Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with adopting a growth mindset, a one that trusts in your potential to improve rather than being held back by your current limitations or genetics. In today’s edition of Raise The Bar, we speak with a coach and athlete who has made a significant impact in Sri Lanka’s fitness and CrossFit community. He believes that coaching is about more than just teaching people how to lift weights or push through high intensity workouts.
For transformative coaches like Zulsha Alibah, true change happens when both the mind and body evolve together. After all, fitness isn’t just about physical performance, it’s a journey of personal development that leads to lasting transformation. This holistic approach ensures clients not only build physical strength and endurance but also grow more confident, resilient, and mentally strong.
As a certified fitness coach with over a decade of experience; Zulsha’s responsibility goes beyond guiding clients, through physical exercises and tracking performance metrics. At its core, his coaching and teachings are about empowering clients to become the best version of themselves, not just in terms of physical capabilities, but in their mental and emotional development as well. For him, this is where the true transformation takes place, when individuals feel supported in their journey to become better both inside and outside the gym.
The following breakdown identifies essential focus areas that support clients in achieving sustainable progress and genuine transformation throughout their fitness journey.
Cultivating mental resilience
Whether it’s CrossFit or conventional fitness training, challenges are inevitable at every stage. Pushing through physical exhaustion, fatigue, and moments of self-doubt is part of the journey. Drawing from his own life experiences and years of coaching, Zulsha emphasizes the value of personal growth and mental resilience. Rather than focusing solely on metrics like how much weight a client can lift or how quickly they complete a workout, he uses their physical achievements as a foundation to cultivate a stronger, more resilient mindset.
He strongly believes, mental resilience is what keeps individuals moving forward when they feel like quitting. As the four-time CrossFit Games champion Rich Froning, often speaks about pushing through discomfort and staying mentally strong even when the body wants to quit, said “I don’t care if I am doing something that’s hard, I just want to do it the best I can”. Rich Froning often emphasizes the importance of pushing through discomfort and maintaining mental toughness, even when the body feels like giving up, because it’s in those moments of challenge that real, lasting change takes place.
Every athlete and client is unique, which means effective coaching must be tailored to their individual physical, emotional, and mental needs.
Inspired by the journeys of accomplished athletes, he believes that developing mental toughness empowers clients to push beyond their perceived limits. This resilience not only drives long-term success in fitness but also equips them to navigate challenges in life. His coaching emphasizes embracing obstacles, learning from setbacks, and celebrating every small victory. By encouraging a mindset that views failure as a stepping stone rather than a setback, Zulsha helps clients build lasting confidence and discipline.
Improving confidence and self-worth
By focusing on his clients’ personal growth, he helps them build self-confidence and empower them to move and feel better. As they see their strength improve and their fitness levels increase, they also experience a profound shift in their self-perception. As a coach who nurtures growth both physically and mentally, he creates a supportive environment, helping clients feel more confident in their abilities, both in the gym and in daily life. The constant positive reinforcement, encourages self-compassion, and celebrates each individual’s progress; whether that’s through mastering a movement or simply showing up to class consistently. This helps individual see themselves as capable, strong, and resilient individuals helping them progressively improve in their fitness journey.
Sustainable long-term progress
Personal growth is a continuous journey, not a final destination. By shifting the focus from quick fixes to long-term transformation allows clients to set meaningful, sustainable goals that lead to steady and lasting progress. This approach applies to every client, including those recovering from injuries. With a personalized blueprint that emphasizes both physical strength and mental resilience, Zulsha ensures clients avoid burnout and don't hit a plateau after just a few months of intense training. Further by encouraging realistic, achievable goals that blend physical milestones (like hitting a specific lift) with mental achievements (such as overcoming fear or self-doubt), fosters holistic development. This mindset keeps clients motivated, balanced, and consistently evolving in body and mind.
Empowering clients to take ownership of their journey
As a coach he believes that true transformation is a collaborative effort, a partnership between coach and client. Rather than simply giving instructions, he empowers clients to take an active role in their own journey. By emphasizing personal growth, he helps individuals develop a sense of ownership over their progress, which is essential for long-term success. This approach fosters self-efficacy, the confidence in one’s ability to make lasting change. Zulsha encourages clients to regularly reflect on their progress, set meaningful goals, and evaluate both their strengths and areas for growth. In doing so, he reinforces their commitment to the process and helps them stay motivated, focused, and engaged every step of the way.
Addressing individual needs for holistic growth
Every athlete and client is unique, which means effective coaching must be tailored to their individual physical, emotional, and mental needs. Whether someone is recovering from an injury, dealing with self-doubt, or working to overcome a performance plateau, Zulsha understands that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. He takes the time to truly understand each client, their motivations, challenges, and strengths which allows him to craft a personalized plan that supports both physical progress and mental resilience. This individualized approach leads to sustainable growth, helping clients thrive in a way that’s meaningful and lasting.
Creating a Positive and Supportive Environment
Creating a supportive environment where clients feel empowered, encouraged, and motivated, not only by the coach but also by their peers, is key to long-term success. A positive, community-centered atmosphere is essential for both mental and emotional growth. By cultivating a strong sense of community, he transforms the fitness journey from a solitary challenge into an engaging and enjoyable experience. When clients feel connected through shared goals and mutual encouragement, they’re more likely to stay consistent, break through mental barriers, and tackle tough workouts with confidence. Zulsha builds a space where clients celebrate each other's wins, uplift one another during setbacks, and grow together. This collective support nurtures resilience and reminds clients that they’re never alone on their journey.
In conclusion, for a coach like Zulsha Alibah, a truly holistic approach to fitness transformation goes beyond physical performance, it’s about fostering personal growth and deep, lasting change on both a mental and emotional level. It’s about guiding athletes toward becoming mentally resilient, confident, and empowered individuals who are capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible. By prioritizing both the mind and the body, he helps clients build a foundation of strength, resilience, and empowerment that lasts long after they leave the gym. This holistic approach not only transforms their fitness but also their lives. As Noah Ohlsen a CrossFit Games Athlete and Games Competitor said
“What I’ve learned over the years is that my physical ability is just as important as my mental ability, and you can’t be great without both”.
By emphasizing personal growth, coaches help athletes shift from a goal-oriented mindset to a more process-driven approach, where progress is measured by daily improvement and personal development rather than just hitting specific numbers or targets. Zulsha believes that this fosters long-term commitment, as individuals begin to see fitness as a part of their lifestyle rather than a short-term project. Moreover, this approach deepens the coach-athlete relationship, creating trust and mutual respect. Individuals who feel understood, valued, and supported are more likely to stay motivated, push through setbacks, and achieve sustainable success.
Coaches who champion personal growth also evolve themselves, constantly learning and adapting to better serve their clients’ needs. Ultimately, when a coach invests in both physical and mental transformation, they help clients build a solid foundation for lifelong health and success. As Tia-Clair Toomey, Eight-Time CrossFit Games Champion and officially the greatest athlete of all time said:
“Success in the sport doesn’t just happen with a strong body. It’s about having a coach who helps build your confidence, pushes your mental limits, and supports you when things get tough.” Tia highlights the importance of having a coach who nurtures both the athlete’s mental resilience and physical capacity for sustained success.
In the end, no matter what sport you pursue or how overwhelming the journey may feel at times, it’s the lasting impact of a great coach that makes all the difference. A coach who sees beyond sets and reps, who guides, supports, and inspires, can transform fitness from a temporary goal into a lifelong lifestyle. This kind of coaching goes beyond physical training; it instils discipline, builds confidence, and nurtures resilience. Over time, it shapes not just stronger athletes, but healthier, more balanced, and more fulfilled individuals. In this way, fitness becomes more than just a routine, it becomes a foundation for a better life.
Zulsha Alibah
- CrossFit L1 Certified Coach | Iron Island Functional Fitness Winner 2024 – Awarded Sri Lanka’s Fittest
- 2nd Strongest CrossFit Athlete in Sri Lanka | Western Province Silver Medalist in Olympic Weightlifting
- District Level Long Distance Endurance Athlete
- Coach CrossFit Ceylon |Founder Performance & Ams, Reps
