Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruhi Rastogi.
Hi Ruhi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with the freedom to be different. I was raised in a home that gave me space to look past what was expected of me. In a culture where certain paths are usually set in stone, I was encouraged to go after the kinds of careers and adventures a typical Indian woman wasn’t often “seen” doing.
That early permission gave me the guts to pivot. I walked away from a stable career in Engineering and Augmented Reality to dive into the messy, unpredictable world of starting my own business. I wanted to color the slate green, to build something that was entirely mine.
Seven years ago, I traded the structure of corporate tech for the grit of owning a small, woman-owned fitness studio. It was a massive leap of faith. I had to unlearn everything I knew about playing it safe and embrace the daily hustle of building a community from the ground up.
Earlier this year, on March 14th, that journey came full circle at 17,598 feet.
Standing at Everest Base Camp, surrounded by bone-chilling peaks and breathing air with only 50% oxygen, it hit me. My business, my life, and the mountains all share the same truth: you don’t reach the summit in one giant leap.
Whether you’re keeping a business alive through a global pandemic or trekking through sub-zero temperatures, you get there the same way: Bistari, Bistari (slowly, slowly). One intentional, resilient step at a time. Trusting that your foundation is strong enough to carry you to the top.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a rocky road, and honestly, the humbling moments haven’t stopped.
Over seven years, I’ve learned that you can’t just ride the wave. You have to become one with it. Whether it’s decoding sales patterns or leading by example, the learning curve never goes away.
My biggest personal hurdle was moving from owning every single task to finally letting go. As an engineer, I’m wired to hold the rope myself. I had to learn to trust the systems I built and, more importantly, the team I hired to run them. Shifting from that solo-hustle to true leadership has been a long, humbling process. The studio thrives most when I stop trying to do everything – and start empowering my people to lead with me.
What people don’t always see is that the playbook for success is constantly changing. Every client who walks through our doors is unique, with their own struggles and their own goals. Our challenge as a team isn’t just inspiring someone on Day One – it’s keeping them engaged on Day 100 and then on Day 600. We have to constantly evolve, and we have to find new ways to show care as our members evolve too. The way we support someone today might look completely different from what they need six months from now.
That constant pivoting is where the real work happens. It’s reminded me that a fitness studio is so much more than a place to sweat. We are a third space – the kind of connection people are quietly starving for.
This journey has never been just about a balance sheet. It’s about connecting profit and loss back to the original mission: helping people become the best versions of themselves. Seeing that lasting impact on our members’ lives – that’s what brings the whole journey home.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
After seven years of building and refining, my work has entered a new, experimental phase. As a business grows, the human element becomes the hardest thing to scale. I’m not always the one on the mic or high-fiving every person at the door like I used to be. I had to find a way to make sure our members still felt genuinely cared for, felt our lovey-dovey vibe – without me burning out trying to do it all myself.
So, I went back to my roots. I’m obsessing over how to use AI and automation to do the things I never had the time for before. I call it Engineering the Vibe.
That means building systems that give my team more positive feedback, designing check-ins that actually make members smile, and reaching out to the person who hasn’t been in for a week – not to nag them, but to let them know they’re missed. Technology, in the right hands, can feel like a warm hug. That’s what I’m building toward.
What I’m most proud of is that Rice Military has become a true third space for our community – an anchor between home and work. Whether we’re watching 29 athletes crush a HYROX simulation or coming together for a BARC Animal Shelter drive, the resilience of this tribe is what keeps me going.
What I want people to know is this: we take the warm, lovey-dovey community feeling and back it up with fierce, results-driven training. We’re constantly evolving – not just so our members hit their goals, but so they actually enjoy the journey of getting there.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Look for character, not titles.
Don’t chase the person with the most success on paper. Look for the person who inspires you by how they show up every single day.
What has worked for me is finding people whose journey I actually respect – the ones who have become better versions of themselves not by luck, but through awareness, hard work, and a lot of grit. My greatest mentors haven’t been the ones who had it easy. They’re the people who have navigated failure and come out the other side with more clarity.
Networking shouldn’t feel like a transaction or a business card swap. It should feel like an alignment of values. When you find someone who has the kind of resilience you want to have, pay attention to how they handle the thin air moments.
Whether it was my engineering mentors early in my career or the Sherpas who guided me through the Himalayas last month – the best guides are the ones who have walked the rocky path themselves, and still have the heart to reach back and help you find your footing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.f45training.com/ricemilitary
- Instagram: f45ricemilitary
- Facebook: f45ricemilitary
- LinkedIn: ruhirastogi
