Triveni Goswami Vernal
Registered Special Educator (CRR: A64010)

The act of caregiving can take a toll physically, emotionally and mentally. It is a full-time job, very often, with no respite. And it is seen, that mothers usually bear the brunt of the caregiving because most often than not, they choose to give up their careers at their peak, and work with the child at home. Women are also the last to look after their health. There is always so much to do—therapies, academics, apart from work at home, that mothers are left with very little time for leisure or self-care, that are both extremely essential for their well-being, in the long run.

Studies have shown that mothers of individuals with Autism have stress levels akin to combat soldiers (Accessed from the website https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/10/autism-moms-stress/6121/). Referring to a study, the article mentions the following “… the researchers measured levels of maternal cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. Cortisol levels were found to be significantly lower than normal, a condition that occurs under chronic stress, yielding profiles similar to those of combat soldiers and others who experience constant psychological stress”.

MY FITNESS JOURNEY THUS FAR
I have always enjoyed walking and that has always been my go-to work out and de-stressor, over the years.  I had a brief stint in a neighbourhood gym pre-Covid and in March 2024, I joined Cultfit. It has been exactly two years now, that I have been going to Cult. The pre-Covid stint gave me the first taste of strength training, but the enormous transformation in my mental strength, perspective towards life, and self-worth, can be attributed to the time spent in Cultfit, thus far. Over the past two years, I have mostly done group workouts on strength training and dance.

Strength training in all its forms, has actually done wonders to my mental strength. Being able to lift heavier, is all about one’s willingness to push harder, to get into a mindset that there is no limit to the possibilities that each of us can achieve, if we are consistent with our efforts. Consistency and wanting to go the extra mile, are the keys to success in the long run.

And when it comes to dance, I am a fairly bad dancer, I would think that besides targeting eye-hand coordination and mobility, dance has actually helped me in breaking down my inhibitions (of fumbling over hook steps, being silly in a group setting and still managing to keep up with the energy levels of the group).

For all the progress I have made over the past two years, I only have gratitude towards the wonderful trainers at Cultfit (Begumpet), who have taken feedback seriously, corrected my form and posture and made it a point to make the sessions engrossing, guiding me (and everyone in the session), to give in the best, every single time! I would like to thank the trainers Harsha Mudhiraj, Sandeep Shaw and Vineeth Malluri.

WHAT DOES NEUROSCIENCE SAY ABOUT STRENGTH TRAINING?
In the long run, fitness is less about aesthetics and more about functionality. Looking good may be the primary goal for many, but feeling good about oneself and having the strength and stamina to tide over any crisis that life may come up with, is an even bigger motivation.
Strength training is not just about lifting weights to become stronger physically; it also works simultaneously on the mind-muscle connection and helps in improving neural adaptations.
An article in the Economic Times, ‘Lifting weights is brain surgery’ (Accessed from the website https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/lifting-weights-is-brain-surgery-cmc-vellore-doctor-explains-how-strength-training-may-reverse-brain-ageing), quoted Dr. Sudhir Kumar (a neurologist in Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad) as stating that “consistent resistance training can reduce predicted brain age by up to two years. In practical terms, this means that structured strength workouts may help the brain maintain characteristics typically seen in younger individuals. Rather than accepting gradual cognitive slowdown as inevitable, targeted physical stress through weight training appears to promote structural and functional resilience in the brain.”
The article, “Strength training: Get stronger, leaner and healthier”  (accessed from the website https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670), cites the following benefits of Strength Training,
• “Develop strong bones. By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Manage your weight. Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories.
• Enhance your quality of life. Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.
• Manage chronic conditions. Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes.
• Sharpen your thinking skills. Some research suggests that regular strength training and aerobic exercise may help improve thinking and learning skills for older adults”.

GYM GIRLS CLUB AND THE DEADLIFTING EVENT
A couple of months ago, I came across a post on Instagram about Deadlifting events organized by Gym Girls Club: India’s first Women’s only Lifting Community, (founded by two young women, Anusha Mendonsa and Jhanvi Moree) across various cities in the country. I loved the work they were doing—especially getting women together, to lift (which still gets a lot of unnecessary criticism/hate from many) I thought, was a brilliant idea. So, when they announced that they would organize the event in Hyderabad, I was perhaps one of the first ones to register for it 😊.

Tracing the history of how the Gym Girls Club, came into being, Anusha Mendonsa, one of the co-founders, stated the following, “In 2024, we posted our first reel to test whether the problem we saw actually existed. It hit 2 million views and women across India responded saying, ‘This is exactly what we needed’. At the time, my co-founder and I were still studying, so we focused on nurturing the online community. Then in July 2025, during my vacation, we hosted our first event in Mumbai. We expected friends and family to show up, but registrations opened and complete strangers came. Many had never lifted before. They showed up, learned, and left stronger. That’s when we knew this wasn’t just content. Since then, we’ve taken Gym Girls Club to Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, and now Hyderabad with one clear mission: to get more women in India lifting, building strength, and tackling real issues like PCOD, PCOS, and diabetes through training.”

The event that took place on February 21st in Hyderabad was awesome, to say the least. The atmosphere was electrifying, the enthusiasm was contagious and what a wonderful group of women (across all ages, from early 20s to late 60s) came together to celebrate the spirit of strength and lifting (not just physical weights through deadlifts) but lifting each other’s spirits, as well! It was a celebration of resilience, positivity, the willingness to try out something new (there were many women who had never lifted before this event) and to cheer for the other, as everyone soaked in the moments of solidarity and camaraderie! I managed to lift my personal best at the event too, 100kgs in deadlifts… I was quite ecstatic and I couldn’t have asked for a more encouraging group of cheerleaders 😊
But it was not all serious lifting, there were some fun moments, where all of us were asked to walk the ramp and pose for the camera. And I seriously think my poor dance skills that were instrumental in breaking down my inhibitions in Cult, actually helped me with this.

In a nutshell, strength training is the way to go—for our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Take some time out for yourself every single day—go for a walk, join a gym, do yoga or dance like no one’s watching and if you are interested and willing to go the extra mile, do consider joining an event organized by the Gym Girls Club 😊! They can be found on Instagram @gymgirls.club

REFERENCES:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670
https://fitness.edu.au/the-fitness-zone/the-role-of-the-nervous-system-in-strength-training/#:~:text=Strength%20training%20is%20as%20much,perform%20complex%20movements%20with%20precision.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/lifting-weights-is-brain-surgery-cmc-vellore-doctor-explains-how-strength-training-may-reverse-brain-ageing/articleshow/128772105.cms?from=mdr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7X9rmPmWkA (How Strength Training Boosts the Brain)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-03070-z

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Dr.Triveni Goswami Vernal is a Registered Special Educator (CRR: A64010), a Psychologist and an Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner (UNESCO-CID). She is an Avaz Certified Educator and Certified in Dyslexia Teacher Training. She is also an art educator for children with additional needs. She has a 14 year old on the Autism spectrum. She is presently working as a Consultant Special Educator at Oyster CDC, Begumpet, Hyderabad.