Héma TOTAL RECHARGE

A 10-day trip to Bali to recover from severe burnout taught Héma Prakash, 45, the importance of making her mental and physical health a top priority.

“In 2011, I was 37 and seemed like I had it all – a thriving business, happy relationship and loving family and friends. But below the surface, I was completely and utterly burnt out – for years, I’d been overworking, rushing 24/7. I was also secretly struggling with the downward spiral of my marriage.

Thankfully, my close friend, Mandy, recognised I desperately needed a break, so she booked us into a Bali health retreat. I still clearly remember how breathtakingly beautiful the resort looked when we arrived just as the sun was setting in a big splash of colour. As we walked down to our holiday villas, a mist rolled in and we could hear the most beautiful chanting rising up from the temple near the river below. Suddenly, I felt deeply grateful and realised there was no better place for me to be right at that moment.

The first few days were incredibly hard. I desperately wanted to relax, but I was on edge and stuck in fight-or-flight mode. My challenge was to relearn how to unwind and be still. To do this, I had to stop indulging my ‘doing’ brain and embrace my ‘being’ brain. Getting out and sitting still in nature was key. Every day, I sat near the lily ponds and just learned to ‘be’. I took long walks through the lush landscaped gardens or down to the rice paddies and enjoyed the majestic view of the mountain peaks. As the stress started melting away, it felt like I was coming back to life. Regular massages and meditation helped get rid of the knots in my muscles. I also did a cooking course, learning to make incredibly delicious and nutritious healthy meals from recipes that I still use to this day. For the very first time, I also tried yoga and I absolutely loved it. Eight years later, I still practise yoga most days to feel more calm and in the moment. Most important of all, during that trip, I had eight hours’ sleep every night, which I had not done for years. I realised what an enormous difference that made to my energy levels and, since then, sleep has become a priority.

My busyness had been preventing me from tapping into what I was feeling. So as I stopped and learnt to be more mindful, I cried and did plenty of soul searching and self-reflection.

I realised I needed to be brave and make the difficult decision to leave my marriage and sell part of my business. Looking ahead, I also decided to do more to make my life feel meaningful. That led me to help set up a special scholarship fund for under-privileged girls in Asia.

Before my Bali trip, I’d never had a holiday to nurture myself, to completely reboot. It not only changed my health habits, but it also shifted my career direction. I’m now General Manager for APAC and MINDBODY, software that connects people to wellness and helps them live healthier, happier lives. Now, no matter how busy I get, I ground myself in yoga, meditation, mindful walks, stillness and breathing into my belly

– just as I learned to do on that retreat.”

“Now, no matter how busy I get, I ground myself in yoga, meditation, mindful walks and breathing, as I learnt to do on that retreat.”

Héma Prakash, 45