Balraj Persaud

Balraj [pronounced bal-RAAJ] teaches the philosophy of yoga as a direct, phenomenological inquiry into the nature of experience. He works privately with leaders—across business, finance, law, medicine, philanthropy, and public life—to deepen their composure in high-pressure environments, high-stakes decision-making, and in critical relationship-building situations.

 

Balraj’s approach to emotional composure is guided by the contemplative traditions of the Indian subcontinent. Managing emotions doesn’t require controlling them. Managing emotions just requires becoming aware of them before being consumed by them. Managing emotions, in other words, requires awareness. (For leaders navigating high-pressure decisions, high-stakes relationships, and reputational risk, learn more about working with Balraj or connect with him on LinkedIn.)

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What is yoga? Yoga is not the strategic and permanent destruction of the suffering of our inadequacies and vulnerabilities; yoga is what remains once we’ve abandoned the quest to “fill up” ourselves with the world. Our desire to find permanent, personal emotional/material security (to finally be “at peace”) actually reinforces the basic sense of anxiety/insecurity that we’re trying to eliminate. In other words, the quest for permanent freedom from our personal suffering—to never again feel small or invisible, ashamed or unworthy, guilty or defective, exposed or inadequate—might be the very thing keeping us from our deepest fulfilment. And this quest for invulnerability doesn’t permit self-awareness: we each are irrevocably embedded in structures of dependence that precede and exceed us, the recognition of which is demanded for/by [our] “freedom”. (Read our comprehensive guide to the objective of yoga or the goal of meditation.)

 

Balraj received a BA (Hons) and MSc (Oxon) studying South Asia and India respectively. He then obtained an MA in philosophy, defending his thesis on phenomenological method. He received a Diploma in Yoga from Annamalai University and the title of Yoga Vidyā from his teacher.

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Balraj now offers talks and workshops for senior leaders across business, philanthropy, and government. His most recent sessions (a group of senior Canadian provincial government officials, and a Toronto leadership summit) introduced mindfulness as a tool for navigating pressure with greater composure and self-awareness—by becoming aware of the very patterns of striving and avoidance that often undermine our efforts to lead wisely and well. If you’re interested in booking Balraj to speak at your event or facilitate a private workshop, please email [email protected] with your event details and objectives. Balrāj can then schedule a time to discuss whether—and how—he might be able to help.