After years of climbing the corporate ladder, Laurine Lim attained what most would call the pinnacle of success — a leadership position in the water industry, a career involving international business travel and financial abundance. But during the pandemic, the constant grind, long hours, and screen fatigue triggered a breakdown that forced her to re-evaluate everything. What followed was a courageous decision to leave it all behind and start anew on a more purposeful, healing path.
Today, she runs Laya Studio, where her mission is to help others restore balance, especially busy professionals and women facing life transitions such as menopause. With Laya Studio, she has created a sanctuary for those seeking clarity, calm, and connection. Her journey reflects a growing movement in Singapore where mental well-being and personal transformation are becoming just as important as professional achievement.
You have had a successful career in the water sector. What sparked your transition into the world of healing and wellness?
I used to think success meant pursuing a career, having a luxurious lifestyle, climbing the corporate ladder, and being highly regarded by staff in the company. But when COVID-19 started and we experienced lockdown from 2019 to 2021, there was no longer a clear definition of work-life balance.
During that period, I worked 18 hours on most days — catching early meetings with staff in Japan and staying up late for meetings with the US. One morning in late 2021, as I turned on my laptop and looked at my three screens, I felt nauseous. I rushed to the bathroom and vomited. It was a big tell-tale sign that something was off with me.
Despite holding a high-level role in the company, managing operations in Southeast Asia and Oceania, I was burnt out. I searched online and found an article explaining the symptoms I was experiencing. It was “cyber sickness,” one of the symptoms of mental breakdown due to prolonged screen exposure.
In January 2022, I decided to call it quits. I let go of my status, pay cheque, business trips and went in search of the true meaning of life. I sometimes wonder, was I more successful then, or now? I think it’s subjective. Whether I gave up a successful career or created another kind of successful life, it depends on how I see it.
How do your skills in sales, business development, and operations contribute to your journey as a wellness advocate?
During my international sales and business development days, I met a lot of people from different countries, cultures, and languages. Over time, I honed strong interpersonal skills and became adaptive to multicultural environments. I also picked up multiple languages.
Because of that, I’m now able to relate to people from all walks of life. I can easily understand people who come to me seeking advice on wellness. Because of what I’ve been through, I’m in a good position to offer meaningful advice.
What are some of the challenges you faced in shifting from a corporate environment to a more holistic and purpose-driven path?
In the corporate environment, the challenges were corporate politics and bureaucracy. Most challenges stemmed from the people we worked with—human factors.
But as I moved into my wellness space and developed my holistic wellness approach, I realised I still couldn’t get away from working with humans.
It is, after all, a human business. The challenges I face now are still about dealing with people, but they are much more profound and meaningful. When I support people who come to me for help and advice, I do so in a person-to-person way. In contrast, my corporate days were more business-to-business.
I also discovered that letting go is not a sign of weakness or failure. Letting go is the first step to pursuing your own wisdom. Everyone has their own journey. Whether it is smooth sailing or full of challenges, it is your own path to take.
What kind of healing or wellness approaches do you focus on today?
At Laya Studio, I focus on four pillars – yoga, sound healing, aromatherapy and menopause treatments.
My yoga classes include Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation.
For sound healing, I use instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, drums, flutes and tuning forks to create different healing sounds. It has been scientifically proven to trigger our relaxation response, which counters the symptoms caused by chronic stress. My clients have said that my sound healing sessions have a calming vibe and some have described the experience as deeply spiritual.
Besides sound, scent is another important sense we can use in wellness. I explored different aromatherapy options and found that pure essential oils were the perfect complement to my business. A client once shared with me how she benefited from the customised oil blend I created to ease her menstrual cramps.
She shared it with a colleague suffering from bad cramps, and her colleague felt so much better. Hearing stories like this keeps me going and strengthens my belief in what I do.
The fourth pillar is menopause workshops. I am a licensed menopause champion with a UK-based non-profit group called Menopause Experts Group (MEG). In my menopause workshop, I guide women to identify if they are entering or have entered into menopause with guidelines from MEG. I also help them to identify what are the symptoms they may be feeling and how to manage them using holistic methods such as yoga.
I realised I went through menopause unknowingly at the peak of my corporate career, which contributed to my suffering. Hence, I’m motivated to use my personal experience to support women in a more holistic approach.
These four areas form the basis of my healing approach.
What advice would you give to professionals who feel unfulfilled in their current roles and are considering a more meaningful life direction?
In Singapore, we live in a fast-paced and highly stressful environment. Over the past 60 years, Singapore has developed rapidly, and the people here are constantly striving in their professions. Competition is intense and ambitions are high.
My advice to professionals is this: no matter how competitive your field is, don’t feel like you’re fighting against the whole world. Be true to yourself. Have faith that what you do is right, and keep pursuing your dream.
I also discovered that letting go is not a sign of weakness or failure. Letting go is the first step to pursuing your own wisdom. Everyone has their own journey. Whether it is smooth sailing or full of challenges, it is your own path to take.
Speaking about stress—how do you view mental wellness in today’s society, especially in Singapore?
The government has increased its efforts to promote mental wellness and work-life balance. Over the last five years, I’ve seen many initiatives aimed at addressing the growing concerns about mental health.
However, stress levels remain high. As a small, densely populated first-world country with nearly 6 million people, stress is inevitable. The question is, how do we manage it? What does work-life balance mean? This question needs to be answered individually.
I believe self-care is an important component in maintaining one’s mental well-being. At Laya Studio, our participants often come with a heavy mind and closed heart, and leave feeling light and refreshed. The difference between a small boutique studio versus a big studio is that I can take small groups, which allows me to provide personalised attention to each participant.
Every sound bath I give is a unique journey for everyone; there will never be the same session again. Some of the participants have deep spiritual experiences during the sound bath. Their testimonials fuel my motivation to keep Laya Studio going.
What are your plans for Laya Studio and your wellness business?
I established Laya Studio in 2022. But it was only last year that I found a physical space in Phoenix Park. It’s a nostalgic place—somewhat rundown but filled with charm. When I saw an unit with full-height glass windows, I knew instantly: this is my space. Laya Studio officially opened on 13 July last year.
Since then, I’ve conducted regular classes there and collaborated with other businesses and individuals. I run yoga classes, private sound healing sessions, and partner with candle makers who incorporate essential oils that I advocate. I also host regular Women’s Circles focused on menopause.
One of my latest collaborations is with an undertaker. Together with a private nurse, we’re planning a video project that tells the full journey of life—from surviving illness with nursing support, to managing pain with alternative healing like sound therapy, and finally, end-of-life planning. It’s a unique collaboration that combines our work in meaningful ways.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
Singapore is celebrating her 60th birthday this year—a huge milestone. As the world becomes more high-tech and fast-paced, especially with the rise of AI, I hope the government continues to implement policies and initiatives that address mental health. People must realise that being physically fit or financially comfortable does not equate to overall wellness. Mental health matters too. That’s the vision I hope the government will promote.
As a small business owner, I also hope to see more government support for SMEs like mine. I started this journey with a leap of faith, without funding or backing. The work I’ve done has been validated by heartfelt testimonials and Google reviews from people I’ve helped. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received and hope that Singapore continues to grow as a place that supports healing, wellness, and small business owners.
Connect with Laurine: LayaStudio, Instagram and Facebook.
