From wellness entrepreneur to published author, Fitri Silman has built a life centred on purpose, creativity, and mindful living. Through her brand, books, and advocacy, she encourages women to embrace wellness not as a destination, but as a way of life.
In this exclusive FEMEST cover story, she reflects on motherhood, ambition, personal growth, and the simple yet powerful practices that help women thrive in an increasingly demanding world.
Could you tell us a little about yourself and what you are most passionate about?
My name is Fitri Silman, and my passion is in helping women live healthier, more intentional, and more meaningful lives by reconnecting them with themselves through wellness, self-care, creativity, and mindful living.
I have approached this as an author, illustrator and entrepreneur, founding luxury yoga and lifestyle brand, Fit Yoga. I have published six children’s books and recently launched my wellness title, Your Wellness Era Starts Here.
At the heart of everything I do is a desire to help women build healthier, more balanced lives through wellness, mindfulness, movement, and intentional self-care. Whether I am writing, creating content, or designing through Fit Yoga apparel, my purpose remains the same: to inspire people to truly take care of themselves and live with meaning.
Wellness is such a central part of your life today. How did that journey first begin for you?
I have always been an active person – the gym has been part of my life since I was young – but I always sensed something was missing.
After being diagnosed with benign breast tumors at twenty-one, I began looking beyond fitness toward a more holistic understanding of health. That curiosity deepened significantly when I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. It fundamentally changed how I relate to both my body and my mind, and became the foundation for everything I have built since.
Was there a moment when you knew you wanted to build something of your own in the wellness space?
Becoming a mother clarified everything. I understood how essential it was to have flexibility while still pursuing work that was deeply meaningful, and I saw clearly how many women were quietly struggling to prioritise their own well-being. That realisation became the seed for Fit Yoga apparel, for my books, and for the platforms I continue to build. I wanted to create spaces that made it easier and more inviting for women to weave wellness into the fabric of their everyday lives.
You wear many hats – entrepreneur, author, creative. Which part of your work feels closest to your heart right now?
All of it, genuinely, because each expression comes from the same intention. Fit Yoga is about helping women feel strong, confident, and expressive in their own way; to move well and show up fully. My writing and illustrated books come from a more reflective place, processing life through language, and turning personal experience into something that can be felt. Whether the reader is a woman navigating her own path or a child stepping into imagination for the first time, the impulse behind the work is identical.
What keeps you inspired on the days when things do not go as planned?
I remind myself that progress is rarely linear, and I mean that. Living across multiple countries, raising a child, building a business, and writing books have each taught me that setbacks are not detours; they are part of the road itself. On the harder days, I return to my bigger purpose and make a deliberate effort to acknowledge the small victories along the way. Those moments of recognition, however quiet, have an extraordinary power to keep you moving forward.
Your work encourages more mindful living. What is the one practice that has made the greatest difference in your own life?
Yoga, without question. It taught me that wellness is not about perfection, it is about consistency and self-awareness. Even a few minutes of intentional movement, conscious breathing, or quiet reflection can shift the entire register of a day, both physically and mentally. That lesson has stayed with me and shaped the way I approach almost everything. The mat has been my most honest teacher patient, revealing, and endlessly generous with what it offers when you show up.
Writing books is a singular kind of journey. What do you enjoy most about bringing your ideas to life on the page?
The alchemy of it – taking personal experience and transforming it into something another person can genuinely connect with. Writing gives me the space to organise my thoughts, reflect on where I have been, and hopefully make someone feel seen, understood, or quietly encouraged. There is something extraordinary about words that can travel far beyond your own life and land somewhere they are truly needed. That possibility is what draws me back to the page, every single time.
You have created work for both adults and children. What draws you to connecting with such different audiences?
At first glance, they seem worlds apart, yet both are rooted in the same desire for authenticity and connection. Children return us to curiosity and imagination. Adults seek grounding, guidance, and the feeling of being understood. I began my first illustrated book for my son, building an imaginative world for him to grow within. My wellness book came from my own lived experience of slowing down and rebuilding. Different languages, different readers, but always the same quiet intention: to create spaces where people feel genuinely seen and held.
Running a business and staying creative can be demanding. How do you find a balance between the two?
I have learned that balance is not a state you arrive at, it is a practice in itself. It is not about doing everything flawlessly every day; it is about understanding your priorities and extending yourself grace when things inevitably shift. Some days call for imagination and open-ended thinking. Others require structure, discipline, and focus. I try to build systems that protect time for both – for the creative work that sustains me and the operational work that makes everything else possible.
Is there a lesson you have learned over the years that you wish women knew earlier in their journeys?
That true wellness begins from within, not from the outside. Women so often direct their energy toward appearance while quietly neglecting their emotional well-being and inner life. I wish I had understood that earlier. The second lesson arrived with motherhood: I used to believe that prioritising myself was a luxury I could not afford. The opposite is true. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is what allows you to show up fully and wholeheartedly for every person you love.
“You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is not selfish it is what allows you to show up fully for everyone you love.”
What are the simple things that help you genuinely relax and recharge?
My personal time is intentionally restful a sauna, an absorbing book, or simply unwinding poolside at sunset. I have learned to value stillness and quiet as a genuine form of reset, not an indulgence. Equally vital is time with the people I love. Meaningful connection, unhurried, present, and real, is where I feel most grounded. I believe the healthiest relationships are built not through grand gestures but through the quiet, accumulated weight of simple moments spent genuinely together.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in this next chapter of your life and career?
I’m most excited about helping people, especially women, care for themselves deeply enough that they can live fully, love fully, and create meaningful lives.
I’ll do this by continuing to create, to publish, and to take Fit Yoga further – those feel like natural next steps, and I am genuinely excited for them. But what moves me most is everything that cannot be planned. The growth that surprises you, the connections that deepen, the moments you did not see coming that end up meaning the most.
My goal is to keep building something real, something lasting, something that matters. My hope is simply to keep showing up for all of it, openly and with intention, helping people flourish from the inside out.
