A senior executive in Singapore, Tony Tan is one of many in the corporate world who became a victim of long working hours and stress. He tells YJSG how he was able to reduce his stress levels and find inner peace with yoga and meditation.
I started with yoga and got hooked to meditation. Yoga was mostly asanas for me; I was initially attracted to its elegant flow and challenging poses. It was also a low cost form of exercise as you can practice it anywhere without any fancy equipment. I was always fascinated by meditation, but never really embraced it until three years ago when my company was undergoing a drastic transformation, and I began experiencing high stress at work.
There was a lot of noise and negativity around me. I had to find inner peace and emotional stability in order to chart the right direction for the company and my life. So I did some research and came across Soul Centre, an established and well known center for meditation and mindfulness in Singapore. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
I work long hours behind a computer, and am constantly making decisions and handling customers on the fly for up to 14 hours a day. As the Deputy CEO of a fast paced Information Technology firm, I need to ensure the company moves ahead of an already fast-paced industry to capitalize on the business trends and digital disruptions that are sweeping across every industry. Yoga enables me to build up my physical strength and flexibility, and also slow down my hectic life. It instills peace within me.
Meditation is an extension of my yoga practice. Yoga allows me to sit still and upright for longer periods so I can benefit from the fruits of my meditation practice. Meditation extends the inner peace that my yoga practice provides, and stills my mind so that I can be ready for the challenges ahead. Meditation, when combined with wisdom, brings joy and stability to my work and personal life.
I feel yoga is for every man since it works a lot on your core and flexibility. Some of my friends are curious about my interest in yoga and meditation, as previously I used to only hit the gym. I believe that there is a lot of misconception, as many think of yoga as a “girl thing”.
Steve Jobs used to meditate. Look at what he created and how he transformed the industry. If it was good enough for him, it’s good enough for us. Yoga and meditation are perhaps not well understood and marketed to men in Singapore. I would like to tell the men out there that while yoga has many external benefits, such as muscle toning and sculpting, meditation brings you an inner peace and joy that affects and improves every part of your daily routine.
My mind was so easily distracted when I first started meditating. But surprisingly, I soon found it easy. I understood that meditation does not mean sitting still for hours, and even five minutes would do. It is also very important to get the right teacher with the right techniques. Once you understand how to meditate effectively, you will find that it’s really not that difficult. And the more you meditate, the faster you get into a calm state of mind.
This article was first published in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now Yogahood Online.
