Women Wellness And Wins: Bringing Women's Health On Centre Stage

It was not a long time ago that conversations on women's health and healthcare often witnessed empty halls; it's also not a long time ago that these conversations happened in the first place. Not anymore, times are changing, and so are conversations, and it's time to put women's healthcare where it belongs - on centre stage. SheThePeople & Gytree are enabling this, and more, through their many initiatives and events across the country, and Women, Wellness And Wins is a part of this crucial movement. It’s a win for sure when women of all ages, across all walks of life, come together to talk about uncomfortable truths about their health, fitness and nutrition. 

After a successful Bengaluru edition, SheThePeople & Gytree headed to Hyderabad to bring women across age groups under one roof and get the conversation going. Joining hands with us in this extremely important undertaking was the Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, fondly known as HICC, where groundbreaking discussions around women’s health — mental health, fitness, menopause, perimenopause, hormonal changes to mental well-being and reproductive health, and nutrition took place on October 16. 

Why Do We Need Conversation & Action Solely Based On Women's Health?

Kickstarting the event with high spirits, Shayma Maity (Rooms Division Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & HICC) addressed the people in attendance and welcomed open conversations about women's healthcare. "We have always focussed on creating memorable experiences, and this indeed is a special one."

Is women's health only gynaecology? No, it's not. Of course, gynaecology is a huge part of women's healthcare, but what about other factors and spectrums? These are questions that needed to be answered, and Gytree - a women's health platform - was established to bring fair, and long-waited answers to them. Swarnima Bhattacharya - Co-Founder, Gytree, brought to attention this, and more.

With candid panel discussions and personal stories, the event created a safe space for women to explore what truly matters to their bodies and minds. It was a day of education, sisterhood, and owning the narrative of women's health like never before. 

Our first panel, Hormonal Health & Fitness: Navigating Nutrition And Balance, was a deep dive into navigating wellness at every stage. Exploring how hormonal changes—menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause—affect overall health, and the role fitness and nutrition play in balancing these shifts, it focused on the unique nutritional and fitness needs of women in different life phases. The panellists, Swarnima Bhattacharya (Co-Founder, Gytree),  Dr Minal Chandra (Pain Physician & Bone Health Specialist) and Dr Pooja Sree (DNB General Medicine And Nutrition & Fitness Expert) explored the need to prioritise what it takes to achieve a holistic lifestyle and why well-being should come first for women across ages.

The second panel, Breaking The Stigma: Mental Health & Emotional Wellness For Women, analysed how mental health is intertwined with physical fitness, emotional resilience and work-life balance. Moderator Namrata Sadhvani (Writer, Content Creator and Volunteer at Sayfty) along with Harleen Bagga (Psychotherapist and Founder of Soul Therapy), Swarna Latha Karanam - (COO, AI-Hawks Software Solutions & Life Coach) and Sonal Singh (Founder/Director of Rian Placements, a women-centric head-hunting firm) found answers to a crucial question - why is it crucial to destigmatize mental health conversations for women. 

The third panel, Self-Care & Fitness In The Age Of Hustle Culture, had Swarnima Bhattacharya, Chhaya Sharma (Blogger & Founder of Hyderabad Moms) and Maithri Rao (Bharatanatyam Dancer & Choreographer) examine the pressure of balancing work, family, and personal wellness, with insights on how women can prioritise their fitness and health without guilt or burnout.

Why Are FRIENDS important? Novotel's Executive Chef Tells Us

Our relationship with food is often bittersweet (quite literally), but what is it that can help us enjoy balance and taste? FRIENDS, said the Executive Chef Shiv Parveshat, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, fondly known as HICC. Furthering elucidating in an interesting way, he revealed how F stands for nutrient-rich, iron-rich, and protein-rich food that women often ignore considering they put their nutritional needs last. It's a factor that women must prioritise because it is the fuel to their body and mind. 

The second, he explained, is R which stands for Regular checkup. One of the major concerns that India faces today is the lack of awareness around preventive health checkups; for women, it's worse. To realise that prevention is better than cure in its truest sense is also to understand that visiting a lab, a doctor's clinic, or taking a consultation for preventive tests is not limited to falling ill, it's a preventive action that assists in not just stronger healthcare but can also save lives.

Putting it in a straight-shooting term, Chef examined the letter I - why I stand for iconic and inspiration, and why self-love is the key to greatness and wellness.

E, as estimated, is exercise, voiced the Chef. Understanding why mobility is key to fitness, and how our physical health affects our mental health is what will make us both healthy and mindful. 

The letter, N, evidently should stand for Nature, added the Chef. Being out in nature, appreciating what's around us, and soaking in its glory is the key to our soul's happiness. The link between health and happiness is often underestimated, especially for women, and we must change that. 

Proving through action and not just words, the team at Novotel created a special menu for the women at the event and one of the most important items for the ABC drink, a detox drink. D, standing for Detox, is another exemplary way to heal your body and mind. 

S is a term that holds meaning for people differently, explained the Chef. It can be spirituality, it can be daan (donating and helping those in need), and it can be yoga (a practice of the asanas and meditations). All of these, whether practised separately or together, can contribute to a fuller, deeper meaningful life. 

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, fondly known as HICC's assistance in making this breakthrough event a success points to the growing awareness and acceptance of prioritising and investing in women's healthcare in India.