Striking the right pose: Anjana’s mindful journey from IT to yoga

What is a software professional’s strength? Probably, it is their prowess to switch and learn fast. Anjana, a software engineer, has made one such life-altering switch. She realized the immense value of mental well-being through yoga over the allure of a high-paying IT job. Anjana is now a certified yoga therapist and instructor. For her, the IT profession and yoga are two different worlds.

Just before the COVID-19 lockdown, Anjana had received an offer letter from another company. She resigned her job and took a short break before transitioning to the new place. However, when the world came to a standstill due to the COVID-19 crisis, those who were about to join new companies faced significant challenges. Anjana found herself in a difficult situation as she had left her previous job and yet was unable to join the new one. With no job and salary, she was under considerable stress. It was during this challenging time that she turned to yoga for the first time. A month’s practice provided her with immense relief from the stress and this sparked a deep interest in yoga.

Systematic learning
It was during this time that Anjana came across an advertisement for a yoga course on a WhatsApp group. Without much thought, she enrolled as a student in a diploma course conducted by the State Resources Centre. She had never formally studied yoga but had grown up seeing and hearing about it. Her uncle, a bank manager, was a yoga teacher. The course helped her make learning systematic. It taught her how yogic pose or Aasana pertained to certain ailments or body conditions. She also got clarity on how yoga guided spiritual seekers onto the right path. Anjana says that practicing various poses and breathing exercises would not necessarily lead to a deeper understanding of these aspects.

Advanced learning
As part of her course, Anjana was able to understand both the theory and practice of yoga. After completing her yoga diploma course, she pursued an MSc in Yoga at Annamalai University in Chidambaram. Spending a month there, Anjana had the opportunity to interact with several scholars and attend their classes regularly. This experience provided her with a deeper sense of direction and a clearer understanding of how yoga benefits humanity.

It was only after starting to practice yoga that Anjana realized its true value. Her own experience served as the most compelling proof. Although she loved her job as a software engineer, she thought it never got her complete satisfaction. Completing projects gave her joy, but the accompanying stress was immense. In contrast, the joy and transformation she experienced and witnessed in others through yoga were profound. Many people called her to say that yoga helped them sleep well. Seeing such happiness and gratitude made her feel that life and her work had significant meaning. This realization helped her choose between IT and Yoga. 

Remarkable changes
Currently, most of the patients seeking Anjana’s help come from the Naval Base Station Health Organization where she works. The majority are from the psychiatric ward and are dealing with high stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. There are also patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Anjana says the transformations she witnesses in these individuals are remarkable. She confidently asserts that yoga can bring significant changes, even for those labeled as mentally ill and struggling to live without medication.

Shift in perspective
It has been four years since Anjana began teaching yoga. She has taught over five hundred people. When asked about the most significant change she observes, Anjana says it's the shift in people's perspectives on life. Everyone acknowledges this change directly, and it's evident in most of them. People dealing with lifestyle issues often find relief through consistent practice. Through yoga, they either become free from their ailments or reduce their medication. 

Yoga as a profession
Anjana firmly believes that learning yoga can be a highly promising profession. Beyond maintaining good health, yoga offers financial stability. It is a profession that brings peace of mind and satisfaction, and Anjana vouches for it. Currently, there is a significant demand for yoga and new opportunities continue to emerge. However, for success, one needs to be dedicated and it should go beyond treating yoga as a job, she says.

The difference between IT and yoga is substantial, something Anjana experiences firsthand. When she used to say she was a software engineer, the conversation would often end there. But saying she is a yoga teacher elicits a different response and it is very respectful.

Achieving milestones
Anjana says she managed to achieve personal milestones after embracing yoga. Making yoga a part of her routine led her to compete at the national level. In her IT career, she faced breathlessness, neck pain, stress, and various physical and mental strains. However, adopting yoga helped her overcome these issues, which she considers a major achievement.

Anjana now conducts yoga sessions in various IT companies. She notes that many people in these companies suffer from diabetes, hypertension, obesity, back pain, and other issues due to prolonged sitting and stress. Yoga helps reduce stress and provides relief from both physical and mental ailments. Additionally, it improves time management and this enables individuals to complete projects on time without stress. Anjana emphasizes that yoga offers these benefits not only to IT professionals but to anyone working in any field.

Anjana, a Palakkad native, now resides in Elamakkara, Ernakulam. Her husband, Santosh, works in the IT sector, and their son, Jagadvid, is a source of support. Despite being in the sixth grade, Jagadvid manages all his activities independently, she says. Along with yoga, Anjana balances her family responsibilities, dance, music, travel, and friendships. She enjoys all these equally and stays tension-free.