An Indian-origin CEO based in the US has recently revealed that he spends Rs 3.5 lakh a year on breathing workshops in Bengaluru. Sudheer Koneru, an alumnus of IIT Madras, told Business Insider he retired from a successful 15-year career at Microsoft for a journey of "inner discovery" and better health, and is now making substantial personal investments in his well-being.
This significant expenditure highlights his unique approach to health, even as he leads Zenoti, a software provider for fitness centers, spas, and salons, in Seattle.
Koneru, 56, said he often attends four-day breathing workshops at a Bengaluru-based centre that uses a specific spiritual breathing pattern in two-hour guided meditation and breathwork sessions. Each workshop costs between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.6 lakh. "It is amazingly healing and just so powerful," he said.
Retiring from Microsoft at 39
Koneru began his professional journey as a product manager at Microsoft in 1992, subsequently launching his own company, Intelliprep, in the early 2000s. At 39, in 2008, he chose to retire from his thriving career to prioritise personal wellness, engaging in yoga, strength training, and running. "I was happy with where I was financially and my goals were more around my personal well-being and being with my family," Koneru told the publication, explaining his quest for a "deeper... meaning of my existence" beyond simply making money.
After a two-year sabbatical, Koneru, then 41, came out of retirement in 2010 to found Zenoti.
Integrating wellness at work He integrates the principles of wellness into his company's culture, offering financial rewards to employees for every mile they run, walk, or swim, and provides access to a spa and salon, healthy snacks, and counseling sessions. Koneru emphasises that "Wellness isn't about having a six-pack. It's about balance and being able to live to your full potential."
Despite working 10 to 12 hours a day in a high-pressure role that often involves monthly travel, Koneru prioritises his health to remain at the top of his game. He typically practices yoga daily around 7 am, even on weekends, and his most significant personal wellness expense is a yearly month-long trip to Bali, costing about Rs 13 lakh, where he focuses on treatments like massages and sound baths, alongside extensive yoga.
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