iGlobal columnist Lavina Mehta collected her MBE at a special Windsor Castle investiture ceremony this week, an honour conferred upon her by Queen Elizabeth II in the Honours list in 2020.
The 43-year-old Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, Speaker and mum of three was conferred as Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to Health and Fitness during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a special focus on the South Asian community and older people.
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“It’s still surreal to me and I’ve been too scared to share it with the current Covid situation,” reflected Lavina as she counted down the days to her special visit to the castle.
“Don’t doubt yourself. (I used to have serious imposter syndrome when I started all this!) If I can do it, you can do it,” she said.
Her free workouts with her 74-year-old mother-in-law, which she has continued, have helped thousands globally, even up to the age of 100 in Care Homes. She is making fitness accessible to all with her concept of Exercise Snacking – breaking down barriers of time, cost and motivation.
Lavina’s story is quite unique, having left her successful corporate career as a Global Project Manager 13 years ago, to become a housewife and raise her three boys. Lavina requalified as a PT just 3.5 years ago. She only started her own fitness journey 10 years ago and cannot herself believe that she is now an influencer with a large social media presence, a fitness role model in the South Asian community, helping to train thousands of people virtually and globally, and she never envisaged receiving an MBE Honour from the Queen alongside the likes of Joe Wicks, “Mr Motivator” and Marcus Rashford.
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Lavina has supported many charities this year including Alzheimer’s Society, Brain Tumour Research and is a proud Ambassador for Diabetes UK on her mission to help everyone Feel Good physically and mentally. Her slogan is “Exercise for Sanity not Vanity.”
