How this Bengaluruean quit her full-time PR job to become a freelancer and a zumba trainer

BENGALURU: Shaila Bhat (31) practises what she preaches: pursue both profession and passion with equal zeal. When not handling public relations work for startups and lifestyle brands, she turns into a zumba instructor, teaching the Latin fitness-dance form to a class of 40.

The juggle started three years ago but dance was a passion right from her childhood. She started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of five. During her years as journalism student, she learnt Kathak. Moving to Bengaluru in 2008 as a communications professional, she joined choreographer Shiamak Davar’s dance classes.

Then came a day when she had to put a full stop to dance. “As I was climbing the career ladder, I was given more responsibilities. Dancing reduced. One day I realised that I was not happy anymore,” says Bhat.


Shaila Bhat, enjoying her moves. (Image: Agencies)

Out of sheer boredom, she tagged along with a friend for a zumba training class in Hyderabad. Little did she know that that two-day training workshop would become the launchpad for her alternative career.

“In three months, I was asked to take zumba classes at a studio in Bengaluru where I was merely practising. My first class in 2015 had three students. Today, I take weekend classes in Indiranagar with 40 students,” says Bhat. She quit her full-time PR job to become a freelancer in order to accommodate dance.

“I won’t ever let go off PR because it made me financially independent. It anchors me. Dance instruction makes me feel complete as I work towards making my students feel good about themselves in that one hour,” says Bhat. Her PR skills no doubt help connect with students who in turn bring her projects.

That was exactly the balance Bhat sought and which took patience and time-management skills to achieve. Me-times come in the form of workouts in the gym or travel in case of a burnout.

Bhat now plans to step up. She plans to add either yoga or pilates to her zumba training.

“One needs a passion to keep driving you. It’s an art that belongs only to you and if turns into a profession, you have cracked the code,” says she.