Yoga a zero-cost activity to balance wealth with health: NSE MD Ashish Kumar Chauhan
Mumbai, June 21
National Stock Exchange MD and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan on Sunday emphasised that practising yoga is an excellent way to message the world about prioritising health alongside the pursuit of wealth.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of a grand wellness event held at the NSE Atrium in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Chauhan said that the International Day of Yoga was declared following a clarion call and dedicated efforts by the Prime Minister.
On the sidelines of the event, top financial leaders emphasised the critical need for mental resilience and physical well-being in the high-stakes world of trading.
Highlighting the global impact of the initiative, NSE MD and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan termed the day a testament to visionary leadership.
"It's a clarion call by the Prime Minister, and because of his efforts, June 21st has been declared International Day of Yoga," Chauhan told ANI.
Chauhan stressed that the practice serves as a vital reality check for professionals constantly driving the economy. "It's a brilliant way to send a message to the world, also being healthy in addition to running after wealth. It's a very zero-cost activity, and wherever you are, you can do Yoga. I think Yoga has a special place in human life," he added.
Echoing these sentiments, Kamlesh Shroff, National President of the Association of NSE Members of India (ANMI), highlighted how yoga acts as an anchor during economic turbulence.
"... for everything that we do, we need a very sound physical body and mental agility, and with both these things, you are fit to do whether it be trading or whether it be on the mat, and stay illness-free," Shroff told ANI, asserting that yoga should be treated as a compulsory practice.
Recalling his own journey, Shroff shared, "If you go back to 2008, the Lehman Brothers crisis, that's when I actually did a diploma in yoga." He explained that the ancient discipline provides invaluable psychological fortitude on the trading floor. "What really happens there is that with all the turbulences all around the place, you still remain 'Sthithaprajna' (a person of steady wisdom) and you tend to, within that noise, also be able to work very efficiently."
The grand morning wellness session was successfully hosted by ANMI in collaboration with the NSE, drawing an overwhelming turnout of India's top financial minds, market veterans, and marquee investors.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I've been in finance in New York for 15 years, and I have to say—yoga is a lifesaver. But calling it 'zero-cost' is a bit misleading. Good yoga mats, classes, and time commitment aren't free. Still, the core message is solid: you can't trade well if your mind is chaotic. The discipline from yoga helps me stay calm during volatility.
Finally, a financial leader talking about mental health! So many traders I know are burnt out from 12-hour screen time. Yoga isn't just stretching—it's about being 'Sthithaprajna' as the ANMI president said. We need more such initiatives in our corporate culture. And yes, it's free if you learn from YouTube! 😄
As someone who worked through the 2008 crisis, I appreciate the mention of Lehman Brothers. That period showed me that physical health is directly tied to financial decision-making. When you're sleep-deprived and stressed, you make stupid trades. Yoga helped me avoid panic selling during the COVID crash. The NSE is setting a good example here.
Good message, but let's be real—most traders in India can't afford to take a yoga break during market hours. The pressure to perform is insane. Yes, yoga is great, but we also need systemic changes like mandatory mental health breaks in the finance sector. Still, kudos to NSE for hosting the event. Every small step counts.
I'm a yoga instructor in Mumbai, and I love seeing corporates embrace this. The 'zero-cost' point
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