A versatile individual with a diverse skill set, Mitsu Fonseca excels in multiple domains, including freelance digital marketing, yoga instruction, and marathon running. Her passion for running has seen her achieve remarkable feats, including podium finishes in half-marathons and marathons. Alongside her athletic pursuits, Mitsu shares her expertise as a yoga teacher, offering personalized sessions both online and offline.

Mitsu Fonseca is a freelance Digital Marketer, Yoga Teacher, and Marathon Runner based in India. Mitsu takes on various freelance marketing projects and also works as a yoga instructor. Passionate about running, she has been participating in half-marathons and marathons for just under a year.

In her freelance yoga practice, Mitsu offers personalized yoga sessions both online and offline. While she personally practices Ashtanga yoga, she primarily teaches Hatha yoga, adapting her sessions to meet the specific goals of her students. For those aiming to improve flexibility, she focuses on that aspect. For students looking to combine strength with flexibility, she adjusts her teaching accordingly. As a runner herself, Mitsu includes mobility exercises for fellow runners to address the tightness in their muscles. Her approach is always tailored to the unique needs of each student.

Talking about where she got the inspiration to learn yoga, Mitsu says her interest in yoga sparked towards the end of 2019. Before that, she worked in a full-time marketing job. She wanted to learn something new and incorporate physical activity into her life. So, she pursued yoga certification courses and spent several months learning and practicing the art. Once she felt confident, she started teaching yoga.

Regarding her digital marketing career, Mitsu shares that she studied Mass Media, Advertising, and Journalism. Initially, she was involved in Digital Marketing, and later she specialized in Digital Advertising, particularly Google Ads. She now undertakes projects for smaller startups, helping them gain online visibility.

Reminiscing about her childhood, Mitsu says she was born in Goa and primarily studied in Mumbai. She pursued science in junior college, then studied Advertising and Mass Media, followed by a postgraduate degree in Sociology and Journalism. She spent her early years in Mumbai and always looked forward to visiting Goa during summer vacations to see her cousins.

When asked about her role models, Mitsu reveals she does not have a specific one. However, as a marathon runner herself, she finds inspiration in everyday runners from various countries, particularly women who share her passion for running. She admires their dedication and training routines, finding motivation in knowing that if they can undergo training, so can she.

Fonseca emphasizes that although long-distance running can be challenging, she finds solace in the belief that "running is like an adventure for her mind." She began running when she needed to improve her mental health. The endorphins released inside her body during her runs provided significant relief. While she acknowledges that running is not a replacement for therapy, she believes it can greatly benefit one's mental well-being. For her, running is not just about physical health; it's equally about nurturing her mental state and feeling better overall.

Talking about her achievements, Runner Mitsu recalls receiving recognition for her teamwork during her previous full-time job. Transitioning to running, she entered her first-ever race, a 10Km event in Goa in December 2021, where she pleasantly surprised herself by coming fifth. This initial success spurred her on to further training. Despite consistently finishing on the podium in races tailored to her age group, she found the repetitive nature of 10Km races somewhat uninspiring. Seeking a new challenge, she decided to train for half-marathons, which felt daunting at first but ultimately proved fulfilling. This journey eventually culminated in her ambitious goal of completing a full marathon, which she accomplished at the TATA Mumbai Marathon. Despite it being her first attempt at the challenging 42.2-kilometer race, she managed to secure the third position in her category. This achievement served as validation for the months of hard work and commitment she had put into her training.

Describing the challenges she encountered, Mitsu Fonseca shares that as a woman, she did not feel safe training on the roads early in the morning before sunrise. She expresses a desire to see this safety concern addressed. She also points out the challenge women encounter in reaching community runs due to safety concerns. Another challenge she faced was dealing with running-related injuries, though fortunately, she did not experience any major ones. Recalling a time when she neglected strength training and focused solely on running, she developed irritation in her iliotibial band due to overuse, and suffered from IT Band Syndrome. This forced her to stop running for a significant period of three months. She emphasizes how mentally challenging it was for her to be unable to run during that time, underscoring the importance of strength training for runners.

Her advice to those interested in starting their sports fitness journey early is straightforward: she suggests incorporating physical activity into daily life from a young age, whether through yoga, gym workouts, dancing, or even skipping at home. Mitsu emphasizes that dedicating just a few minutes each day to movement can greatly benefit the body. Reflecting on her own experience, she regrets not starting to move her body earlier, as she only began doing so in her 30s. In her 20s, she occasionally went on treks, enjoying the activity, but she believes starting earlier would have been even better. She stresses the importance of physical movement for both mental and physical fitness, urging people not to view it as a tiresome task but rather as a regular habit. Furthermore, she emphasizes the significance of proper nutrition, stating that fueling the body well is essential for optimal performance, especially before running.

Mitsu Fonseca’s message to the people of India is one of kindness and empathy. She encourages everyone to make efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of others, especially if someone is alone outside. Instead of exacerbating the situation, she urges people to create a sense of safety and comfort for those in need.

Mitsu Fonseca emphasizes the importance of putting an end to hurtful comments and calls for society to be more compassionate towards others. She believes that fostering a culture of kindness will inspire more people to step out and engage in physical activity.