SELF DISCOVERY
What could I love to do?
I was 32 when I left my successful corporate job. I left at the peak of my career. I left because the work environment became negative. It was no longer fun and I was not happy going to the office. The recession that year (2009) made it worse. I thought that if I didn’t leave my job, I would not be open to whatever opportunities that would come my way. So, I decided that that quarter would be my last.
I left without another job and took the time to think about what I wanted to do with my life. That decision has led me to live my dreams. It was the first time I had ever thought about my career. I opened a Pandora’s box when I asked the question,
That took me on an adventure of self-realization, healing, and thriving.
THE SEA GAMES
In 2015, I was selected to represent Singapore in the 28th Southeast Asian Games where over 4300 athletes from 11 countries gathered in Singapore to compete, an event that reached 3.3 million viewers in Singapore and millions more across Asia. I took part in the team event for Wakeboarding and brought home the Silver medal in spite of competing with girls half my age. I was 38.
Sea Games – I knew it was possible
I almost didn’t get to ride in the Games when I tore my MCL (Medial collateral ligament) 3 weeks before my competition date. Still, I was hoping to be able to ride for my event. Then, the physiotherapist told me that I needed to manage my expectations… the typical healing time for such an injury is 4 weeks. And I am supposed to have my leg locked at a certain angle to allow the ligaments to heal. Meaning no physical activity. Because of the injury, my thigh muscles lost their capacity. Time was needed to rebuild the muscles. I was devastated.
I had given up hope on the SEA Games 2 years later as I was recovering from a hip dislocation. But I was able to ride for the selections and I made it to the team. Having the experience from the previous Games, I knew how physically and mentally demanding training can be. So, I took time off from work to focus on wakeboarding. I ended up having my best performance ever and as a team, we brought home the Silver again.
WAKEBOARDING
I don’t only ride but I teach others to wakeboard too. As a wakeboarding instructor, I am known for my no-nonsense style with an emphasis on progression by establishing the mind-body connection. This is what makes me stand out from other Wakeboarding instructors and this is why people come back to me.
They start to realise their true potential.
I also have been schooled in the ‘feel’ methodology which has been proven to be quicker to master and above all, safer. With this method, I have had quicker success with those new to the activity. Wakeboarding is beyond just being able to ride the ‘waves’; it is about finding the warrior in you to break through the limitations that hold you back from achieving greater success and more in life.
NONI
Wakeboarding showed me how weak I was. If I wanted to compete with girls half my age, it was clear I needed to be stronger. I knew that the first step was to be more discerning with what I was consuming. I went on a search for the best kind of food.
Noni is a treasure from the heavens
A friend organized an organic farm tour, and we came across a noni tree. The owner said that the noni fruit is known to be the elixir of youth. That caught my attention. Recently, a friend suggested I drink Tahitian Noni Juice. I took it as a sign.
I could not believe the transformation that happened and the compliments that people were giving me. My knees stopped aching, I felt invigorated and people kept saying that I look younger. I started to feel less stressed and I could focus better.
Noni is a treasure from the heavens. It is a fruit that supports and sustains the human body like no other. It is widely studied and validated by science. It is because of noni, that my journey of seeking out the power of mother nature began.
YOGA
The gift of yoga came into my life when I started to fall apart from wakeboarding. For most of my life, I used and abused my body, never doing anything to help it.
I tried yoga once when I was living in a very unhealthy life. I looked the best but performed the worst. I was so unfit. That was the first and last time, I thought. In 2012, at a friend’s insistence, I went with her to a Bikram Yoga class. I actually enjoyed it; I was taken back to my childhood days of gymnastics. She bought me a package for my birthday and there was no turning back.
Yoga to me is not about getting into fancy poses
It’s about helping the body be more efficient and optimizing its innate ability to function.
As I continued a regular practice, I could feel the impact yoga was having on my body. The mind-body connection was enhanced, I became more flexible and felt stronger. Most importantly, my capacity and efficacy in breathing improved.
It was a natural progression that I wanted to learn more about yoga and share it, just like wakeboarding. In 2017, I went to India for a month and completed a Diploma In Yoga Teacher Training in Hatha Yoga at the highly acclaimed Yoga Vidya Gurukul.
VIPASSANA MEDITATION
I first heard about Vipassana in 2006 but it was not till I left my job that I went for the 10 day course. I had zero interest in meditation, I only went because my very pessimistic friend seemed to have finally gained some insight and optimism. I became curious and wanted to see what it was that helped her have her revelations.
I went, I saw and I was done. I had no intention to continue the practice or to go back for another course. But all that changed in 2012 when I noticed an email for a 3 day course. I felt compelled to serve.
My life was forever changed.
dedicated the following year to learn more about the technique which in essence was to learn more about my human being. Since then, I have been inspired to discover my purpose and live it. I continue to walk this path as it has helped me heal and given me the strength to attend to the difficulties of life. It has been my guiding beacon, opening up a brand new world of endless possibilities.
MIND BODY UNITE
Drawing from the lessons and successes of my life experience, I help people understand their Mind and Body better which has tremendous amounts of benefits in the long run.
Through MindBodyUnite.com, Melanie works with a group of service providers which she specially hand-picked to help individuals breakthrough from what holds them back from achieving more success through taking care of their mind and body; for without them, nothing else matters.
Find out how you can benefit from Melanie’s experience. Contact her team for a free one-hour no-obligation consultation.
