Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Chen.
Hi Susan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After spending almost a decade in New York City as a Wall Street analyst, I was burnt out. Despite the successes and promotions, I could no longer ignore that I was waking up with unrelenting anxiety and stress that got more intense by the day.
As a natural “doer” in life, I threw the wellness book at my problems. Yoga classes, silent retreats, adventuring, therapy, shamanic journeys, green juicing… you name it, I’ve tried it.
Nothing I tried had long-lasting effects of offsetting the fatigue, overwhelm, and feelings of worry that stayed with me day in and day out.
I woke up one day realizing that no amount of “doing” could make me feel better. I needed to find the opposite of doing to find true relief in just BEING.
After searching a few years of searching, I finally found Vedic Meditation as a way to calm my nerves effectively. Within the first few days of practicing, I could feel the stress drain away and my natural happiness return.
And while I stayed at my finance job for a few more years (and enjoyed even more professional successes than ever), I felt completely different. All the “doing” now came from a place of restfulness and ease. My tendencies to stay up all night in worry and fear subsided effortlessly. The transformation was so remarkable that I resolved to dedicate the rest of my life to learning about this profound technique that turned my life experience from anxious attachment and worries to resilience, adaptability, and bliss.
Fast forward nine years, I’ve left my career on Wall Street, split my time between Los Angeles and New York City, and now teach meditation full-time. I also host retreats around the US and in India.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a bit of both. Meditation is easy and smooth, but making drastic life changes sometimes feels rough.
I like to explain it by using an analogy of living in a messy room. In my early days as an adult, the stress felt overwhelming, but I didn’t know how to find my way out. It felt like I was living in a dark, messy room but didn’t have enough light to see how to clean it up. I did my best to cope but never got to the heart of the mess.
When I began to practice Vedic Meditation, it felt like someone had turned on the light in the room. Meditation by meditation, I began to see the mess and the blindspots in my ways of thinking and behaving.
But here’s the thing: I still needed to clean up the room. And that takes gumption and a bit of discipline to carry through with it. Breaking old patterns of behavior (and taking responsibility for them) can feel messy in itself. Those moments of cleaning up would be the not-so-smooth parts of my journey, but it is always worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help busy professionals who are feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
Despite their success, my students feel buried under their anxiety, insomnia, and an overactive mind they can’t seem to turn off.
They try meditation apps, up their exercise routine, and take more time off to regroup. None of these things give them noticeable, long-term relief.
Their stress continues to build, and they feel like they are running out of options.
Having spent 15 years at the best investment banks on Wall Street, I know what it’s like to run on fumes, hustling from one accomplishment to the next.
I never seemed able to escape my anxiety and racing mind, no matter how many achievements I racked up and vacations I took.
Within the first week of learning Vedic Meditation, a new chapter of my life began.
One of calm, peace, and natural happiness that I hadn’t felt in decades.
Vedic Meditation felt like a coming home.
The effects were so dramatic I dedicated the next two years to learning everything I could about the science of meditation and the 5,000+-year-old teachings behind the practice.
Then, five years ago, I left the finance industry to share this game-changing mental technique with others.
I teach Vedic Meditation in a 4-session, in-person course format. It’s easy to learn and even easier to incorporate into your daily routine.
Because I know firsthand the crushing overwhelm busy professionals are struggling to overcome, I’ve tailored my approach so that even my most overwhelmed, stressed-out clients can easily integrate this life-changing practice into their lives.
I combine everything I’ve studied about the science of stress and happiness, ancient Vedic wisdom, and practical lessons from my Wall Street days to give students a personalized and curated learning experience.
After completing the Vedic Meditation Course, students feel energized and happy, allowing them to live stress-free lives and make their greatest contribution to the world.
I teach private clients, host small group courses, and am hired for corporate trainings each month in Los Angeles and New York City.
I have a few team members who help me run my business, including my husband Peter, who is my right-hand in all aspects of my life.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love being in Los Angeles.
This city has something for everything, which reminds me so much of what drew me initially to living in New York City.
Los Angeles offers some of my favorite things – inviting beaches, great Asian food (I’m originally from Taipei), and an eclectic mix of kind humans from all over the world.
Everyone has been so welcoming since I moved in 2020. I have a group of supportive peers in the wellness space and great friends to enjoy exploring the city with. We’ve also grown our Vedic Meditation community as I’ve started teaching in Los Angeles over the last two years.
While my original move was prompted by the impending lockdown in New York City in 2020, I’m so happy I decided to join my husband here. He is a 25+ year Angeleno. I can’t imagine not being here now!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meditatewithsusan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesusanchen/
Image Credits
Divya Pande Theo Yang
