Women Entrepreneur - Subhalaxmi, Yoga Teacher

An independent, career-oriented young woman from a well-to-do family, Subhalaxmi, says she “always wanted to be an entrepreneur and be on her own.” The desire to “run a single-woman show” found her giving a tangible form to the practice of Yoga which she took up to address her health problem and improve her lifestyle.“I was going through a PCOD condition, common amongst many young girls. I had an erratic lifestyle – insomnia, sleeping late, getting up early, unhealthy food habits. I tried allopathic treatment, but always felt that a natural way of treatment would be better for me. My father, a devoted yoga practitioner, urged me to take up yoga.I heeded his advice and very soon was cured of my problem. This reaffirmed my faith in this ancient practice and soon it became my calling,” shares Subhalaxmi.A practitioner of Shraddha Vinyasa Yoga since 2005, Subhalaxmi says she decided to give a shot at being a Yoga teacher in 2007. “I joined a teacher’s training course at the Santa Cruz Institute of Yoga and graduated from there in 2008…It is 2019 and I am still continuing.”

When she took up Yoga professionally it was “money that kept me motivated. I was a college student and I really enjoyed the extra bucks I used to get. My dad is a businessman, mother a homemaker. I was brought up well and never felt the need to ask my parents for money, but I always was very career-oriented.

"I have never really thought hard about money and I don’t work for it. What I do feel is that you really need to do some work, be occupied…and to be of use to the world."

I wanted to go abroad for my studies after Class 12 and thought it would be a good idea to do something which would help sustain me in a different place. Yoga was that thing. I was good at it so I decided not to go abroad but make a career here. This was my calling. I don’t miss not going abroad. My brothers went and completed their MBA there.”She started helping out her “mentor Dr. Mohan by taking extra classes when he went for surgeries. He would pay me for those classes and that kept me motivated. I worked with celebrities like Kareena, Saif, Deepika and had corporate tie-ups with banks. But travelling for work in Mumbai is tough, so I decided to work from one place, and that is when I set up this school.I start my day at 6 in the morning and continue till 1.30 pm. Classes resume again in the evening and continue till 9 pm. While I don’t have time for other engagements, I still continue to do a lot of corporate workshops,” she adds. Naturally, the tough regimen leaves her with very little time to devote to home and domestic chores, setting her off on a possible collision course with her in-laws! However, Subhalaxmi considers herself “blessed to have an amazing family.”

"My husband Ashwin is the strongest pillar of my life and supports me in everything. He is there in every decision of my life and I give him credit for it."

He is also into fitness and we are both on the same wavelength. He also designs and writes the punchlines of the pamphlets for me. It was his idea to hold a ‘partner workshop’ for Valentine’s Day,” she says. Sharing that she’s hardly at home as her day begins early,Subhalaxmi says “It would’ve been very difficult for me to handle it all but for my mother-in-law, a super successful lady who runs her own spa, and manages everything at home too. She cribs sometimes and I help out whenever I can. My relationship with her is that of a daughter. There is an emotional support and love which has made our bond stronger. She understands, supports my need to work and gives me all the freedom to do so.”The other happy aspect of this relationship is that “I don’t really need to contribute towards the running of the home. Money is needed to meet the basic needs, for expansion of Yoga, but I’ve not given it much thought as I come from a strong financial background both from my parents and in-laws’ side.All the money we (husband and I) earn, goes into travelling and my parents-in-law are quite accommodating about it.”“Travel at the end of every month” is a must, “to connect and discover ourselves, explore new places and interests. These are not luxury trips. We backpack to explore new places with less money and a grounded lifestyle. We visited Bali where there are many Yoga institutes.At Auroville Ashram, Pondicherry, we attended self-awareness workshops. Every year we visit my institute in Mysore to update ourselves on new Ashtanga techniques. We choose places where we can learn something new in the realm of fitness,” she explains.“The funds for these travels and education comes from what I earn through the year. Otherwise, there is always a backup from parents or in-laws!”Since her profession is so ‘anchored in the individual’, Subhalaxmi highlights the importance of “ health insurance . I recommend it to my students, everyone

"Life is uncertain, anything can happen as it did to me. A health insurance would have been a big help but in the absence of the same, my parents had to take care of the expenses for my surgery."

For all the protestations of freedom and self-assurance, Subhalaxmi is unapologetic about her dependence on her husband, especially in money matters.“My husband decides on everything. From our earnings, we’re paying for insurance and the car loan. My father-in-law wanted us to be more responsible with money and invest it in something solid. He pushed me to go in for an LIC insurance so that we feel a lot more secure in the long run. Buying a car of our own also was a good option. We did not have enough cash to make the down payment so we took a loan, which is in my husband’s name as it was more of his decision.”Expansion plans for her enterprise are also on the anvil. “We plan to start our own fitness studio-cum-health bar, where a section will be devoted to yoga and body building, fitness, dieting and nutrition sections managed by my husband. We need big funding for this and are looking at loans for this expansion.We are both around 30, so planning a family is also there. Money is going to play a big role in raising a child. Also, clubbing the yoga and fitness with my mother-in-law’s spa along with the food business of my brother-in-law will be good in the long run.”‘Money’ she said was a big motivator when she launched her dream enterprise, does the same hold true today?“Today, I don’t feel money is the only thing why I am doing this. When you charge money, people value your work, your thoughts. That extra money is available to you to support your education, travel, to save for your family and expand the business.”

• Today, women have made considerable progress in breaking through the glass ceiling to reach top positions and even have the courage to start their own enterprise business. They are ambitious, career-oriented and aspire to be financially independent just like men.
• There are many women, who have launched their own business – be it fashion boutiques, design shops, yoga, beauty parlours, and so on. They don’t just think about earning money, but also emphasize on putting it to right use; by investing in insurance policies:
• Health Insurance: Life is uncertain. Even though you may be a fit person doing yoga or regular workouts, health issues crop as you continue to age. Health insurance in today’s date is of utmost importance considering the rising healthcare costs. It helps you stay financially secure.
• Life Insurance: It pays to have a life insurance policy if you have a family or not. Even if you have a spouse who is supportive and also an earning member, you will still need the policy for the financial security of your child. An unfortunate event doesn’t knock on the door prior notice. It is your responsibility to ensure the financial safety of your family in case of your absence.
• As more and more women realize the importance of being financially independent, they also know how to manage the money that will help to fulfil their dreams.

The information contained herein is generic in nature and is meant for educational purposes only. Nothing here is to be construed as an investment or financial or taxation advice nor to be considered as an invitation or solicitation or advertisement for any financial product. Readers are advised to exercise discretion and should seek independent professional advice prior to making any investment decision in relation to any financial product. Aditya Birla Capital Group is not liable for any decision arising out of the use of this information.