Hyrox while 7 months pregnant? Indian woman going viral shares how she did it

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or not, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Hyrox. The indoor fitness race has become the latest fitness flex across the world.

For the uninitiated: Hyrox is a fitness race that alternates between running and workouts. You run 1 km, then complete a workout station. You repeat this eight times, for a total of 8 km of running and eight workout stations. The exercises can include things like rowing, sled pushes, burpee broad jumps, and carrying weights.

And India seems to be in its Hyrox era, too. With every race comes a new story of human endurance. At the Bengaluru Hyrox, a 58-year-old ‘dadi’ won hearts with her resilience. The Delhi edition saw participants across age groups. And at the latest Mumbai race, a seven-month-pregnant woman named Jennifer, who goes by Jennie, crossed the finish line and quickly found herself at the centre of a social media storm. Jennifer and her partner at the Hyrox mixed-doubles race in Mumbai (Photo: Jennifer)

The internet had plenty to say, from admiration to accusations that she was putting her baby at risk.

India Today Digital spoke exclusively to Jennie about her Hyrox journey — from her training routine and challenges to dealing with the backlash that followed her race. Interestingly, Mumbai was her second Hyrox during pregnancy - she completed the Japan Hyrox at five months pregnant. Jennie participated in the Japan Hyrox in August, before Mumbai’s September edition. (Photo: Jennifer) Training for Hyrox during pregnancy

Jennie, 37, was born and brought up in Kolkata but now calls Shanghai, China, home.

But there’s a little more to her Hyrox story than meets the eye — fitness has been a part of her life for the past 15 years. She works at Hyroxworld in Shanghai and is also the founder and coach at Rises Shanghai, a fitness centre. For the past 15 years, Jennie built her life around fitness (Photo: Jennifer)

“When I signed up for my first Hyrox race a little over two years ago, I had also layered on some running volume. Since then, I have raced five times total. When I found out I was pregnant early this year, I didn’t feel like it was something to hold me back from continuing to race,” Jennie shared.

And here's why her decision to participate in Hyrox made sense. According to Dr Rahul Manchanda, senior consultant (Endoscopic Gynaecology), PSRI Hospital, New Delhi, “A woman who was already regularly running, strength training or participating in demanding workouts before pregnancy may be able to continue some of that activity, but the intensity, duration and type of exercise may need to be modified as the pregnancy progresses."

And that's exactly what Jennie did. And of course, her gynaecologist was in the loop too and didn't stop her from participating.

“I’m grateful to have a very knowledgeable OB who was up-to-date on the latest research around strength training and exercise during pregnancy. We did blood work, scans, etc., almost every week, and she really had no objections. She always told me to keep doing whatever I was doing because everything looked great.”Fitness routine

“I do Zone 2 (low-to-moderate intensity) runs three to four times a week. I also do another three to four training sessions, including at least two strength-training sessions, usually focused on a push/hinge or squat/pull. I also do one or two conditioning sessions that are more Hyrox-specific,” she told us. Prior Hyrox experience served the foundation of her active lifestyle during pregnancy. (Photo: Jennifer)

After getting pregnant, Jennie had to modify her training intensity and loads, as breathing under heavy loads became more difficult.

“I only needed to modify how I did burpees, with my knees on the floor. Lunges were less comfortable during the first two trimesters because of my growing belly, but in the third trimester, with my uterus resting higher, they’ve been fine. I don’t do intervals or sprints anymore. I also don’t lift more than 70 per cent of my maximum weight and mostly stick to moderate, sustainable intensity,” she added.

But, of course, none of it came without its challenges.The challenges

For many expecting mothers, nausea and vomiting can make staying active difficult. But every pregnancy is different, and Jennie was fortunate to barely experience either. Her biggest challenges were fluctuating energy, motivation and recovery — all of which can make it harder to stick to a fitness routine.

“Pregnant women have higher blood volume, lower HRV and a higher resting heart rate than their normal baseline, all of which can contribute to a lower fitness level and reduced exercise intensity. I also knew I had to really tune into my body awareness and intuition to navigate training during this phase,” the 37-year-old explained. Jennie and her partner wanted to create one special memory before starting a new chapter in life. (Photo:Jennifer)

Sounds inspiring, right? It is. But pregnancy fitness also comes with its fair share of misconceptions. In India, the moment you’re pregnant, the dos and don'ts seem to multiply overnight. Some are medically necessary, while others come from that familiar “yeh mat khao, yeh mat karo” and the unsolicited advisory board.The myths and accusations

After Jennie’s video went viral, it received plenty of appreciation but also accusations. She received several hateful and threatening comments accusing her of intentionally hurting “the” baby.

Though she ignored the negativity and focused more on the love being poured over.

“I think there is so much fear-mongering around exercise, especially for pregnant women. This will be particularly true in Indian society, where women are told they need to sit, rest, lie down and do as little as possible — all of which may do more harm than good and is backed by zero scientific evidence. Everyone wants to tell you that if you dare go for a run, you’ll be ‘biologically’ risking the baby,” Jennie said.

Speaking about the myths and misconceptions she encountered, Jennie said people warned her that she would “hurt the baby” and that too much physical activity could lead to a C-section, preterm labour or, worse, a miscarriage.

But experts say the reality is more nuanced.

“There is a tendency to believe that exercising intensely will somehow harm the baby. In a healthy pregnancy, appropriately prescribed physical activity is generally not something women need to fear. The concern is more about doing an unsuitable activity, pushing through warning signs or ignoring a medical complication,” Dr Manchanda explained.

He further pointed out one of the biggest misconceptions: that pregnancy means a woman should avoid exercise and spend most of her time resting.

“For women with uncomplicated pregnancies, appropriate physical activity can actually support overall fitness, strength, mobility and mental wellbeing. Having said that, being fit does not mean a pregnant woman should push through pain, exhaustion or unusual symptoms. Medical clearance and regular reassessment are therefore more important than following a particular workout routine.”Final lap

Jennie’s story is inspiring, but more importantly, it opens up a conversation around the fear that often surrounds pregnancy and exercise.

And Jennie’s isn’t a one-off story. Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has also shared glimpses of her strength training during pregnancy. In 2025, Delhi Police constable Sonika Yadav won a bronze medal at the All India Police Weightlifting Cluster in Andhra Pradesh while seven months pregnant.

Of course, you can’t simply sign up for a Hyrox race during pregnancy. It requires proper training and experience, and any exercise routine during pregnancy should be tailored to the individual.

As for Jennie, it was about celebrating the fitness she had built, staying active and making one last special memory with her partner before embarking on a new chapter of their lives as parents.- Ends

Travel-Colours-Quirks are things Jigyasa associates with. She is someone who enjoys the world of stories and believes that one travels through narratives they write and share. Her mantra for life is -"Hakuna Matata." Currently, she covers lifestyle and everything and anything that falls under the umbrella.