(February 6, 2026) Deepti Akki’s journey into fitness and health was never accidental. It evolved organically from personal practice into purpose-driven work. At the core of everything she does is a simple but powerful belief that health is foundational. This philosophy informs her work across sectors — whether as a fitness entrepreneur, lifestyle coach, public health advocate, or Strategic Advisor to the Basketball Federation of India, where she operates at the intersection of sport, performance, and long-term athlete development.
For Deepti, fitness is not about aesthetics or short-term results, but about building a grounded life. She believes that when individuals are physically and mentally aligned, they show up better — at work, within families, and in their communities. “Fitness cannot exist in isolation. It must be supported by education, access, and preventive thinking. I help people build routines they can sustain, not just protocols they follow temporarily,” says Deepti Akki in a chat with Global Indian.
From studying in Jakarta and Singapore to working in Dubai, and eventually launching multiple companies across Chennai and Hyderabad, Deepti — the CEO of N Sports has been a go-getter from the very beginning. Her work today spans structured wellness programs, performance-oriented frameworks, and lifestyle interventions designed for longevity. “I work on building systems rather than chasing trends, focusing on systems that integrate movement, recovery, lifestyle, and long-term sustainability,” she says.
Learning discipline in Dubai
Between 2023 and 2025, Deepti worked in business development for Hazzby Holdings, a real estate and trading company operating out of Dubai, Maldives, and Singapore. “Working in Dubai exposed me to high-performance work environments that demanded discipline, precision, and accountability,” she mentions. The experience sharpened her strategic thinking and expanded her exposure to international business ecosystems.
She adds that the strategic networking helped her build efficient workflows for global products and services. “I realised that I could be a passionate entrepreneur — not just in the sports and fitness industry, but in any business that gives me the opportunity to learn and grow.”
Bringing F45 to Chennai
Before her move to Dubai, Deepti played a defining role in reshaping Chennai’s fitness landscape. In 2016, she brought the franchise of the globally popular Australian fitness brand F45 to the city. At the time, the 45-minute high-intensity functional training format — conceptualised by Sydney-based celebrity trainer Luke Istomin was making waves worldwide.
“The athletes as well as regular fitness enthusiasts across the city took to F45 like a house on fire. The adrenaline rush that comes with that training is immense,” says Deepti, who trained more than 6,000 clients across her centres, including national and international athletes.
Building multiple ventures
About four years after launching F45 in Chennai, Deepti expanded her entrepreneurial footprint by starting four fitness, sports, and wellness ventures. “All of this unfolded perfectly, thanks to a harmonious blend of luck, effort, and passion,” she says.
Her ventures include Feminity Health Private Limited, Trinity Sports and Fitness LLP, Monday Monk Lifestyle Private Limited, and Optimists Healthcare — a virtual platform that uses innovative hardware and software tools to prevent, manage, and reverse diseases through a functional medicine approach.
Leadership in Indian Basketball and athlete development
Sport has always been a powerful medium for discipline and growth in Deepti’s life. She has been serving as a Strategic Advisor to the Basketball Federation of India, contributing to conversations around structure, development, and long-term sporting ecosystems. Her role was instrumental in executing grassroots developmental initiatives and high-performance programs for national teams.
“This experience made me realise that I can make a substantial difference to any sport and be part of communities that help athletes achieve their full potential and win medals on a global level,” says Deepti, who later shifted back to Hyderabad after several years in Chennai. One such endeavour was owning the Hyderabad basketball team in the professional basketball league — the Hyderabad Honey Badgers.
Deepti Akki with basketball athletes
Hyderabad roots
Born in Hyderabad, Deepti grew up in an environment that valued discipline, learning, and inner balance. Her early life was shaped by a structured home and exposure to diverse cultures from a young age. “That balance of strong roots and openness has stayed with me,” she reflects.
Academically consistent and curious, Deepti was always more interested in understanding concepts deeply than competing for outcomes. “Movement and routine were always a part of my life.” Even before fitness became her profession, she intuitively gravitated towards physical activity, structure, and self-discipline.
Studying in Jakarta and Singapore
Deepti studied in Jakarta until Class 9, an experience that shaped her worldview early on. Being part of an international education system helped her see the world beyond borders. “It taught me adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and independence,” she says.
She later completed her MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, Hyderabad, where she graduated as a Gold Medallist. During her MBA, she also pursued Investment Banking studies at the National University of Singapore.
Early years as an instructor
Much before stepping into entrepreneurship, Deepti worked on the ground as a fitness professional. She served as a Dance and Aerobics Instructor at Dinaz’s Fitness Studios in Hyderabad, an Assistant Kickboxing Instructor at Core Fitness Station, and also freelanced as a pre- and post-natal instructor. These formative years strengthened her understanding of movement, coaching, and client needs.
A post-COVID shift towards holistic health
Post-COVID, Deepti’s work increasingly reflected the integration of physical health with mental and emotional steadiness. She engaged in learning exchanges and worked alongside medical professionals in the US to reverse chronic illnesses in over 300 clients using a root-cause-based approach.
“This systems biology-based approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease and guiding individuals towards optimal health,” explains Deepti. Her work during this phase focused heavily on post-COVID fatigue, recovery, and lifestyle correction, reinforcing the importance of holistic, long-term health solutions.
A transformative inner journey
The COVID period proved deeply transformative for Deepti, both professionally and personally. “During and after COVID, reading and reflecting on the Upanishads became an important part of my inner journey. These texts helped me slow down, reframe uncertainty, and evolve inwardly at a time when the world was externally unstable,” she shares.
Her yoga certification also played a significant role during this phase. “It helped me become more sustainable, focused, and resilient — personally and professionally.” She actively practices Ashtanga Yoga and Transcendental Meditation as well.
International certifications and global exposure
Deepti holds multiple international certifications that strengthened her scientific and applied understanding of movement and performance. One of them is from Australian Strength and Conditioning – Level 1, which reinforced structured training principles, athlete development models, and performance planning. She also holds a Muay Thai–based movement and conditioning certification from Thailand.
“It deepened my understanding of physical movement, load, balance, and recovery, especially from an athlete’s perspective,” she says. These experiences collectively shaped her approach to fitness as something that is both scientific and deeply human.
Exploring cold therapy and recovery
Cold therapy became an area of deeper interest as Deepti explored recovery, inflammation management, and nervous-system regulation. “My approach to these modalities has always been cautious, science-informed, and education-led,” says Deepti, who has supported fitness initiatives and sporting events across the country, including Pinkathon and Kiddathon. She has also been part of annual fitness events for the Indian Coast Guard and the armed forces.
Monday Monk: building balance
Deepti also conceptualised and designed a program called Monday Monk. “Programs like Monday Monk were created to help individuals reset — physically and mentally — by building structure, routine, and recovery into modern lifestyles,” she explains. The intent, she says, has always been clarity and balance, not intensity. The idea behind Monday Monk was to create an all-round health and fitness model that could appeal to anyone seeking sustainable well-being. The initiative opened two physical centres in Chennai before COVID.
Podcasts and purpose-driven conversations
Deepti is also building a podcast series focused on preventive healthcare, fitness, and the sports ecosystem titled Do You Mind? by Deepti Akki. The show features experts from across the world and is aimed at Indian and global audiences. “The idea is to educate people and create awareness through researched information so they can take charge of their lives,” she says.
Do You Mind is currently the only English health podcast from South India. What began as Do Your Mind is now transitioning into Beyond Life — her upcoming podcast.
Beyond Life: the next chapter
“Beyond Life reflects where I am today — conversations that go deeper into health, mindset, purpose, leadership, and modern living, while remaining practical and grounded,” says Deepti. Looking ahead, her focus is on scaling impact with integrity — through education, sport, structured wellness programs, and meaningful content without losing depth or authenticity.
Discipline as a daily practice
Deepti’s daily routine reflects her philosophy — simple, disciplined, and intentional. “Mornings begin with meditation and Ashtanga yoga, which help me stay grounded, focused, and physically aligned.” She integrates strength training and cardiovascular fitness two to three times a week, depending on workload and recovery needs. For her, recovery, sleep, and nervous-system regulation are as important as the training itself.
A reflective reader and lifelong learner
Outside of work, Deepti values reading, reflection, learning, and quiet time. “I’m deeply interested in philosophy, psychology, and systems thinking — anything that helps us understand how humans function, grow, and sustain themselves over time.”
Deepti Akki with basketball athletes
A call to support athletes
Deepti’s sincere appeal to every citizen is to support an athlete, however small the contribution. “Whether at work, school, or in your neighbourhood, your support makes a difference and can be a game changer,” she says. For Deepti, handholding a sportsperson and becoming part of their journey is deeply satisfying, fulfilling, and gratifying.
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