Neelu Taore

Meet Neelu

NataliaCan you tell us a bit about you and your business?

NeeluHi, I am Neelu here from Avana Skin Body and Laser Clinics, and I've been a cosmetologist for more than 20 years now. And the kind of services we provide in our business is a lot of advanced technologies, a lot of advanced, state of the art treatments, which helps people to feel good, look better. It's been a beautiful journey being in here for more than 20, 25 years now, and it's been a very proud moment to be sitting here and talking to you.

NataliaIf there is one thing that you would like people to know about you or the business, what would that be?

NeeluBeauty number one is to empower yourself, because that's what I have done to myself. Empower yourself. You will no doubt look absolutely beautiful. And then the outer side of the beauty, Avana can take care of it a hundred percent.

Beauty number one is to empower yourself.

The story that changed everything

NataliaYes, because you do a bit of work helping women with their inner beauty as well. Do you wanna tell me a bit of that side of what you do as well?

NeeluYes. That's a beautiful story of my life, Natalia, that has changed my whole perception of life. I was a girl who was being brought up in a beautiful, loving family. Always things were my way. So my way was the highway and life was great. Got married to the most beautiful man. Lovingly going on. Blessed with a beautiful and a very handsome son. Now life was perfect and all of a sudden the tragedy came that I lost one of my very dear family members.

And I was very much, like in my early thirties and that time, I came to know I need to handle my emotions, which I never knew till then. I was like: Life is perfect. I get ready. I look pretty. I've got a lovely family. I've got lovely parents. That's it. And that's what life is. And then when I got shaken, I don't know how to handle my emotions.

And then I came under an acute time of my life wherein I was supposed to migrate to New Zealand. I was still recovering from that loss. Shock. Son was very, very young. I don't know how to handle my emotions again. I'll repeat it. That's what the major problem is. We get our emotions over our intellect. We don't know what to do, and then you're totally clouded.

And then someone introduced me, not someone, I think I saw Art of Living on the television, and then I found the visionary leader behind it. Then I joined the workshops for breath works for meditation, for silence retreats, and just in maybe more than less than three months, I was back and I bounced back.

And before that I was seeing a naturopath. I was on antidepressant medicine. And I didn't know what to do. But this whole journey of me getting that spiritual angle to my life, and that's what I always say, look to your inner being. You'll be extremely beautiful wherever you go. If you are beautiful and peaceful in your inner world. That's me.

The power of breath

NataliaOh, that's beautiful. I've heard of Art of Living before, but maybe for someone who doesn't know about it, can you tell us a bit more about what they do? You said you were doing other things like naturopathy, but what was about what you learned at the Art of Living that was so helpful for you?

NeeluI would say their patent is a Sudarshan Kriya, the breathing technique. So breath is the only thing which changes with every emotion. When you're sad, the breath works differently. When you're happy, you don't know when you're breathing. When you're anxious, you know you're breathing, right? So if you can synchronise your breath with your own being, that's what we get taught. And I teach in the breathing workshop how to handle your emotions through the breath.

Like if you look at today, people are going to even physios, even to chiros. The only thing they say is just breathe, hold, breathe. That's what we have been doing for more than 25 years, and the founder of Art of Living, he's been teaching this. His only vision is what has come to us as facilitators through him: having a stress-free society. And that will only happen as people are non-judgmental. People are not holding onto emotions, and the whole thing connects to breath again, because our mind has a nature to go everywhere. It'll go wondering past, present, future, anxiety. And it's like flying, like a kite in the sky and breath is the only thread which can get it back.

The mind is like a kite flying in the sky. Breath is the only thread which can get it back.

Now I'm seeing on some Instagram reels wherein some reels are coming: hold for four, breathe in for four. Hold, breathe out for five. It's getting so common now. So why is it happening like this? Like everybody's working on the breath, because that is what you have been aware of, that you're alive because of your breath. And we take it for granted, isn't it? We are alive because we are breathing. We'll be gone when the breath goes away, everything else will stay. We can live without food. Live without sleep, which most of us are doing on phones now, and the company sometimes is not good around us. We can live without everything. What about breath? Let's try it today for five minutes, say, and we are gone. That's what I've been working on and that's the secret of my energy and that's what I bring to my business as well.

NataliaAnd you know, what I was just thinking as you were saying this, what is so beautiful about breathing? That we're all the same. It doesn't matter if you're a migrant or born in New Zealand, we all breathe the same air.

NeeluSo beautifully put up. Yes. Agreed.

NataliaDo you want to teach us a quick breathing exercise if someone's moving to New Zealand or someone's experiencing anxiety?

NeeluDefinitely. So if you are looking at the breathing exercise, the first and the foremost is whenever you are anxious, you don't know what to do, sit down in a place and just focus on the breath. It's hard when the mind is all over the place, but get it back to the breath again. We are very fortunate to be in New Zealand. You can sit under a tree, see something, which is really beautiful. Beaches are amazing here. If you could, if nothing is happening, don't worry.

Number one: do not sit in a dark room. Make sure there's some sunlight. Make an effort to go out. That's very important. The sun changes the whole mood of yours. Then coming to your breath: observe your breath. Am I a shallow breather? Am I breathing normally? Is it a deep breath? If you're anxious, now you have to make an effort to breathe deeply. Now, how do we do that? We sit comfortably and easily. Always get your palm on your knees facing the sky, and then you just focus on your breath. If you're only breathing from the chest, make an effort to breathe from the belly.

So the only thing you can say, you don't know whether you're breathing deeply or shallow, have a count to yourself. If you have been breathing normally for only three counts, then take the next step and breathe for five counts. Then you go to six counts. So you breathe in for six, seven counts normally. Then you breathe out with seven or eight counts. So breathing in with some count, breathing out with some count. So after even doing it for maybe 10, 12 times, you will start observing: the breath is getting relaxed and the breath is getting deeper.

And the other thing, you breathe in for four, you hold for four, you breathe out for six. That is called ESP pranayama, which means that the energy is going to all the organs of your body. So wherever there is a tightness, it'll start opening. People who don't know anything about mindfulness or anything, if you can breathe in for four, hold for four, breathe out for six, even for three to four minutes, you will see a transformation straightaway. So simple, very simple, very, very simple.

And the other thing I always say when people say, no, I can't be bothered to breathe. Absolutely fine. Observe the five senses that God has given you. God has given you the eyes; I can see you. God has given the touch; I can feel the cloth. Then definitely I can hear what I'm saying. Then there's a taste in my mouth and there's a fire in my belly. Observe these five senses and just observe which is the most dominant one right now. Can I smell something really nice? Can I taste something in my mouth? Can I see something more? Can I hear or can I feel? It'll just shift you instantly. Like when I get very busy days, I'm back to back with the clients. That's all I do to calm down. Just imagine what is the most predominant touch sense you have at that moment when you are anxious. You'll come out of it very quickly.

From India to Aotearoa

NataliaOh, thank you for sharing. That's a beautiful and very helpful. Okay. So let's go back to your life before you came to New Zealand. Where did you grow up? Was it the city, was it the countryside?

NeeluYeah, in India. It was a small town. I may say it is population wise more than Auckland. Bigger, but commercial wise, I would say it was a town like Wellington, a small little town where I was brought up in a very beautiful, loving family. My father being a professor and a teacher all his life. So I wanted to be a teacher. So I did my master's in English, then I did my bachelor's of education thinking I'll be the teacher, but that's my personality is right.

And then a time came in my life when I got into marketing. So I never knew what I was doing 'cause I was 20, 21 and at that time the only passion was to make money 'cause you were young. So I got into a marketing job and I started doing very well. And then I got headhunted by a company, which used to be owned by my husband, so I ended up there without knowing. So he had hunted me from another company. I joined the group company. We really made it hugely successful. We used to teach young kids computers and then I'm talking of 92, 93. That was a craze at that time. So we did that and then he proposed to me and I was, as I said, life was absolutely like a fairytale. Everything is just falling in place the way I wanted to.

And I was blessed with my son in 1998. And then life goes on. It was all right. And then the time came, the business didn't do so well. And the time came to my life to migrate to New Zealand. So everything happened. The business was not doing that, like it was okay, not doing great, like it used to be. I was blessed with a beautiful son. Immigration to New Zealand came and I lost my only brother. So boom. New life, new beginnings. In your thirties, you think you can change everything around you. Life was tough.

NataliaWhat did you do when you first arrived in New Zealand?

NeeluIt started with a very basic job going. I used to live in Royal Oak in Auckland. My son used to go to Royal Oak Primary and Royal Oak Mall used to be a really sweet spot at that time and I was going from shop to shop, saying that I need a job.

But yes, the only thing which me and my husband did, I think anyone who's listening to me, any migrant: be prepared that you're ready for anything and everything. Like we had a background of a business back home, but when we came here, we were just prepared mentally. Taking our CVs to shops: "Hey, I need a job." Then I got the first job in Royal Oak, Subway and my husband got in next to it, McDonald's. The whole shift was that I will finish, pick up my son from school because that was very close. So that again, became a dream. That house was very near, business, my work was very near, son's school was near, so life moved on.

And because being on the spiritual journey, I've been a vegetarian all my life. You know, in Subway we used to make sandwiches with all the meat, and now Neelu didn't know what the meats were and all the meats were all that name slaps were on the customer side, not my side. But I think I was blessed to have a happy personality. That's me, thanks to Art of Living again, always being a happy girl. So people used to ask me for some meat and I'm thinking to myself, I have pegged it right. And then the guy used to take it, and then under two hours he's coming and talking to the boss and you can feel it as if there's something right. But I was very blessed to have very lovely people around me in New Zealand, and my boss came to me: "Neelu, which meat did you give him?" I said, "That's what he asked for." He said: "He asked for that, but you gave him that." But that customer also had a hearty laugh.

And then the life began. Yes. I worked for not even two or three weeks, and I got into a job. I got into Spark, which used to be Telecom that time again—a customer service representative with the home business owners. Good job. Again, me and husband were working in the same company, managed to have our shifts with our sons schooling and everything.

And then a time came in our life from 2005. Then we realized we're not happy with New Zealand, and my husband said: "You and Ariman go and I will stay here to get this citizenship." Fine. We went back to India and then as my son started schooling there, I became busy with my life. I wanted to take up a job, but the market was very different in India then. And then, I met my spiritual master who's the founder of Art of Living, and I told him: "This is what I'm doing." I was very fortunate to meet him. He's a global figure, a humanitarian. He said: "Go back really?" because we packed everything from Auckland, from Royal Oak. And my husband was staying with one of my girlfriends. I called him: "I'm coming back." He said: "Are you crazy?" I said: "Yeah, I'm coming back." And that's what I, my gut feeling says I need to be back.

NataliaAnd what happened when you got back to New Zealand?

NeeluThe dream of Neelu, which was always there to be into beauty, which I wondered when I was a kid, but dad said, no, no, no, no. You should not be getting into beauty because you need to get married in a good family and da da da, whatever. So beauty will not take you there, get into career of teaching. So that time came in my life when I came back and said I'd like to study beauty now, because I will be at home starting something pretty small and then I look after my son.

So that was a plan. So I joined College of Camille, which used to be a very prestigious college those days in Newmarket. I did my one year diploma, which was International Diploma from London, and I got very lucky to get a part-time job. Even when I was studying, those people really helped me. I really pray for them and thank them. I was allowed to take my son even there on a weekend. So my son was a lovely boy. He still is. He used to sit, have a chocolate, have some apples, and the owner sometimes used to give him some biscuits, and I used to work.

That's how my journey started, and then I got into a full-time job. Life was again perfect. Then a time came and I wanted to really work full-time into beauty. Then the Avana opportunity came. It was an Australian chain, and the first clinic was in 1996 in Chancery, Auckland City, and I used to live in East Pakuranga. I said: "Oh my God, how do I go? It's too far" But then finally I decided to go for the interview. I got the job and I joined it, not knowing what I was doing, but I did the basic beauty, and here I come in with all the technologies and all the machines. So yes, I started taking the ownership and never looking back since then.

NataliaSo tell me about, so you were saying that you went back to India and then you met your spiritual master. What made you come back to New Zealand?

NeeluHe could see beyond me. He could see what I'm good for and worth for, that's it. I believed him. He's the one that inspired me to come back here and to teach. Yes, that's correct.

Mission. That's the mission. That's the purpose. I think you could see the purpose and that's what I got here. Because Art of Living wasn't really here. It was emerging at that time. And then there were teachers here, there were facilitators here, but then there's a big team now. So yes, it's beautiful.

NataliaSo what was the journey for the Art of Living from then until now?

NeeluIt's growing because I think right now after COVID, it has become a need for everyone. As I said, when I got into that kind of a trap. You don't know how to handle your emotions and you still, you are really battling with your own emotions and you're still making others happy.

What carries her

NataliaSo let's talk about emotions, because I'm really interested about your journey. You had a wonderful life in India, a successful career. And you come to New Zealand and you're knocking on doors, you're working in Subway. What's going through your mind? What are you telling yourself during those moments?

NeeluAccepting the situation as it is. That's what Art of Living taught me. If I'm here, I'm only here, and I think the family was young and the son was kind of a toy to us, like we go to the parks and have some weekend time together, seeing the beaches coming from that kind of a background. It was the loveliest time of my life. If I look back, Natalia, I think number one is the acceptance, number two, there is no judgment in my mind that I can't do this or I will only do that. There was no judgment like that at all. It was a very open mind. I need to end up in a job, start paying my bills. That was it.

But very hardworking. From that day until today, I may say yes, I've been a very hardworking girl. If you are a migrant, if you have come and left your country, you want to be as comfortable as you were, don't leave your country then. No. You have to take the challenges. People have to accept you. New Zealand is just beautiful, people do accept you, they love you, what you're worth for, stand up for yourself.

If you have come and left your country, you have to take the challenges. People do accept you — stand up for yourself.

NataliaSo what do you feel were those challenges as a migrant? Was there anything that stands out for you?

NeeluI would again say, Natalia is your attitude towards the world. If you are close-minded, if you're not able to take people's reviews or I would say, I'll not use the word criticism, the challenges. I'm not a fighter. I'm a girl who always doesn't go and confront people. I'm not like that. I'm very open about what the journey I have gone through.

There were challenges. There was definitely, we have come from a very affluent background and coming in here, I didn't know how to budget. I didn't know how to budget, and then I remember that we came in February. It was my son's birthday, and we used to have huge, big parties back home. It was only three of us and we went to KFC and with me being a vegetarian, I just maybe had some onion rings or something and he had his chicken. We came out and the bill was around... I don't know how many dollars it was, but for us it was like, oh my God, we spent a lot of money today and we came out and my son is looking at me: "Mom." I say: "Yeah." "We have got really poor now." I said: "What happened?" because he was comparing it with that. So that's the time and I'm like: "What?"

You know, it has brought tears to my eyes at that time because he is not expecting that kind of life, what we are giving him. So it was, it was like, oh, it didn't shake me, but it shook him. He said: "Mom, we didn't have that kind of a party." We worked hard. After that year, we had a good party, like a few friends of him in a Pizza Hut.

And I think what has happened, Natalia, that when you work hard as a couple, as a mother, your child gets it from you. And now my son is being so successful, a very proud moment for me as a mother. But yes, you have to work hard. There is no shortcut.

NataliaAnd so when you were starting your business during those early days, you say you didn't really know what you were doing. You were learning. Was there anything that helped you or where did you go for support? How did you go from not knowing what you're doing to the success that you are today?

NeeluThe Art of Living community. Very non-judgmental people are very much like happy minds. Then you go there for your chanting. You go there for your breathing, your practicing your breathing workshops. That was my family, at the time I landed and the family kept growing and that was the most beautiful thing that happened to me.

So for people who are coming in for the first time, or if they have no family support, but they're all by themselves, I would definitely recommend having some community around you. And we are very fortunate to have beautiful community groups in New Zealand now. All the grapevine pages on Facebook, you just put it out there: I need support. I need help. New Zealand is like: "Come on, I'm here to give you a hug." So don't be alone. That's very important. Find the community because that's gonna be your family in the coming time.

NataliaWe talked about this a little bit, but do you feel like your cultural background or the life you had in India and the way you were raised in India impacted the way you are as a businesswoman today?

NeeluYes, a hundred percent. A hundred percent Indian. The way Indian businesses run are very different because we have a huge support of people who work under us. You become like: "I am the boss. I'm coming in, the boy will come give me tea, hold my bag, and the driver will come get the car." I'll go home.

Coming to New Zealand: learn to drive the car. Then you have to do your washing. Then you're coming to your business, you're cleaning with the staff if they're too busy. Big change. You become so humble, you become so accepting. You feel expanded that you can do anything and everything. That's what happens when it comes to migrants. It is so beautiful to see the change.

Her wisdom

NataliaWhat advice would you give to a migrant woman thinking about starting a business but experiencing fear or self doubt?

NeeluCome and see because I think with all the organisations here, they provide you with a lot of information. Sit with a mentor. I'm always happy to help. I can say it openly that I'm always happy to help. Sit with someone who has gone through that journey. Do not make a decision just based on your emotion: "I'm very passionate about it and I will do it." Watch it on the paper, watch it on the facts, and figure out what is the number game behind it. If you can ask people for help, people do help. So ask for mentorship. Definitely do not just follow your emotions or what work back in your country will work here. It can, but do your proper research.

NataliaCan you tell me about a really proud moment or a breakthrough in your business just now?

NeeluI must say the universe is aligned with me right now. I think maybe three weeks ago we won the Excellence in Business Trade award, and there was an award night. And we have been awarded with that business award by our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. A very proud moment. And then another proud moment was because my local newspaper, because I live in Howick, they came through, they have again gone through a very huge article about me. So you feel like, oh my God, it took me 25 years.

So when the local editor came for my interview, he asked me: "What is your USP about your business?" And Natalia, I was not prepared. That's what I only said: I just see my clients as my family, number one. Number two: I educate my client. It's not that they have to be pushed to have things from me, just educating the client, making a lovely community that they feel relaxed when they come here and I didn't know that I'll get this award from the last 20, 25 years you've been working and wow. And then I have a lot of community awards and then community leader awards. It's, yeah, it's beautiful. This country has given me whatnot.

NataliaTell me about the moment. Where were you when you heard that you won the award?

NeeluIt was an award night. It was at the Event Finder stadium in North Shore. It was a big event. We had a thousand people plus. We just had to receive the award and the interview happened later in the newspaper. Oh, it was beautiful. A very proud moment and people are coming from everywhere. They're hugging you, congratulating you. People are lighting up to have pictures with you. Wow. You know? My son is not here. He's in California. He's working there. Yeah. It was a very, very proud moment for the family. Even I think the entire family back home as well.

NataliaSo what would you tell if you could talk to the young Neelu, packing the bags to come to New Zealand, going through that tough moment in your life and see where you're now? What would you tell the younger person of yourself?

NeeluI would say self effort: very important. Consistency: very important. Accepting people's situation around you the way they are. Have a clear vision: I wanna have that. Self effort is the key. Be consistent every single day. I still work six days a week. Some days I feel, oh my God. But no, you just keep showing up. You'll start getting the results. You don't have to give up.

Self effort is the key. Be consistent every single day. You just keep showing up.

NataliaWhat's your vision or dream for the future, for your business? Do you have any plans that you want to share?

NeeluBecause of my journey, what is looking like to me right now, Natalia, is very spiritual now. So I wanna get into more of the ayurvedic stuff, the natural stuff we are launching soon. And I want to get people for retreats, for wellbeing, for mental health. I wanna take my business there also because I can help a lot of women. I wanna just educate women how they can look after themselves, as well as if they want to get into this industry, they can combine the new technology, they can combine it with the ancient rituals.

NataliaBeyond friends or family. What's one thing that you miss the most from India? Is there anything that stands out?

NeeluThe festivals, the colors, the food, the fun, the loud music. Yes, I miss it, I miss it. And especially now with my passion. I wanna go to all the pilgrimages. So I wish, that's my dream and I hope the Universe is listening and saying: blessing you. I want to travel to all the pilgrimages in India. So yeah, big dream.