“Three…two…one…gently remove your eye bag now.”
Her calming voice draws me out of a trance. I flutter my eyes open, a soft smile settling on my lips. My body is in a complete state of rest—chest sunk deep into the bolster placed before me, hands relaxed on either side, mind utterly still.
Mind you, this isn’t the first time I have spent a good 15 minutes in a Child’s Pose (Balasana) during a yoga class, but I’ve never felt this immersed in calm—or this safe. I am at Evolve, India's first women-only wellness club, newly opened in New Delhi's Dhanmill Compound. Karishma, my yoga practitioner for the day, suggests a restorative session after learning that I’m currently dealing with a cervical spasm. Before the class, she assesses my daily routine, health profile, and areas of discomfort. She suggests a red light therapy session to improve tissue repair, boost blood circulation, and accelerate post-workout recovery.
This sets the pace of Evolve—careful, unhurried, and concerned, without imposition. “The idea for Evolve took shape over time through both personal experience and keen observation,” says co-founder Anu Bajaj. "I was inspired by how wellness abroad was integrated into everyday life, where fitness, community, and mindful living coexisted seamlessly. I often felt that there was a gap in India for such holistic, thoughtfully designed wellness ecosystems.”
Anu—along with Shivam Bajaj, the founder-CEO of Personal Nutrition—founded the club as a sanctuary shaped by the fluidity and strength of water. The mother-son duo makes this philosophy come to life within the 6,000-square-foot space, designed by Amith Chhabra of Studio LCD.
Evolve brings together movement, recovery, and modern therapeutic practices under one roof. Pilates, yoga, strength training, physiotherapy, infrared sauna, sound healing, and women-specific recovery protocols sit alongside massage therapies and personalised nutrition plans. Then, there is Cocoon, a dedicated meditation room that offers a quiet, low-stimulus environment built for stillness, breath, and nervous system reset.
Ayurveda finds its place here too, as one of several supportive frameworks within a broader, evidence-led approach to wellness. A curated roster of workshops and a wellness bar featuring Subko-led offerings like matcha and functional blends, extend the experience beyond the mat.
Currently a membership-based format, the annual fee for Evolve is priced at Rs. 3,60,000. The membership includes access to all group classes across yoga, Pilates, and the gym, along with 12 therapy massages annually. Members also have full access to the recovery zone, which includes steam, infrared sauna, and red light therapy. Additionally, the membership includes an Ayurveda consultation and a biomechanical analysis to help personalise nutrition and movement plans for each individual.
Robb Report India speaks with Anu about the vision behind Evolve, the challenges she encountered along the way, and the inspirations that led her to create a women-led wellness sanctuary amid the capital’s chaos.
Robb Report India (RRI): What led you to start India’s first women-only wellness club?
Anu Bajaj (AB): I often felt that there was a gap in India for holistic, thoughtfully designed wellness ecosystems. At the same time, my journey as a woman navigating different life stages made me realise how little structured support exists for women’s physical, emotional, and hormonal wellbeing. From pregnancy to menopause, much of the journey is navigated individually, through fragmented advice or self-discovery.
Reading Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez further deepened this perspective, highlighting how most spaces and systems are not designed keeping women’s needs in mind. That’s when the idea to create a sanctuary built specifically for women truly crystallised.
RRI: What key elements did you keep in mind while designing the space?
AB: At its core, Evolve is built around the idea of flow, inspired by water— fluid, restorative, and adaptable, much like a woman’s journey. This philosophy is reflected in the design language. It's soft, and has flowing interiors and subtle details like the drop motif across the space.
Every element has been planned keeping a woman’s comfort and well-being in mind. The space is non-toxic, uses chemical-free materials, and maintains high air quality through HEPA filtration systems. There is a conscious effort to create an environment that feels calming, safe, and supportive to both the body and mind.
Functionally, the space brings together multiple aspects of wellness under one roof, including fitness, yoga, Pilates, recovery therapies, and community spaces like the cafe. While the process was extensive and detail-oriented, it was also incredibly fulfilling because it was driven by a clear vision and purpose.
RRI: How are you building trust to encourage memberships?
AB: Women immediately connect with the idea of having a space that is designed specifically for them!
That said, we are very clear that Evolve is not positioned as a quick-fix wellness centre. It is a wellness club built on long-term commitment and community. Our focus is on creating meaningful engagement and real transformation over time, rather than short-term experiences.
We are building trust through clarity of philosophy and consistency in what we offer. When people understand that this is a space designed for sustained well-being and a sense of belonging, they are more inclined to come on board and become part of the community.
RRI: What roles do you and your son each play in building Evolve?
AB: When I first shared the idea with my family, my son Shivam was particularly encouraging and played a key role in pushing me to take the leap and bring this vision to life.
Our roles are quite distinct yet complementary. Shivam leads the business side of Evolve, including strategy, financial planning, projections, and overall growth. He also drives marketing and brand direction.
I focus on the wellness aspect, including programming, experience design, and overall operations. However, we ideate together on most aspects. While we may have different perspectives at times, there is a clear sense of ownership in our respective areas. This balance allows us to function effectively while building something we both strongly believe in.