Welcome to The Yoga Den. Are you a stressed-out cog in the corporate wheel. Do you find yourself asking, What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Then The Yoga Den is the place for you. I'm your host, Ryan Spence, aka, the big low dropout, writer, yoga teacher, and your guide on the path to well being through yoga. Yoga helped me find my purpose, changed my mindset, and my life. And in this podcast, I'll share how to live a life of intention not
reaction. Each week, I'll be talking to a variety of guests, uncovering pearls of wisdom to help you figure out if where youre heading is where you really wanna go. I wont find your purpose for you. But I'll help you plan the route. So sit back grab a drink.Ive been expecting you. Welcome to Episode Two of The Yoga Den podcast. And on this week's show, we have our first guest Prithiv Raaj Elansharan s a former amateur boxer rom Singapore, who's just made
the decision to turn pro. He was also my trainer for my first and only boxing match back in 2 19. I wanted to get put on the s ow, as he's one of the most posi ive people I know. He's got a ki ler mindset, and a deepnes of thought that eludes many who are twice his age. In this epis de, we talk about many thi gs, including how he uses fea to drive him gratitude to main ain a positive mindset, the importance of a morning rout ne, and why Shavasana is his favourite yoga pose, i
n't everybody's. So grab a s at. Let's get to t So hey, Prit, how's it going?
Hey Ryan, it's going great. Thank you for having me on the podcast.
Thank you for coming on. So we first met over a year ago when you were training me for you said you wanted to train me for my first fight. So lets talk about that?
Yeah. That was quite an experience. You were a handful, Ryan. I mean, so the first time we met was in a group class. And and you approached me you he approached me? And that's true. Yes. Yes, you did. Right. And you probably will say no, but because you're but you did. You came up to me. And you were like, hey, Prit, you look really awesome in training. And I can't picture anyone else training me. And you said you had you. I just you just have to have me. Those were the exact words you said.
Sorry, listeners. I forgot to say that. Prits a little bit delusional. But anyway.
Well, on the real now.. So we just discussed on training terms and we got to training. We trained every day, didn't we Ryan? We trained about every day.
Yeah. So you were, for the those who read the article I wrote about finding my why, you're the person that got me getting up to train at 5am in the morning. Yep. Yep. Which has now become a sort of permanent stay of my day. So Right, right.
And some days, some days it was 4am as well, wasn't it?
You tried to sneak those in a couple of times? Yeah.
Yeah. So for for that fight. We, we had the training camp. We were training almost every day, training super early morning, and I was working on part we were we he was getting fit mentally, as well as physically. And I really loved that, that he was naturally tenacious and very determined. I don't remember him sleeping in once. He was just always on the ball. And I loved it. I love training him.
Thanks, man. Yeah, it was we had a good time training. Yeah, it was really good fun. And obviously kept it on beyond the fight. But let's just take it back a bit. And I mean, boxing is your thing. And we're going to talk a little bit more about that. But let's go back to when you first put on a pair of gloves.
Ah, alright. So it all started when I was 12. I went to the boxing gym. Speaking of putting on gloves, the first time I put gloves on it went all the way to my elbows, man. Yes. I got in there. And I just knew that it was it was my calling. I just I loved the place. I loved, I can remember how the sweat smelt like but I love how it smelled I love how it sounded. I loved the environment of the entire place. And I just got hooked right away. And so it
started out slow. My coach, my first mentor, Coach Khadir, he was very much so a master of basics. And he got me doing just the jabs for the first three months. And then later on, I met another mentor of mine, Kevin Matthews. You've met him haven't you? . Yeah, and he's a great guy. And so with these mentors, they worked a lot of technical precision with me with boxing. They also gave me a mental strength that I carry to this day, and went on to get into the National team and compete around
the world. And now I'm on the precipice of going professional,
indeed, exciting times. So we're gonna work through some of those points there. Because I think that there's a few things you mentioned, which I think would be really interesting for listeners to hear. Yeah, particularly around the mental side of it. But boxing is, as I found, and obviously as you know, having done it for as long as you have. It's physical, but it's also very mental. Youve got to get your head in the
game. Oh, yes, absolutely. If you're not, if you're not on the ball, you will get hit, it will not be pretty. So you've kind of got to be switched on at all times. So, mindset, where do you think that strength and that mindset came from to allow you to sort of focus and work your way through and amateur career and now sort of on the, on the precipice of going into the pros?
Well, you know, boxing is a sport where you're going in there to get hit, you know, of course, you try your best not to, and you're doing a lot of hitting as well. But you know, that you're going in there and you're, you're standing in front of a lot of people with another guy there, who's going to punch you, it's like a mid day is like a modern day Gladiator sport, right? And, and with the whole training camp, you're training
for that. And then the mental aspect, you're thinking about how that's going to be you're thinking about how it's going to be when you're in there getting punched, and you're training your mind to go through that. And so that creates a lot of mental toughness. So like we were doing when we were getting up at 4am, 5am the morning, whether you're gonna hit the snooze button, it kind of, you can't, you can't hit the snooze button. Because you'd be thinking, Oh, you know what, I
cannot do that. Because if I do that, I'm going to get punched in the face. I need to get prepared for that. I need to do well for that. So the whole toughness and mental fortitude and strength comes just from how the sport is in preparing for it. You get what I mean?
yeah, no, I get that. I mean, definitely need that, that drive iand that discipline. Yeah, for sure. as a, as a 12 year old, when you first started, I mean, you probably didn't have that drive from the offset. So what what kind of made you fall into that? lockstep that sort of, I'm going to do this, I'm going to focus and I'm not going to be distracted about anything else that's around me,
well, there was two things I got bullied as a kid. So I want to beat my bullies, basically. So I got into boxing gym. That was one. By the way, I never got back at the bullies, I went to boxing got really good. And I just learned the art of talking. And the second thing is I wanted to be really good at something, you know, I wanted to be special, or to be better than others at something. And so I tried Taekwondo. I tried music. I tried Muay Thai, my brother and I got into a Muay Thai gym,
as kids. And what stuck was boxing, I realised I had a natural talent for it. And that is what made me really good. So that's how it started. But what made me continue was that I just loved it. And I had goals. So the thing is, you could work really hard at something. But if you don't have goals, it's very hard to get to a point where you achieve great things, or you're able to do great work consistently, right? So I had a
lot of goals. I had National championships as goals, regional tournaments, as goals, international tournament, World Championships as goals. And and that became and that kind of manifested my fuel fire and developed my mindset.
Wow!, so fear is something that inevitable a lot. Yeah, a lot of us have. So say stepping out of the boxing ring for a second. Just that fear of the unknown of doing something new. But if you've been doing something for so long, yeah, I know that when when I was still in big law. And I knew I wasn't happy and I wanted to get out. But I didn't really know what I wanted to do. And I couldn't really think of anything beyond
what I was already doing. Yeah, it was that fear of stepping into something new whether you would be successful. Absolutely. So for you,
And credit to you by the by the way. Thanks very much. I mean, I know that you were doing law for such a long time. Right. And you even got to partner didn't you know
No. Not quite. Senior senior associate but I was pretty senior but yeah, that was one of those things where it was it was kind of on the horizon. And yeah, so yeah, that's about it.
But yeah, you were really close to it. You were there for that long, I mean, to put that side and come out of that. I mean, props to you, man, for sure.
Thanks. For me that came a lot partly from the boxing and the training and getting back to what you're saying about the discipline and the focus and not hitting the snooze button and having to get up. Yes, just do it and get on it. And then yoga as well which which was kind of the real catalyst that kind of sent me to where where I am now. But to get back to the, to the fear point, I mean, as a fighter every time you step in the ring, that's got to be the element of fear,
right? Oh, yeah, there's an opponent in there. You may have seen them fight before, you know, but you don't know what's going to happen. Yeah. And this person who is in there is trying to knock you out effectively. So how, how does that fear manifest itself in you? And how do you stop that fear preventing you from from getting in the ring and doing what it is that you need to do?
I love that you asked me that. Fear is one of the biggest factors. Look, like you asked me, How do I stop it? I don't, I don't stop it. No one can ever stop fear. It's, it's inevitable, it will come if someone's telling you that he's not afraid, he's probably lying. Because we're all going to be afraid. And that, for me is one of my biggest motivations. So on my Instagram page, you see me posting a lot of content about my boxing, and you see me posting videos and posting like
pictures. And I'm out there putting myself out there. And, and I'm obviously a coach as well. And I train a lot of people train about close to 30 clients just by myself. And, and it, it builds fear that if I fail, if I lose, I lose everything I have. And all that I have been promoting makes me seem like a liar, right. So that fear drives me. So when we talk about snooze button, I cannot press the snooze because I'm afraid that I'll lose. So every little edge I have comes from
fear. So I use fear as one of my biggest driving source, biggest motivation that I use to get hard to go and grind as hard as I can. So fear is one of the biggest tools man, and I'm really glad you brought that up. So use that as motivation fuel. And during fight night during go time, you're not thinking about fear anymore. You're thinking about what you have to do. And so that's a mindset shift. Where throughout camp use fear as as a fuel and doing Fight Night, you
fuck fear. You don't think about fear anymore. And you think about the guy in front of you. It's, it's crazy. When you get in there, you know what I'm talking about. When you get in there, when you put the gloves on, you're all warmed up, you, you switch, you switch from this smiley guy that I know you are, and I am to this friendly guy to this Gladiator this, this, this murderous guy, this guy who was going in there, to get a job and to knock someone else's face off, you know, and and then you
switch. So you stay in the training camp, and you take fear away on Fight Night. So that's my take on fear, man.
That's a good point. And that leads me into the next thing I want to ask you about which is failure, failure, which, you know, failure when you say the word failure is sort of drums up negative connotations. I don't look at failure as a negative I look at it as you tried. And something didn't work the way you want it to work. You learn from that. And then you try again. So to me failure is an inevitable step to to success. In boxing, obviously, or in any sort of
contact sport. to people in the ring, one person has got to lose. That's always the case. And I was looking through your Instagram before we did the interview just catching up. And obviously I saw you went to the SEA games and also your you want to check out my Instagram on tap submit it. You do? Yeah, it's just a pastime thing to do. But yeah, you got to the SEA games in 2017. You got all the way to the to the quarterfinals. You unfortunately, lost in the quarters to a Russian, Russian
fighter. Do you want to talk a bit about that and how you felt
the Russian wasn't in the SEA games, by the way, it was in Mongolia, a different championship. But yeah, I get what you mean. you'd like me to talk about failure right
just about how you feel. Because obviously, as I said before you go into it, you go into the right one of you has to lose, you know, you obviously don't go in with the intention to lose. Yeah. But sometimes that is going to happen. So on a stage. I mean, the SEA games is quite a big deal. Yeah. How, How did you deal with that? did affect you for some time afterwards? Do you have to shake it off? Yeah. How did it affect you sort of mentally,
right? You know, failure. Well, for the SEA games, I cut a lot of weight. I lost about about 11 kilos of weight. And that's a lot for a guy of my size because i'm not i'm not heavy guy, right? So I worked really hard for that. Right? I lost and i was i with the scorecards, the Kazhakstani world ranked judge, he had me winning that fight. So there were some speculations saying that I should have won that match. So it made that loss even harder and it was really hard.
And it brings me back to one of my favourite fighters or my most favourite fighter, Floyd Mayweather Who's your favourite fighter?
has to be Tyson. Right.
Tyson even Tyson right. So all these guys took losses. And I remember for Floyd, he, he took a big loss at the Olympics with the same same style as I did, where the loss was very controversial. And what he did was use that as fuel to get this illustrious career that he has had. So that motivated me to use that loss as fuel. So after that, I went on to the Philippines, I went there for about a month or two, after that loss to kind of get my fire back to get everything that I lost
back. And I went on to do well. So right now going into the pros, every win and more than the win, every loss that I had, has taught me all the values that I need to get good at the pros. And you know, the thing is, when I was winning, sometimes I wouldn't look back at the tape and be like, Oh, you know what, I did this mistake, I did that mistake, I would just be very complacent, I would just look at the good stuff. But what I lost, I got very critical for
myself. And that taught me that value that you always have to look at your mistakes and good. You know, and that's the way you get great. So failure. glad you brought up big, big step to success.
Yeah, and leading on from failure. One of the things that I sort of really liked when I when I first met you and training is that, yeah, you have this aura of positivity. Thanks, man. You you always, you always seem a beat. I mean, looking at the sort of the brighter side of things, but being optimistic. Not sort of questioning your situation or having that that victim mentality. Where do you think that comes from?
Hey, thanks, man. I appreciate that. Well, I think one of the most powerful sources of energy of motivation is gratitude. So you know what, let's let's do that exercise real quick. Right? So Ryan, do it with me. And you know, the listeners right now while listening to it. Let's do this as well. So keep your eyes close. Keep your eyes closed. Okay, good. Now picture the colour White. White. White, white immerse yourself in white. Right. So listeners, I hope you're doing it too keep your
eyes closed. Think about white think about white clouds tripping all over you. White white, white? Now all you're seeing is white, white, white, white, white, white, white, white. Right. Now open your eyes and look around. Look around for three, two, one, close your eyes. Right? And what do you see? what you saw white, and listeners while you're hearing this while listening? You saw white didn't ya? Now keep your eyes closed. Do you remember seeing any green? Do you Ryan?
You don't. listeners? You probably didn't either. Now open your eyes. Ryan. Do you remember seeing this green right here? This, this, this that? Right? It's a bunch of green around you. But you didn't notice it. And listeners, you probably didn't either. All you guys saw was white. And that's because you see what you want to see. When you're grateful for the good. When you look at the good when you look at the greens, you're very positive, you're very energetic. Nothing can stop
you. So that's why I am how I am. Because I look at the greens. I know the time we're in. I know Covid is hard. I know my debut is going to be difficult. But I focus on the time I have I focus on the things I can control. I focus on the good and the greens. And that's why I am how I am right.
And do you think that that stems from your boxing training?
Yeah, yeah, I mean, it does. Because sometimes you just have to be emotionally strong as an athlete. And with boxing, you just got to focus in on yourself and got develop yourself. And that's also how I got my mentality.
Yeah, cos and the reason I ask is because I definitely think that that's what yoga did for me. Started with boxing and yoga, again, a consistent practice, right? That's definitely where I am now. It's not where I was maybe six months ago, that's for sure. Right? It does take work to kind of shift the mindset because there is so much negativity around, whether it's the people, whether it's the news, whether it's events that are happening.
Yeah. So to be somebody who kind of shuts all of that out and continues on their own path. It's not that you don't see stuff. I mean, you see you acknowledge you just don't let it dictate how you behaved. Yeah, I think it's a is a really good quality to have. And I think once you can get to that mind state, then you're ready in a place to then sort of start to
do great things, right? I think because you are what you think you are and you see and you kind of let it manifest in you exactly your way you consume and so yeah gratitude is a big is a really, really key one. So yeah, it's interesting that you, you said that and it shows, which is another sort of point that I saw it shows a maturity because I mean, you're only you're only young. Yeah, I mean, I say you, you like you're 12. But you're not 12.
But you're right. I can't say the same thing. You look like you're 64.
Yeah, whatever. Haters gonna hate.
I'm far from a hater. I'm a lover of you, man.
But these, er to have that. I mean, I say I'm kind of there now. But for you to be there at the age where you're at. That's, that's, that's pretty big. And that's why I wonder whether that discipline of having to get up every day, and do not quite the same thing. But you know, mean, just that that routine. And that focus kind of contributes to that strength of mind. Because I'm a firm believer that daily movement, daily mindful movement is important for physical and
mental well, being. Having that space to kind of move the body and to focus the mind are integral parts to being a happy, healthy, functioning human being. Absolutely. So yeah, I was really interested to know if that's kind of where you think it came from you.
Alright, yeah, that's absolutely right. And I mean, you you are who you think you are, and your habits dictate that right. And, you know, if I was not a boxer, if I grew up, not boxing, I would be fat right now, I would have grown up playing video games the whole time and in my room, and I will not have any social skills. So
sports that did that for me. And like you said, right, your habits and your practices for months and years and weeks, kind of dictate how you are and and I owe that to boxing and my lifestyle for sure.
And what I also like, and I guess this is kind of what I'm trying to do now as well, but you, you'd like to share your experiences, and you'd like to share your positivity. So for a time I know you were you just doing your grip with print on your Instagram, yeah, we were trying to give out motivational messages to sort of, sort of inspire people, you would. So people would send you some messages, and then you respond to them, like video, giving them some advice and rate and that
sort of thing. Which is quite powerful. I mean, as I say, particularly not to not to go on about it, particularly someone of your age, but also just to have the confidence to think you know what, I'm just going to do this and just to put it out there as a pretty big thing. What, what sort of reaction Did you did you get to that, that from that? And what did you also just get personally from from doing that? Hmm, I mean,
when I put that out there from because people will look at me and be like, Okay, Prithiv the athlete, the coach, there's the kind of guy here it's right. And if they got know me personally, then they'll be like, Okay, you know what, he's really positive, really energetic. That's great. I love this guy. But most of my followers wouldn't know me that personally. So when I post content like that, they were people were very captivated.
They were like, Okay, you know what I want to get to know more this guy, I want to see more of his content. So the reception was very good. It was very positive. And, and because of some of the content that I was posting, people will come Come back to me and ask me for vices. And so of course, I wouldn't charge them or anything, I would just, you know, it's all love. So I would give them some advice, and then it would benefit them and it would help
them. And they would tell their friends and and Sunni was spreading a lot of people ask me some stuff. So and what I'm telling you right now, as well as telling them I got them thinking about greens. I just told them how their life is not shit it's amazing. You know, because I, one of the theories that I have one of the things that I thought about is what I like to call the NFL quarterback theory. So you know what an NFL quarterback is right R/yan?. Yes, right. Right. Yeah. So he's
huge. He's big, right, by move by really fast. And that's why I think life is it's gigantic. I mean, like, how long ago was it when you were 14? Probably really long go for you. Right. But, but it felt like it was just yesterday, wasn't it? Right? Yeah. And now you're 64 you know, and and time has went by really fast. But then there are so much to do, you know, so life goes by fast and is huge and and that's something I shared with people who were talking to me and and that's how
it was. And I kind of got away from that because I kind of wanted to focus have people focusing on my boxing and, and more of my coaching than the whole mindset aspect of it. But eventually I will definitely get back to it. But right now just focusing on my professional career. So that's how it was and that's why it's not necessarily going on for me right now.
And you mentioned the coaching there, which is which is a good point to start talking about. And so, obviously when we met you were at the gym, the gym where we were training Yep, coaching there. And then post fight. We were training together and you had a few other people. You had National Service. Time. Yep. Which, which obviously curtailed you a little bit. But once you left that, it seems as though your coaching has just exploded? Yeah, for sure. So tell me what is it that
you? What is it that you get out of coaching? For yourself?
Yeah, as, as a coach, I, well, first off, I'm talking to people every day, I'm with people every day, and I'm a people's person, but it just develops and manifests and this extrovert, I just think I'm more of an ember ambivert. But it just gets bigger and bigger, you know, I my social skills improved way more, now that I'm talking to people every day.
Also, I get to meet people from all walks of life, and also people who are lawyers like you traders, bankers, even students, military men, firemen, I mean, all of them, men, women, children. So and that gives me a great exposure. And I'm also able to understand people deeper. Because when when I was training you, I understood how you thought how you would, how you box how you were as a person, and I do that with all my clients. And so that's what coaching has given me. And I
have such such passion for it. I love it so much. And I'm going to be doing it for a long time, I would even like to open a gym of mine in the future.
Goals, big goals. So that that leads me on to talk about goals. There's a Chinese proverb, which I'd heard before, but I came across today, which is a journey of 1000. A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. Beautiful, and I was watching one of your your podcast interviews on YouTube. And you're asked a question about about goals. And I thought that your your answer was was
very interesting. Because rather than talking about some huge goal of winning bouts, and being champions, you just said, I'm always thinking about the next fight. And that's right. I'm with my own mindset shift. And I'm a big believer in I mean, celebrate the micro steps like to get anywhere you have to take a step. Absolutely. If you only take one step today, celebrate that step. But take that one step because so many people don't take the step for whatever
reason. So yeah, in terms of in terms of goals, and just thinking about the next fight where where does that come from? I mean, show it is a someone who's going into the pros, he's been a boxing fan all these years, you if you're thinking about the bigger prize?
Well, um, you know, I, I can't conquer what's in front of me if I'm looking at what's way ahead, right. And when I was an amateur, I mean, every amateur boxer, their goal is the Olympics, you know. And I remember, when I was I think 17, all I was thinking about was the Olympics, all we talk about was the Olympics. And I was the National champion. And there was a local match against a guy who I already beat was rematch with
the guy. And, and because I was only thinking about the Olympics, only think about how how qualified they are how I was really thinking about the games as well, that was all I was thinking Commonwealth Games. And guess what, I lost that match right in front of me, because I wasn't thinking about him, because I already beat him. I all I was only concerned about what was ahead. I wasn't concerned about what's in front of me, right in front, you know, and that taught me right there.
That was, I was 17 at that time. And I learned that lesson. And I never forgot that I never forgot that. And right now, when I think about this, I know that when I'm going that's my debut I'm that's that's the priority. What I'm training a client right now. That's. He's my priority. She's my priority. Yeah. So that is just a lesson that I think every athlete needs, and every person needs. I think a lot of young athletes don't have that. Because their young and they have time and they just think
about what's ahead. Whereas with age, people think and are concerned about what's in front of you, you know, and I think people take too long to learn this lesson. And because of that, they pay a big price. So I'm glad I learned when I was 17 and keep that to me till this day.
Wow! that's deep. Thanks for that. So, obviously, we talked about boxing you've been boxing since you were 12, we've talked about the coaching. You work pretty hard. I mean, I've seen you when you were training me and you'd come from National Service. You'd come to train me in the early hours. I have another client here and you might have to go to school here to do your course and you know
what I mean. Your life is from when you get up it's very full on, your Insta stories that you share from the cab at like 4am or whatever, on the way to or from training clients. So no one can say that your your shy of hard work, you're definitely someone who hustles hard. Yep. But you also play hard, too. So as a contrast to that I remember coming to the, to the gym to train often and you'd have slept in the gym because you just got in from a night
out. But what but but what what I, what I liked and respected about that is that never affected what you were doing at that time. I never felt I was being cheated from a session. Apart from the one time when you you wouldn't wake up and I trained myself, but let's, let's, let's skate over that one.
Oh, man. That was once right!
But uh, but yeah, I mean, I guess where I'm going. And why I think it's interesting and useful for the listeners is that you, you can work hard. You can enjoy life, the two can be compatible. If you're too much of one it's not good. Too much of the other. It's not good. But people will respect you if you do what you say you're going to do. Yeah. And that's, I think that's something which I've always tried to do is, if I said I'm going to do something, I'd
do it. Yeah. I mean, I actually want to do it once the time arises. And then they're still sort of working on that part of it. But I think once once people know that you stick to your word, then you really build respect. Yeah. And that's something which, which I think you do.
Thank you, man. That means a lot. I mean, you know, work is as important, right? I mean, like I told you how I believe life is big but it goes by you fast. So because of that I wanted to do a lot of things when I was a fireman, the National Service, I wanted to do that finish, I want to complete that I want to coach, I wanted to compete, I wanted to do my my college. And I feel like because we have a very short time in this because it goes by really fast. I want to do as much as I
can. And that's why I would call it because that was driving me I want to do everything I want to do everything right. But then why you do everything? Because life go go by really fast, right? You don't want to just work and not play so. So that's why I would have my phone I would go out but I'll ensure that I'm good for the work part of it. So, So yeah, man, I it meant a lot to me to have that
balance. And it just with years, you just understand when you can enjoy and when you can't, you know, and sometimes, like some nights where I'd know that the next day, it's just a big day. I've got like maybe 10, 12 clients and I know I can't go out. I know that my energy needs to be high the next day. I know that any sacrifice and some days where I know that Okay, you know what I'm I have three clients next day is a pretty chill day,
then I can afford to go out. So with time you know how to balance that out?
Cool. Yeah, it's very important. Yeah, you can't be all one thing. And people need to sort of see that you're, you're a balanced individual. Yeah, there's definitely a tendency when you're sick when you're in sort of a high stress, high pressure career that you're just so focused on. Yep, on the job, that life just disappears around you. So I think having that balance is definitely very important. Something else to.
Something else to sort of get involved in to kind of take your mind away, and not get you bogged down in and kind of what isn't really, really that important. Yep. So one thing I really want to kind of get from you. As I mentioned, one of the one of the things about the podcast is, it's about helping people to find their purpose. Because I think that once you know what your purpose is, everything else falls into place. Because then each day, you're not just wandering around
sort of reacting to things. Each day, you're trying to get a little bit closer to your purpose, take a step to get you that little bit closer. And it kind of really then gives you that framework and that intention. So what's your purpose?
Well, I like to make the most of life. Well, with professional boxing, it's not so much about making money. It's because I want to I want to do it. And I want to go into the grave knowing that I boxed professionally. So that's me making the most of life with coaching. I mean, of course it's for finance, but also I could I could be slaving away at a job nine to five and I still make some some good cash, right? But it's about kind of making the most of my time and doing things
that make me happy. So a big purpose of mine is to live life and make the most of life because I truly believe that there's so much to do. So much potential we have as people and a limited time that we have to do it. So That's a big motivator, a big purpose of mine. Another thing is also finance and money. So I love making money. And everyone does right with that. Yeah, so, so that's a big motivator for me. So if I'm getting more clients, I'm gonna find time to make it.
Because if I've got a day where I could go with eight clients, and or nine clients, I'm going to go with nine, although I'm going to be tired, because I want that cash I want I want more in my bank, you know. So that's one thing right there that motivates me. Another thing is creating things. So creating things where I know what's my own. So right now, with the whole coaching business, I have it as my own I could have, I could be working for a gym, which I was a long time ago, for
a while, actually. But then I decided to have something of my own. And that's something motivates me and gives me purpose. And in the future, I want to have business ventures, and I want to create things like that, that will be my own. So creating things is a motivation, living the most out of life is a big motivation, getting the most out of life, and also money. So those three things motivate me and give me purpose, but
it's what gets you out of bed in the morning, right? Yeah, absolutely. And speaking of what gets us out of bed in the morning, what's your what's your morning routine? I'm a big fan of morning routines. Yep, yep. Yeah. I think that when we started training at ridiculous hours of the morning, that kind of really made me hone my routine. And it's very much what I sort of stick to now, right? The only difference being that the boxing training has been replaced by my daily yoga
practice. Yeah, yeah. But I find the days when that routine doesn't happen. So the last couple of weeks, I've been on this course in the U.S. which the time difference has been killing me. So it means that your day doesn't quite start, right. You can recover it if you're conscious of it. But I much prefer to sort of start and get that routine and get those things sort of ticked off before I begin. Yeah. So how's that work for you to do you have a routine? Is it the same every
day? Do you have certain things which you just sort of stick by? Or is it quite fluid?
Well, so most days, because I work with a lot of people, I meet people every day, I need some time for myself before I start the day. So when I started the day out, I I try my best not to look at the phone right away. I try to get in the shower, I like warm showers I get in the shower, for some time, actually, I do a lot of thinking about showers. And what I do is I I pretend I envision myself winning the lottery. So I pretend like I just want a million bucks, and how I be how
I react right. So I'll have a big smile on my face on my bookie a little bit, do a little bit booty Shake, right, and they'll be in the shower, no one will receive this. And I live by myself right now. So I can be as loud as I want to be playing some Angelica back. I love Angela, she's a little bit more quiet and a little bit more calm. I like that music. So I'll be listening to that grooving with my hot shower, while being super energetic and super pumped up because I just want a million
dollars. Right? So have that. And then I would do the same thing when I close my eyes. And I think about the greens that we spoke about earlier, think about the things that I'm grateful for. And at this point, I'm at my pinnacle, I'm at this high energy level, where I just need to get out of the shower, put my clothes on, and I'm gonna crush my day, right? I need this everyday I need that hot shower. Where Angele is is at the
background. I can't understand a word of what she says she is a French, she's as a Belgian. She's from Belgium, but she sings in French it's beautiful. I love her voice. And so it comes down to this energetic state. I'm powered by great, great gratitude. And I am just ready to kill my day. And another thing I do in my head is I plan it out, I envision how I'm going to do my PTs envision how I'm going to do my training. And I envision and I think about what I'm going to eat as well.
So I get out of the shower, I put my clothes on, I do that. One last thing I do in the shower is also I I kind of embrace the warm water. So sometimes we are in the water and we just let it flow down skin. We don't we don't think about it. But I feel it. I acknowledge the temperature I kind of think about high feels on my skin, how it flows through how it fills my hair, how it
drips on my eyebrows. I really kind of embrace it and I kind of it's kind of like meditating where you kind of are very, what's the word mindful of what's going on? And that's why I do the shower as well. So the showers are a very big thing for me in the morning. I get out of there.
That's really, really interesting. I mean, simply the mindful part and as you say about the water. It's that that awareness. I think that we, we, there's a lot of things that we do in our life which are just habitual. We don't you really think about it. Yeah. But when we get intentional when we have that awareness, yep. Then you get I mean, I know. But I sometimes just get amazed by the the miracle of something that happens. Yeah. Like the fact that water comes out from the
shower, for example. I mean, sure, not everyone has that. This is actually quite an amazing thing. And amazing thing that happened, which we take for granted. I mean, or when I get on the plane, when we could get on a plane, I mean, the fact that you're, you're on this thing, which is taking you somewhere. I mean, we do it so instinctively, and we kind of get annoyed about the delays and the regulations, but just sitting and thinking and being aware, it's like, wow, this is
this is pretty amazing. And I guess that leads into so one of the sort of final things I want to talk about as we are on The Yoga Den Podcast, and in The Yoga Den is about yoga. How does yoga fit into to your your training to your life? And by yoga, I don't just mean the physical practice. It could be meditation, mindfulness, or anything else as well. But But generally, how does it fit in if at all?
Well, I used to do yoga at college. And honestly, it was it was a way for me to get chicks.
He said, Yeah, many, many, many guys have said that. Yes.
Well, it did not work. Because chicks are more, women are very focused, when they're doing that you don't talk, do yoga. So you got to talk afterwards. But usually, that's when their boyfriends pick them up. So yeah, it didn't work. But I did make some good friends. And I also realise how your body can push to limits that you don't think it could at the start, you know? And I like how calm, the feelings were I love, how calm you get in Shavasana.
So in that Shavasana state, I really, I love that the most, I'll be in Shavasana. And I'll just be be just in this state where I feel the ground, feel the earth. And I become just one with myself and I embrace myself. A lot of times, you know, when we're with people, we would put our face in a certain way or we smile in a certain way, we tense some muscles up in our face and, and and how we are, but in that Shavasana you just very comfortable with yourself, you just let
everything hang loose. You know, and I love that so much about yoga. And right now I don't have as much time to do yoga, which I actually want to talk to you about later, which I'm going to get back to yoga. But right now what I do from Yoga is just I stretch after my sessions, and I have some Shavasana at the end. But I believe Yoga is just an essential for life. I think the practices that it gives you, and and the state that you get into.
It's just just beautiful. And and that's what I took away from yoga when I was doing it very seriously. And what I use right now.
Yeah,I think what you said is is definitely what I feel about yoga as well. And yeah, yeah, we can we can talk about yoga again. I mean, I can come and join your your pro team and be a be a yoga coach. As long as the money's right!. But yeah, I mean, yoga is is that for me at all. And it's funny that you say Shavasana? Because for a lot of people Shavasana is their favourite pose? Yeah, but actually, it's one of the
hardest poses to do. You look like you're just laying on the floor, but actually to, to let yourself go, just to just be and it was just, you know, it's, it's quite hard. The first few seconds is great, it's relaxing, you've gone through our class, but the longer you're there, you get a little bit restless, your mind starts to wander. So yeah, really getting to a state where you can just be in Shavasana is, is a difficult one.
and that's something I do with my clients as well. So after an intense session, actually we did this before, didn't we Ryan? After a big session, I would stretch them really well. With proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretches, where I get them to like very deep stretches. And I have them relaxing, and I instruct them where to relax. And it's crazy that I mean, it's easy to relax a muscle like a chest, right or your, your abs where, where it's a big muscle
group. But it gets to the point where you relax your eyelids and your nose and your cheek muscles and your toe muscles. And also it's just at that point where you really feel very relaxed. And er e yeah, man, it's a hard position to get to because we're so Ted, we're so eager for the next way, especially athletes, because we're so we're so energetic, but sometimes it's just nice to calm down, relax and do that.
Yeah, right. Totally agree. Yeah, we can't live life at 100 miles per hour all the time. Yeah, you got to have the balance. You got to have the Ying Yang. Yep. It's not about high stress all the time. It's not about sort of deep relaxation, on exam. It's about having that that balance and, and also the awareness as to what state you're in and why
you're in that state. for you at that time, so, okay, so as we were coming towards the end of the interview here is two things I want to ask first, what's next for you? I mean, you're you're turning pro, the situation at the moment with the pandemic is, obviously making it challenging in terms of getting out and getting your first fight. Yep. But, but but but that notwithstanding that, what's what's next, what's your plan?
What's my plan, like, like you mentioned is the professional debut. It's just something I'm working towards, I know that the times aren't the best. But I know that it's gonna get better. Actually, phase three's opening up in a couple of weeks time. And I'm hoping my debut will be at the start of next year. So possibly, February is what I have in mind. And doing amazing at that. So that's a big goal of mine, just working
towards that. I am also working hard with the coaching business, having as much clients as I can, working as hard as I can and giving them as much value as possible. That's a big goal, developing as a man and as a person, getting good values and developing my personality and how I am is a big, big factor that I have in mind. And also college. So I am still in college right now. And doing my best in that would be good. So I'm doing my major in marketing.
And I would like to do that as best as I can.
Marketing's good. Yeah, I mean, you you've done well with marketing yourself so far. So I'm sure er, I'm sure that would, they would all go
all go well. And to end the podcast, one thing that we want to do with each show is to kind of leave, leave our listeners, particularly those who might be struggling in something where they're not sure if it's what they want to do, or they know they don't want to do but don't really know how to get out or have a little bit of fear about taking that big leap into the
unknown. What? do you have three tips, three things that you've learned from boxing or from life that that people can take away with them and sort of think about how to help them make those decisions.
So like what we spoke about earlier, right? Let gratitude be your power. Let that be your fuel, use that, right? Be grateful for everything. Just look at your greens that we spoke about concentrate, or that there's so much of good, we always focus on the bad, think about the good. That's one. Secondly, we have fear, no matter what you do. And, you know, I'm at Ryan's studio over here and I see this poster saying do one thing that scares you every day. That's what we need to do. You know,
you need to do that. Let that fear, ignite your fuel and push you right like how I'm afraid of losing. And I use that as my fear. So that's second. And thirdly, be yourself. Because like I can, I can choose not to box and be just doing a corporate job and earning my way from that, Ryan could be a lawyer again, but not sticking with social norms. And what society tells you to do. Being what you want to do and be yourself has such much more fulfilment and joy, because life
goes by really fast is huge. It goes by really fast, like we spoke about, and you want to be yourself and do things that make you happy. So let gratitude fulfil you, let it embrace, embrace everything that you can with that, let fear fuel you and drive you. And lastly, what's lastly?, less, be yourself. Be yourself. That's That's right there.
That's great, they're all really, really great tips, sort of things which I try to live by most defiinitely you do. So yeah, thanks. And hopefully, anyone who's out there who's been struggling with with figuring things out, those three things will sort of help them sort of give things a bit of a deeper thought and make them think actually, let's just take that leap. Let's just take a step and say to end where can people find you?
My Instagram? So that's Prithiv with four V's
Oh, yes. That's what I'm going to ask you. Yeah. What's with the four V's?
What? No, I just put them and then the username was taken. And I was like, two V's taken three V's taken four V's are there we go. So, yep, so printf I used to put my full name Prithiv Raaj Elansharan but it's wait. So I did Prithiv instead.P-R-I-T-H-I-V-V-V-V.
Okay. And yeah, your Insta, you're quite active on Insta. Yes, I am. A lot of lives going on, you training. You like to show off your abs.
Well, you don't because you can't. But once you join the club, I think you'll know how we feel.
I think we were I think we're back training this week. Yes.
Yes. Yes. We are. Time to whup you back in shape.
after a good few months off and.
I'm looking forward to it, man.
Yeah, that'll be, that'll be fun. Good to,to get the gloves back on to sort of balance out the yoga, most definitely um, but anyway Prit, thanks for again for joining me I had a great time talking to you. It's been, it's been great having you on in this this setting one of the one of the early guests, one of the founding guests of The Yoga Den Podcast like that like that and yeah, looking forward to having you back on again once you've you've gone pro, you've got a
few wins under your belt. Yep. And I'll be waiting for my my tickets to come and see you at Madison Square Garden for the championship. That's one thing I didn't I forgot to ask you. What weight are you gonna fight at?
Yeah, I reckon super bantamweight. So that's at 55 kilos, but I am getting bigger. So if I, if I have to move I might move does really depends on on how my body is and how my team responds to my weight. Okay.
Yep. Very good. Well, thanks again. And and yeah, we'll put your your details in the show notes of where they can find you. And yeah, I'm sure we'll all be watching with excitement, at what the pros bring.
Mm hmm. Absolutely.
All right. Thanks, man.
Thank you, bud. Cheers
So there you go, interview with Prit, leaving you there with three tips to fuel yourself, change your mindset, keep you on the positive track. Gratitude. Let that the fear drive you. And be yourself. Sound Advice, I'd say. And as I said in the show, rules that I try and live by every day. Thanks for tuning into the podcast this week. If you liked the show, tell your friends. Subscribe. And give us a review on Apple podcasts. Until next week, eat plants, give thanks, do yoga. Peace!