The founder of Secret Sunrise in Singapore speaks about the purpose of this unique global movement, and her top pieces of advice for budding entrepreneurs.
In today’s modern world, our phones have become a priority while we neglect to take care of our inner selves. In fact, when was the last time you felt a deep connection with another fellow human being? Or when did you last shed the mask you put on in public to be your true self? If you think these questions are inconsequential, a chat with Laura Yates will change your mind. This inspiring Launchpad member is the founder of global wellness movement Secret Sunrise in Singapore. And she holds an enthusiasm for life that’s nothing short of infectious. We sit down with her to find out how she gets it done.
Who are you outside of the daily grind?
I’m a dog mum who runs Secret Sunrise in Singapore, and another business called The Hummingbird Life. I spend a lot of time with my husband and two golden retrievers. We love exploring Singapore’s beaches and lush nature spots. I also love rock climbing, scuba diving and rollerblading along East Coast – singing at the top of my voice while listening to great music!
Tell us more about Secret Sunrise and the impact of this movement.
Secret Sunrise is a global movement on a mission to change the world through music, dance, nature and connection. This unique concept was born under African skies, and spread throughout South Africa before rippling out to the rest of the world. Now, our global mission is to have a million people moving in joy each month!
There’s something special about attending a Secret Sunrise session. It’s difficult to explain as there’s nothing else quite like it. Utilising wireless headphones, this guided dance and meditation community spreads joy in over 16 cities across the world. Our unique blend of facilitated sessions, the playlists we create, and most importantly, the authenticity of our intention to spark joy is a magical formula I’ve seen transform lives.
I’ve received feedback that it’s given people a new lease of life. They’ve found a sense of belonging, and they feel the freedom to just be themselves. We also spend a lot of time and effort doing outreach sessions for the underprivileged and the elderly. It’s important to us that inner joy is accessible to everyone.
Tell us about a moment when you were working on Secret Sunrise that made you proud.
Last September, we held a complimentary outreach session for domestic helpers in Singapore and I felt like my heart was going to explode. The participants were so enthusiastic, unleashing so much joy and having such fun. They were so appreciative of us, it left me with a full heart and tears of joy.
These women are the heart of so many homes in Singapore. To give them a chance to feel supported, held and appreciated was such an honour. It was a reminder of why I started this movement here.
How do you think Secret Sunrise is changing the wellness game?
In many wellness offerings there are gaps between mental, physical and emotional wellness. There’s usually only a focus on one of these elements rather than a holistic approach. The thing that I believe ties them all together is human connection.
There’s scientific evidence that when human connection is made, we experience emotional, mental and physical improvements. At Secret Sunrise, the increase in endorphins through dance, the improved mental state of being present, listening to uplifting music, and being in the beautiful outdoors is a holistic approach to wellness that some people don’t even realise they need.
Each session is unique and is often curated according to a theme. Attendees come together to celebrate and are welcome to dress up. People often show up wearing tutus, bright clothing, or quirky clothes they find at the back of their closet that don’t quite match with anything else. You should see our dress up box! It gives people a sense of freedom to just be themselves.
Why should businesses care about championing wellness and connection?
Establishing connection fixes a part of humanity that is fundamentally lacking right now, especially in the corporate space. When societal barriers are broken down (especially through in-person sessions that include play, music and movement), we start to see our colleagues as human beings again.
We are not less, we are not more, we are all human, with feelings, vulnerabilities, strengths and weaknesses. Seeing this in each other reduces ego and arrogance, increases respect, and most importantly, creates trust and compassion within teams. This in turn assists with a sense of belonging, collaboration, creativity and an overall better work environment with lower staff turnover.
How do you strike a balance between hustle and rest?
It can be a real struggle for me, especially because I love what I do and often choose to do it for fun! Just play some music and I’ll make up a weird dance move. I do get energised after facilitating sessions, which helps my motivation. However, I need to be mindful of how much I give and how I rejuvenate myself.
A daily morning meditation practice is essential for me, and spending time in nature is the heart of my self-care practice. I create peace and stillness by lying on the grass alone (or with my dogs), focusing on my breath and the trees around me.
Is there anything you would have done differently in your journey as an entrepreneur?
Yes! I should have been more structured in my boundaries from the start and valued my time. I’m so passionate about what I do that when I started, I said yes to everything and everyone who wanted something from me. I gave a lot of my time and effort away for free.
With a service that’s often offered on weekends and odd hours, it’s taken me quite some time to establish and communicate working hours where I can take time to switch off. But I’m getting better at setting boundaries, and I’m starting to build up my finances so I can outsource things I’m not good at.
What or who is your daily inspiration, and why?
My golden retrievers! They’re the best reminders of being in the present moment, loving unconditionally, and being happy with what each day brings. Throw in food and a swim in the sea, and life is golden.
Human-wise: Daniel Cameron Becker, one of the original founders of Secret Sunrise. He taught me to trust in what I know. That this movement will change the world for good, and when I’m truly in alignment with being heart-led, the business will do better and better. By trusting my heart more and knowing that I have an incredibly passionate, like-minded community, I base my decisions on the essence of a heart-led movement. Everything flows as it should and everyone benefits.
What are three pieces of advice you have for budding entrepreneurs?
First, always remember why you started. Entrepreneurs need that lasting passion and a strong belief in the product or service they’re providing. Next, find someone who understands the essence of your business so you can bounce ideas off them. Know that you don’t need to do it all alone, and you won’t be good at everything – so trust in the power of community. And finally, create boundaries for yourself. If you’re passionate about your business, you’ll struggle to say no, so make sure you believe in the value of your time and effort.
What’s coming up for Secret Sunrise this year?
So many exciting things! We’re celebrating our second birthday on 11 February with a sunset session at Marina Bay Promontory (so you can expect iconic views of our beautiful city). We have 100 headsets and would love to see them filled to make it our largest Singapore gathering to date. We’re going to do regular complimentary outreach sessions for domestic helpers (and hopefully other groups too). Our next one is on 26 February.
I’m also launching Deep Secret. It’s a 90-minute session where I take individuals on a journey within, allowing them to deeply connect with themselves in a guided movement meditation. There will even be the option to be blindfolded at the start. And don’t forget to sign up for my first facilitator training workshop in Singapore this year. It’ll be a weekend of joy, laughter, growth, and many new friendships formed. Daniel may even be around to train everyone alongside me.
At the moment, Secret Sunrise is just in Bali and Singapore, but I’m really looking forward to seeing more cities in the East become part of our global joy movement in 2023.
Get in touch with Laura Yates online.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. We offer almost daily activities for members to connect, along with weekly masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers. Check it out and join us!