Physical activity is often discussed in terms of fitness, weight, or strength, but its deeper impact lies in how it shapes the mind.
Movement has the ability to regulate our nervous system, quiet mental noise, and restore clarity in ways that words sometimes cannot. When the body moves with awareness, it creates space for emotions to settle and thoughts to soften.
Practices like yoga go beyond exercise; they become tools for grounding, self-regulation, and emotional resilience. In a world that constantly demands productivity and speed, mindful movement offers something rare: a pause. This interview explores that intersection of physical activity, mental health, and inner clarity through the lived experience of a practitioner who chose movement not as a performance, but as a path back to the self.
Hina Sohail is a Yoga Instructor, a Wellness and empowerment Coach, and Hypnotherapy Master Practitioner with over a decade of experience, gently supporting people through mindful movement, breath, and inner awareness.
1- Please tell us about yourself, your education, background, and how you decided to take up yoga as a career?
If I speak honestly, yoga came into my life before it became my work.
I am a Yoga Instructor, Wellness and Empowerment Coach, and Hypnotherapy Master Practitioner, but long before these titles, I was simply a woman trying to understand herself better. My academic and professional journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and training in yoga, pranayama, meditation, NLP, cognitive fitness, and hypnotherapy, but my deepest learning came through lived experience.
Yoga entered my life quietly. There was no big decision, no dramatic turning point. Just a gentle realization that when I moved and breathed mindfully, I felt calmer, clearer, and more connected to myself. Dil halka lagta tha. Slowly, this practice became a place of safety for me.
When people around me began to notice the change, they asked, “Hum bhi seekh sakte hain?” I understood that this was something meant to be shared. Teaching yoga felt like holding someone’s hand and saying, “You’re not alone.” That is how yoga became my career, through connection, not ambition.
2- What challenges did you face when you started practicing and working as a Yogini?
The journey was not always easy. In our society, yoga is often misunderstood, and choosing this path, especially as a woman, requires courage. There were moments of doubt, questions from others, and times when I wondered if I was doing enough or being enough.
Financial uncertainty and lack of awareness around mental well-being made the early years challenging. But the deeper challenge was internal learning patience, trusting timing, and staying gentle with myself. Yoga teaches you to stay present even when answers don’t arrive immediately.
With time, sincerity began to speak louder than explanations. People came not just for flexibility, but because they felt seen and heard. Slowly, their trust grew. Today, I feel grateful for those early struggles they shaped the empathy I bring into my teaching.
3- How is yoga different from other forms of exercise? What makes it unique?
Yoga feels different because it doesn’t rush you.
It doesn’t ask you to push harder, it asks you to listen.
Yoga connects breath with movement and awareness. It teaches you to notice how you are feeling, not just how you are performing. Some days, yoga strengthens you. Some days, it simply allows you to rest. Aur dono theek hain.
There is no comparison in yoga. Every body, every breath, every day is different. That is what makes it unique, it meets you exactly where you are, without judgment.
4- Apart from physical health, how has yoga impacted your mental health? Is there a personal story we can learn from?
Yoga changed my relationship with my thoughts and emotions. There was a time when my mind felt heavy and restless, when life felt overwhelming even though everything looked “fine” from the outside. Yoga didn’t remove my challenges, but it changed how I met them.
Through breath and mindful movement, I learned grounding. I learned to pause instead of panic. I often share this with my students: a yoga teacher only introduces you to yoga, the real work continues within you. Main rahoon ya na rahoon, yoga aap ke saath rehta hai.
When a difficult moment comes, you notice you are breathing instead of breaking down. You respond with calm, bilkul naturally, as if this strength was always inside you. Yehi yoga karta hai. Aur yehi hypnosis bhi. It gives you an inner support that stays with you, quietly, faithfully.
5- Do you think there is more awareness today about physical activity being used as medicine?
Yes, awareness is growing. People are realizing that movement is not only about fitness, but about emotional balance and inner peace. However, many still struggle because they feel pressure to perform, to be perfect.
Yoga offers another way. A softer way. One where healing happens gently, without force.
6- What advice would you give to people who are struggling to stay active and healthy?
Please don’t be hard on yourself.
You don’t need to change everything. You only need to begin slowly, lovingly. Even a few mindful minutes matter. Listen to your body. Apne aap ko respect dein. When movement feels safe, consistency comes naturally.
7- What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career as a physical trainer in Pakistan?
Lead with sincerity. Keep learning. Respect people’s emotional spaces. In Pakistan, trust grows slowly, but once it grows, it stays. Remember, you are not just teaching movement; you are holding space for someone’s story. Aur yeh zimmedari bohat khoobsurat hai.
If you are reading this and feeling tired, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply curious, please know that you don’t have to “fix” yourself before beginning. Yoga and breathwork are not about becoming someone new; they are about coming back to yourself.
If you feel called, I would be honored to walk this journey with you slowly, safely and with love.
If you wish to get in touch with Hina, you can find her on these social handles:
Hina’s Social Media Handles:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogatiful_wellnesscoach
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hina-sohail-wellness-empowerment-coach
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