It happened in a moment of profound schism, the kind of tearing apart of self that modern corporate life has perfected. On one hand, a high-priority customer escalation demanded her full attention: a fire that needed to be extinguished with the cool, collected precision she had honed over a decade in the technology sector. On the other hand, the primal pull of motherhood: A son who needed her, which resonated deeper than any professional obligation. Archana Amlapure, a woman armed with an engineering degree and an Executive MBA from the prestigious IIM Calcutta, and a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience at SAP Labs and ExxonMobil, was caught in the crosscurrent. And then, her body rebelled.
Those were the moments the carefully constructed edifice of external success crumbled, revealing the shaky foundation beneath. That panic attack was not the end of a career. It, in fact, was the moment Archana Amlapure began the journey from running hollow to building a tranquil sanctuary, from managing technical quality to mastering the quality of life itself. It was the start of Ojas Yoga & Wellness.
A Foundation Forged in Pressure
On paper, Archana’s career was the epitome of success. After her rigorous academic journey, she entered the demanding world of technology, taking on diverse roles at SAP Labs and later moving to ExxonMobil as a Senior Basis Administrator.
“What looked like success externally felt draining internally,” Archana recalls. “I often found myself stressed, anxious, and restless, with very little time or energy for myself or my family.” The imbalance between her professional responsibilities and her personal life became a heavy, invisible weight she carried every day. She was, in her own words, “running on empty.”
Mystically, around this time, she was introduced to her first shot at yoga. Her first class itself was, she says, “was a life-changing moment.” For the first time in years, she felt grounded, relaxed, and deeply connected to herself.
The practice was not an escape, but a return. Slowly, with regular attendance, she began to notice “subtle yet powerful changes” taking root in her life. She was sleeping better, managing stress more effectively, and found herself responding to life’s challenges with greater calmness instead of reacting impulsively. Yoga gave her the space to breathe and reconnect with who she truly was beneath the layers of roles and expectations.
Intrigued by the profound science behind her own healing, Archana enrolled in a Yoga Teacher Training course purely to understand the philosophy and mechanics behind it. During that training, another realization dawned on her. “If yoga could help me transform my
life so significantly,” she thought, “imagine how many others struggling with stress, anxiety, and burnout could benefit from it too.” That seed of thought grew into a calling, a mission to share the tools that had quite literally given her a new life.
In 2017, she made a bold and gritty choice to walk away from the financially secure path of her corporate career and set up Ojas Yoga & Wellness in Singapore to make a meaningful difference to many lives buried under duress. She chose purpose over comfort and conformity.
The Inception of a Sanctuary
The name Ojas Yoga and Wellness was a declaration of intent. In yogic philosophy, Ojas represents Vitality, the essential energy that sustains life, health, and clarity. Her vision was to create a place that would replenish this vital energy, a sanctuary where people could pause, rejuvenate, and find themselves again amidst the noise of modern life.
“I do not want Ojas to be ‘just another yoga studio’ where people come for exercise and leave,” Archana explains. “I want it to be a holistic haven—a sanctuary of harmony, balance, and awareness.” Her vision is guided by the strong conviction that health is not merely a personal choice but the very foundation upon which we build everything else in life.
The focus was deliberately set on addressing modern lifestyle disorders: stress, anxiety, poor sleep, pain management, and fatigue. Issues she knew most professionals and homemakers around her were grappling with. The philosophy was one of deep inclusivity, designed to dismantle the common barriers of feeling “not flexible enough” or “too busy.” At Ojas, the message is clear: “You don’t have to change to begin yoga; yoga is the tool that helps you create change.”
Over time, what started as a boutique studio has grown into a community and a movement, serving individuals from all walks of life: mothers navigating burnout, professionals battling long hours, and corporates invested in their team’s well-being.
The Pathway for Individuals
The foundation of Ojas rests on providing deeply personal and transformative experiences for individuals, guiding them from states of stress and pain toward balance and vitality.
- Group Classes: At the heart of Ojas are the group yoga classes, which serve as a structured and supportive space for every-BODY. These sessions are designed for steady progression, welcoming everyone from absolute beginners seeking to build a foundation to seasoned practitioners looking for more dynamic flows.
- Private Yoga Classes: Ojas offers private sessions curated for those seeking personalized support. Whether it’s an individual recovering from a specific injury, someone managing a chronic health condition, or a person pursuing highly specific wellness goals. Each program is thoughtfully designed in collaboration with the client to maximize benefits and allow progress at a comfortable, personal pace.
- Breathwork & Meditation: With a deep understanding of how stress impacts the nervous system, at Ojas Yoga, guided sessions are dedicated to teaching practical, accessible techniques that calm the nervous system, sharpen mental focus, and rejuvenate the state of inner stillness.
- Yoga Therapy: Ojas offers specialized practice targeting conditions like chronic stress, persistent back pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Using a sophisticated blend of therapeutic asana sequences, targeted breathwork (pranayama), and guided relaxation techniques, the therapy helps individuals find tangible relief, restore physiological and emotional balance, and rebuild confidence in their own health and well-being.
- Yoga Retreats: For those looking to deepen their practice, Ojas curates both local and international yoga retreats. These are immersive experiences where participants can unplug from their demanding routines and immerse themselves in nature. The retreats are designed as powerful, transformative journeys, allowing for deeper connection to the self and leaving participants feeling profoundly rejuvenated and inspired.
The Architecture of Corporate Wellness
Archana’s decade in the corporate world gave her a unique advantage: she speaks the language of business. This insight helped design Ojas’s uniquely strategic and customized approach to corporate wellness, an approach that has been recognized and celebrated, earning Ojas a place among the Top 10 Corporate Wellness Companies in Singapore in 2023.
- Corporate Wellness Talks & Workshops: Archana brings a unique authenticity and understanding to her wellness talks and workshops. The sessions address the most pressing issues professionals face, including stress management, posture correction from long hours at a desk, building emotional resilience, mindfulness, and maintaining presence at work.
- Corporate Yoga Programs. To seamlessly integrate wellness into the workday, Ojas offers practical yoga programs that can be held on-site. These include traditional mat yoga and highly accessible chair yoga sessions that require no change of clothes or special equipment. These short but effective practices are designed to help teams release physical tension, boost energy levels, and return to their tasks feeling more focused and refreshed.
“We don’t simply conduct sessions—we walk alongside organizations from the very first enquiry to ensure that what we deliver is relevant, customized, and seamless,” she says. The process is meticulous. It begins with pre-session questionnaires to understand a company’s specific culture, objectives, and employee needs. Based on this data, a bespoke program is curated—whether it’s traditional yoga on the mat, accessible chair yoga for the office, breathwork for focus, mindfulness for resilience, or sound healing for deep relaxation. The topics addressed in workshops are practical and immediately applicable, covering everything from stress management and posture correction to emotional resilience and presence at work.
The team at Ojas provides end-to-end logistical support, handling everything from equipment to class setup, ensuring a hassle-free experience for HR and wellness teams. After each session, feedback is gathered, and follow-up support is provided, cementing a long-term partnership rather than a one-off transaction. What sets Ojas apart, she believes, are the core values of holistic well-being, deep empathy, and a commitment to creating sustainable change that participants can carry into their daily lives.
The Ripple Effect of Transformation
The true measure of Ojas’s impact lies in the stories of transformation. Archana has personally empowered over a 1,000+ individuals through her work as a transformative wellness speaker, delivering impactful talks on stress management, emotional resilience, and burnout prevention for many organizations large and small alike Her book, “Health, Happiness, and Harmony,” further encapsulates her philosophy, presenting yoga in a simple yet accessible language and as a science-based tool to lead balanced lives. She emphasizes that the practice is both “proactive and curative.”
However, for Archana, the greatest success is not just recovery from pain, but the moment a client takes full ownership of their health. “The true achievement is when clients take charge of their health, make yoga part of their daily routine, and even inspire those around them to begin their own wellness journey,” she explains. This creates a chain reaction, a ripple effect where the benefits of one person’s healing extend outward to their family, their workplace, and their community. It is this organic, grassroots-level change that fuels her mission.
Building the Future of Calm
As a leader, Archana embodies the very principles she teaches. She navigates the immense pressures of entrepreneurship by grounding herself in a daily practice of meditation and mindfulness. She doesn’t think there can be a perfect “work-life balance,” but rather believes in creating a “work-life synergy.”
Archana is channeling this clear-sighted vision into the next phase of Ojas’s growth. The most exciting milestone was the launch of a new, 2,300-square-foot flagship studio in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, at OUE Downtown Gallery in November. This is a strategic move designed to bring wellness directly to the epicentre of corporate stress.
“Our vision is to normalize the idea of a ‘work-in,’ not just a workout,” Archana says, “helping people slow down, recharge, and embrace the philosophy that doing less can actually be more.”
A key innovation in this new space is the introduction of Meditation Pods and Relax lounge, allowing busy professionals to step away from their screens for a few minutes of stillness and rejuvenation. It’s a brilliant, practical solution integrated seamlessly into the corporate workday.
The next step is to launch teacher training programs to cultivate the next generation of wellness leaders and forge strategic alliances to create innovative new experiences. Her plans for corporate wellness are equally ambitious, aiming to turn high-stress industries like banking, healthcare, and shipping into a workplace that encapsulates wellness assessments and employee retreats.
The Synergy of a Life Reclaimed
From a moment of breathless panic in a high-pressure meeting room to the founder of a thriving, multi-location wellness ecosystem, Archana Amlapure’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of hitting a high from rock bottom.
She leads the mission to create a healthy ecosystem with an empathy born from experience, building spaces where people feel safe and empowered to take charge of their own health. Her guiding principle is to lead with compassion and authenticity, and inspire growth in those around her. She still actively teaches classes and conducts workshops, staying connected to the very heart of the practice that saved her. Beyond her work, she finds joy and grounding in dancing, trekking, reading, and spending quality time with her family.Her final message is a simple yet profound guide for the modern age: “True wellness begins with Mind-Body connection”. She emphasizes that slowing down is not a weakness, but strength. It is in that stillness that we find clarity, in balance that we find resilience, and in harmony that we find joy. Her mantra encapsulates it all: health is the foundation, happiness is the journey, and harmony is the destination. By aligning with this truth, she has not only reclaimed her own life but is now guiding thousands of others to do the same, proving that sometimes, the most powerful innovations are born not in a boardroom but in the quiet space of a single, conscious breath.
Also read: Wellness Visionaries: Top Female Visionaries, 2026
