course for future endeavors and aspirations.

Failure has bestowed upon me invaluable lessons, fundamentally shaping the individual I have become. The pursuit of perfection is an illusory endeavor, and my encounters with failure have been frequent. Yet, these very setbacks have emerged as life’s most profound instructors, imparting wisdom far more substantial than any success could offer.

A paralyzing dread of failure merely obstructs the path to genuine accomplishment. Through these experiences, I have come to understand two pivotal truths: one can either succumb to defeat or rise with renewed resolve. True success, in its most authentic form, is often the hard-fought reward earned through the perseverance of navigating innumerable failures.