How Yoga Changed Anis Sajan's Life

The Dubai resident who has been practicing yoga diligently for the past five years, tells us how it has brought about a complete transformation in his life and made him the envy of his friends!

"Yoga is the fountain of youth. You're only as young as your spine is flexible," is a quote widely attributed to American personal trainer Bob Harper. But it could well have been said by just about anybody who has practiced the ancient Indian art form of yoga or has come across a person who does yoga. While celebrities world wide have turned this into an aspirational 'workout' which could jettison you into the cool league, the truth is the ancient practice of simple body postures accompanied by rhythmic breathing is as basic as it gets when it comes to leading a holistic life.

For Anis Sajan, Managing Director of Danube Group, it was a debilitating migraine that had plagued him for over 35 years, that he credits with introducing him to yoga nearly five years back. An active child, Sajan, a self-confessed cricket buff, used to play all sorts of games while growing up in Mumbai, India. "I used to fly kites, play table tennis, lawn tennis, as well as khoko.. I never used to study. Coming from school I used to put my bag down and start playing!," he fondly recollects. But it was also during his carefree school days that he first started suffering from migraines. "And it was like a torture for me," he recalls. "Every second day I used to always have that fear of getting a headache. And I had many tablets, did many Ayurvedic treatments but nothing helped me."

In an effort to find a cure for the ailment, Anis flew down to the Jindal Naturecure Institute in Bangalore, India, where he was first introduced to yoga that he credits with changing his life completely. "There was a daily routine of yoga to be practiced and that is where I first learnt the art of yoga. I immediately reaped benefits of it and then I realised since I was practicing yoga, it was helping me to take control of my mind and when you have control over your mind, you have control over your stress levels."

That's how yoga became an essential component of Anis Sajan's life.

Today Anis swears by yoga, so much so that he cannot leave his house without practicing it. "The day I don't do yoga, I feel lethargic and cranky. When I do yoga, I feel very charged up and focused."

Sajan, who has tried hard to inculcate the same habits in his two sons, is not upset over their lack of interest in the same. "They are too young to understand the benefits of yoga," he says generously. "Maybe when they grow a bit mature and realise yoga is very beneficial... Cause today's youngsters like to hit the gym or go to the pool or go running and that's what my boys do."

But he has grander plans for Danube employees. Despite a not so successful attempt earlier to get his team to join a yoga class on the company premises, he is confident of restarting the sessions in the months to come. "As it has benefited me, I also want all my staff to learn. A captain is as good as his team and if his team is healthy, they will be more focused and I want them to reap the benefits of these yoga sessions." Spoken like a true sportsman!
 
Where's the time for yoga?
While many of us may use 'time' as an excuse for not leading a more fit life, Anis is pretty open that he is at a stage in his life, when he can afford to take things a bit easy.

"I will be very honest . being the Managing Director of this company I come around 10:30-11 to the office . so whatever time I get up, I make sure I give that one hour for yoga."

"I don't blame those people who say they don't have time but once a person starts doing yoga, he will understand how important it is and he will automatically take out time."

Being part of the Danube Group, Anis no doubt rubs shoulders with a lot of the company's celeb brand ambassadors. But while he admits that stars like Shilpa Shetty, Malaika Arora and Bipasha Basu, are all an inspiration to others on how they lead a healthy lifestyle, he isn't one to follow trends.
"I have gained so much out of doing yoga," he asserts, that he wants everyone to practice it because its benefits are humongous.

'I regret starting yoga so late in life'

"Yoga has changed my life for good," asserts Anis. "I have become younger, more energetic and focused."
"After I started doing yoga I believe I have grown ten years younger. I am 46 years old now, but a lot of people who meet me tell me, I don't look 46! It's not that I'm trying to blow my trumpet, but when I go with my sons who are 19 and 16, they all say they are my younger brothers! So I'm sure people who practice yoga will definitely feel the same and that is the reason I regret that I just started this just 5 years ago."

Anis who manages to find time to meditate on a regular basis, going as far as getting his 10-15 minutes of 'me-time' on his commute to office from home, says the practice has changed his life for the good.

"Meditation is a part of yoga and when you meditate you get focus. And you are cut off from the world. Meditation is not an easy thing to practice. But once you develop your sense of meditation you are controlling mind over matter and at the same time you become more sharp."

Anis who meditates 3-4 times every day, says it's changed him completely. "It has controlled my anger, made be more focused and sharp and calmed me tremendously."
 

• Dubai