International Yoga Day! From yoga mats to boardrooms — CEOs share their wellness mantras
International Yoga Day
2025, a quiet transformation is already underway in India Inc's corner offices.
For many leaders, yoga and
mindfulness
are no longer just wellness trends—they're essential pillars of their leadership philosophy.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
In a high-stakes business environment marked by volatility and decision fatigue, these ancient practices are offering modern solutions: clarity, composure, and emotional strength.
Senior leaders across sectors—from insurance to investment banking—shared with ETMarkets how they integrate yoga, meditation, and mindful routines into their daily lives to stay focused and mentally agile.
The Calm Before the Day: Morning Rituals that Anchor Focus
Live Events
Shiv K. Goel, Director at Bonanza Group, begins each day with a sunrise walk followed by yoga—a practice he says is as much about mental hygiene as physical fitness. 'That combination helps create a space of inner stillness and presence,' he explains.
For him, this early morning ritual is not just a lifestyle choice—it's leadership preparation. 'The walk offers mental clarity and solitude, while yoga brings physical balance and mindfulness. It allows me to approach decisions with a calm, focused, and composed mind.'
Mental Health as a Priority, Not an Afterthought
For Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO of Zuno General Insurance, the discipline goes even deeper. She believes mental fitness is as critical as any financial metric. 'To me, health is most important,' she says.
'I prioritize both mental and physical well-being, intertwining yoga and meditation into my daily routine.' These practices, she adds, have been instrumental in helping her maintain focus amid professional responsibilities and personal commitments. 'They help me keep a calm demeanor, which is vital in today's always-on business environment.'
Stretching Beyond the Physical: The Mind-Body Connection
Ravi Kumar Jha, MD & CEO of LIC Mutual Fund AMC, echoes this balance between body and mind. For him, the key lies in gentle, consistent movement. 'Light stretching and yoga are the cornerstones of my fitness routine,' he says.
Beyond keeping him physically agile, these routines 'support mental clarity by promoting a strong mind-body connection, which grounds me for a productive day.'
Iyengar Yoga, Gratitude & Structure: A CEO's Morning Playbook
These sentiments resonate with Sonia Dasgupta, MD & CEO – Investment Banking at
JM Financial
, who follows a detailed morning routine anchored in mindfulness.
A long-time practitioner of Iyengar Yoga, Sonia starts her day early with hydration, followed by 30 minutes of yoga or aerobic exercise. 'Yoga calms and declutters my mind and keeps me physically agile,' she explains.
But her discipline doesn't stop at physical wellness. 'I also practise gratitude each morning—it gives me positivity and purpose. A calm mind always leads to better decision-making,' she adds.
Her ritual also includes reading and planning the day with a to-do list, helping her maintain direction and composure.
A Common Thread: Wellness as Leadership Capital
What connects these leaders is a shared belief: that well-being is not a luxury, but a necessity in sustaining performance and clarity in a fast-moving corporate world.
Whether it's walking at sunrise, meditating before meetings, or structuring mornings with intention, each of them has found a unique way to stay centred.
The message this International Yoga Day is loud and clear—mindful leadership is not just about managing businesses; it's about managing the self. And in that balance lies the key to long-term success.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Our world stopped': Josh Hines Allen opens up about a life-changing moment with his son Wesley
'Our world stopped': Josh Hines Allen opens up about a life-changing moment with his son Wesley (Image Via X) NFL player Josh Hines-Allen and his wife Kaitlyn told their fans and followers on July 25, 2025, news about their son Wesley that was quite tragic. Seven months earlier, all came to a sharp stop when little Wesley was found to have acute promyelocytic leukemia. Though they went through terrible days of sobbing, protracted visits, and almost infinite treatment, the family persisted strongly. Now they say there is hope on the horizon. The way their lives turned from fear toward hope is full of emotion and courage, and many people watched and felt every step of the journey. Josh Hines‑Allen shares emotional update on son Wesley's leukemia battle and recover Josh Hines‑Allen, defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, spoke on Friday, July 25, 2025, in a video message shared online. He and Kaitlyn Hines‑Allen revealed that their son Wesley, age seven, had been diagnosed with leukemia after he had a high fever and even began bleeding from a tooth. The diagnosis came just before the Jaguars' 2024 season finale, which Josh missed to be home with his family. Wesley spent six months undergoing chemotherapy at Nemours Children's Health in Jacksonville. The family says Wesley tolerated the treatment well and is nearly done with it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: 1 Teaspoon of This Before Bed Melts Belly Fat Like Crazy Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo They expect him to ring the recovery bell at the hospital next month to mark the end of treatment. Josh described what it felt like when they got news: 'The dreaded six‑letter word that no parent ever wants to hear: Cancer. Seven months ago, our world stopped when our son, Wesley, was diagnosed with leukemia.' His wife added: 'Wesley is doing great. He's swimming every day. He's running around. He's playing sports.' Josh also said: 'He's got back to being the big brother that he is'. Josh Hines‑Allen and wife Kaitlyn launch cancer support campaign after son Wesley's recovery journey Since sharing their story on social media, the Hines‑Allen family has gained widespread support. They also announced a campaign through their foundation Four One For All, launching a program called 'Four One For Hope'. The campaign will support four cancer‑related charities during the NFL season,starting with donations to Nemours Children's Health in September, then American Cancer Society in October, Ronald McDonald House Charities in November, and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in December. Josh thanked the doctors, nurses, and the medical team for helping Wesley through treatment. He said they feel grateful and want other families to feel the support they did. For him and Kaitlyn, the tears they shared, the fear they faced, and the gratitude they carried are deeply personal and now they want to give back with real action and hope for others. Also Read: Yes, Josh and Kaitlyn Hines Allen launched the 'Four One For Hope' campaign to support cancer charities. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Greenhouse gases aren't harmful? Donald Trump administration likely to make shocking announcement
President Donald Trump 's administration is preparing to upend a foundational scientific determination about the harms of greenhouse gases that underpins the US government's ability to curb climate change. A proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change the so-called "Endangerment Finding" was sent to the White House on June 30, a spokesperson told AFP. An announcement is expected imminently. Here's what to know -- and what's at stake if the finding is overturned. What is the Endangerment Finding? Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Management Data Science MBA Degree Project Management Public Policy Design Thinking PGDM healthcare Others Leadership others Product Management Data Analytics Digital Marketing Technology MCA CXO Finance Data Science Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The Clean Air Act of 1970 empowered the EPA to regulate "air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare." For decades, the law applied to pollutants like lead, ozone and soot. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Fat-Burning Patch Triggers Weight Loss "Unlike Any Other" Health Advice Today Undo But as climate science around the dangers of heat-trapping greenhouse gases advanced in the 2000s, a coalition of states and nonprofit groups petitioned the EPA to include them under the law, focusing on motor vehicles. The issue reached the Supreme Court, which in 2007 ruled that greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants and directed the EPA to revisit its stance. Live Events That led to the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health and welfare, based on overwhelming scientific consensus and peer-reviewed research. "That 2009 finding formed the basis for all of EPA's subsequent regulations," Meredith Hankins, a senior attorney on climate and energy for the activist Natural Resources Defense Council, told AFP. "They've issued greenhouse gas standards for tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles, smokestack emissions from power plants -- all of these individual rulemakings trace themselves back to the 2009 Endangerment Finding." What is the Trump administration doing? The Endangerment Finding has withstood multiple legal challenges, and although Trump's first administration considered reversing it, they ultimately held back. But the finding is now a direct target of Project 2025, a far-right governance blueprint closely followed by the administration. In March, the EPA under Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a formal reconsideration of the finding. "The Trump Administration will not sacrifice national prosperity, energy security, and the freedom of our people for an agenda that throttles our industries, our mobility, and our consumer choice while benefiting adversaries overseas," he said. The government is expected to undo the earlier finding that greenhouse gases endanger public welfare. It will argue that the economic costs of regulation have been undervalued -- and downplay the role of US motor vehicle emissions in climate change. In fact, transportation is the largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1970, the United States has emitted more vehicle-based greenhouse gases than the next nine countries combined, according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Integrity that will soon be published in full. FAQs Q1. Who is President of USA? A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. Which is largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in US? A2. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in US is transportation
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Girl fights leukemia for 22 months, returns to IIM-L to finish course
Girl fights leukemia for 22 months, returns to IIM-L to finish course LUCKNOW: IIM Lucknow's (IIML) students and professors needn't look far for crisis management lessons. Anjali Bharti has just turned the page on that and more --- the 28-year-old has scored over cancer and come back to finish her course after a hiatus of nearly two years. "It's a new normal. I value myself more now. I don't laugh like before; I get anxious easily, but my spirits are high to chase life independently again," Anjali told TOI as she rejoined her PGP programme. It all began in 2022 when Anjali cleared CAT and joined IIML, only to end up finishing her first year in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with stage III leukaemia (blood cancer). The Patna native, whose father was a driver and died in an 2012 accident, was confined to hospital for 22 months after eight cycles of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Health problems started within two months of Anjali joining IIML. "My appetite went for a toss. I had frequent stomach aches and fever. When I returned home during Chhath Puja (2022), my mother insisted on consulting a doctor, who broke this shattering news," said the physics graduate from Magadh University who had worked four years with the govt-run India Posts before cracking CAT. Anjali's mother did tailoring jobs to support the family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Just to be sure, Anjali consulted doctors at a specialised cancer hospital in Patna and they confirmed the findings. She was hospitalised for a month, missing her mid-term IIML exams. "Even before winters, I was wearing woollen in Sept. I was too feeble to even stand and had excruciating pain in my knees," said Anjali. She returned to IIML in Jan 2023 on the wheelchair to take missed exams but had to return to Patna soon for treatment. By that time, the cancer cells had affected her lower body until waist, and she was referred to Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. She took a chance, fought chemo cycles. Her body and mind held her up long enough to undergo a bone marrow transplant (BMT). For Anjali, it was brother Ashish who became her anchor. He gave up his UG seat at IITBHU just to be by Anjali's side. "I remember it was her birthday on Nov 20 (2023) when she underwent BMT. We were determined to get her cured. Ours is just not a story of survival but love," said Ashish, Anjali's bone marrow donor. Although the treatment was costly, support from her brother and crowdfunding by IIML friends helped. "I am alive today because of my brother who donned several hats - of a nurse, caretaker, therapist, hope and ultimately my saviour," Anjali said. The journey was difficult even after BMT, with infections creeping in. But her firm resolve paid off when Anjali was allowed to go home in March this year after living in isolation for 83 days. Anjali soon called up IIML for re-enrolment and got a positive response. "The institute allows a maximum two-year deferment in medical cases like these. Her (Anjali's) journey of battling cancer and resuming academics offers unparalleled inspiration to the entire IIML community," IIML professor and PGP chairman Alok Dixit said. Prof Suresh Jakhar, a former PGP chairperson who supported Anjali, described her journey as one of "extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination".
