They say, “winners are ordinary people with extraordinary determination”. Someone who hasn’t seen a true winner might not understand this statement, but when I first got to know Sandy Dosanjh, I knew she was one. A woman who is turning her dreams into reality with her immense grit and dedication towards her goals.

Her relentless attitude towards even the tiniest things around her makes her stand apart. Ever since she moved to Canada, she donned many hats. She is a style icon, a celebrity, a mother, and a fitness expert. Sandy is a living example that there’s no limit to your capabilities and success is never accidental. Hailing from a small village called Talwandi Madho in district Nakodar in India, Sandy came to Canada after getting married to Kal Dosanjh, a Law Enforcement Detective with VPD and CEO of the KidsPlay Foundation. She had no clue back then that her life is going to take a spin completely. Soon after moving to Canada, she imbibed on a journey and there was no looking back ever since.

She says, “I had never been to a gym till the time I married Kal and moved to Canada. Back in India, two decades ago, gym was not part of someone’s routine life like it has become now. Even in towns around my village, people hardly went to the gym.”

“Kal is a fitness enthusiast. He had a habit of going to gym after his work. When we got married, and moved here, like anyone would face, I too was experiencing cultural shock. Everything was so new to me and being with Kal was the most important thing, so just to spend time with him I started going to gym”.

Over time, Sandy became mother of two kids and put on weight in her postpartum period. In 2012, she decided to do something about her growing weight and joined gym. Then one thing led to other and in 2013 she got her fitness training certification.

Sandy used to work in a bank and was also a licensed Life Insurance professional. In 2019, she won two titles – she stood 2nd in the Open, 2nd Masters of LBMC in March 2019; She ranked 3rd Vanpro in the International Show in July 2019.

She finished first in her Masters Division class, and second in the Masters Open at the 2020 Vancity Showdown Open Show held in October, 2020.

Talking about her family and how they reacted to her choice of becoming a fitness professional, Sandy says, “I am very lucky to have a supportive husband. Like a true-life partner, he has always stood with me. He is the one who in first place inspired me to be ‘me’ rather than just being a wife, a mother, a bank professional, a daughter or a daughter-in-law. At first, I had to convince myself that I really wanted to take up fitness as a profession.

Coming from a simple farmer family in India, to being the wife of a VPD cop, I did transform myself, gained more experience and changed my own ideas and perception about many things. So, when I decided to become a fitness trainer, the only thing I had to do was to convince people around me of how this profession is important to me and how being a fitness trainer, I can bring change in lives of many people.”

She says, “It is important for me to establish a legacy for my children. I believe parents are the best role models for their children. If they see me committed to a goal, and achieving my dreams through hard work and dedication, this will surely become ingrained into their ethos as well.”

After seeing Sandy transform in the ‘fitness icon’ in South Asian community and a ‘fitness guru’, many South Asian women who faced challenges approached her for classes and guidance. Sandy says, “I am so touched with words of appreciation I hear from women my age and sharing similar heritage. We understand each other and my only advice to them is take some time out for yourself. When you are happy, everything and everyone around you gets into the happy, calm zone.

One must be mentally strong to be able to go through the challenging regime to become a fitness pro. I had my ups and downs. But what motivated me to keep going was the ‘good feeling’ I had after a rigorous work out, a sense of achievement and feeling of doing something special for myself.”

Adding further, Sandy talks about the reasons why one must take this journey, “The motive must be right. You must do it for your well-being. I truly believe anyone can improve their fitness level, you must keep pushing, be selfmotivated and disciplined. In my case, I have Kal on my side. If I ever have second thoughts, he inspires me, motivates me. So yes, having support from your loved ones goes a long way.” She is now the proud owner of her very own company called the Fit-bloom. Sandy says, “Helping others get fit and sustain the fitness level they want is the most satisfying part of my job, I simply love it!”

She helps clients reach their fitness goals by creating personalized programs that not only push them to do more, but also makes them start loving the process! Everyone has unique needs, someone want to lose body fat, some want to build lean muscle, or some want to speed up recovery from an injury or surgery. As a fitness coach, Sandy is helping a wide range of people especially South Asian woman who see her as their role model.

Besides helping with weight loss or lean muscle gain, Sandy believes that fitness regime also organizes your nutrition intake which eventually improves mental and emotional health. When women, learn the proper health and fitness techniques it can impact the overall health of a family.

You will notice that if a mother is fit or health conscious, her children will be too. In Sandy’s case both her children see her and Kal work so hard to maintain healthy body and they too get inspired. Sandy signs off with following thought, “Fitness needs to be functional. The regime must be easy to do and sustain. It is not scaling a mountain, it is like rowing across an ocean with consistent effort, smile on your face and calm mind.

How long have you been working out:

20 years

Any tip for people out there

Don’t quit. This is not an easy journey and there is no easy fix. Put your head out, block out the negativity, and keep you focus. Get knocked down 7, you get up 8.

How do you control your cravings?

Self-discipline is the pillar on which bodies are built. This game is more mental than it is physical

Is it difficult to manage family and fitness altogether?

Yes, it is. But you adapt, adjust, and overcome. You never permit your circumstances to override your goals

What has a major impact on your body: eating healthy or working out?

Eating healthy

What do you feel when you look back to your early self?

That I have come a long way. Every journey begins with a single step. The difficulty is sometimes finding the courage to take that first step

One thing you want to say to your younger self.

Life is too short

Where do you think yourself in the coming years?

Owning a gym

What obstacles you faced?

Managing a newborn, and trying to get in shape is exceptionally challenging

The most eventful day in your life:

Getting married

Your ultimate inspiration:

My kids

If you could go back and live a moment once again, which one would it be?

Winning my first fitness show

One thing you love to do when you are bored?

Watch movies

What would you recommend for a 20 minutes workout?

Circuit training

Nikita Sharma
Freelance Writer/ Blogger/ Content Strategist