In a special series presented by CatFit, NewsX was joined by a panel of experts who shared their views on ‘Achieving the Impossible’. The panel shared various experiences and examples that emphasise coming out of one’s comfort zone and the panel stated that with a warrior mindset and right mental toughness training, anything can be achieved.
The panel included Commander Abhilash Tomy, Captain Yashika Hatwal Tyagi, and Arpan Dixit, Global Head, CatFit. Captain Yashika said in her inaugural address that CatFit is a startup organisation primarily made up of military veterans who have designed a breakthrough program using military applications and Special Forces tactics that are adopted by Special Forces Para Commandos, Army, Air Forces, and Naval forces to keep up their mental courage, and consistently produce positive results.
She added, “CatFit aims to equip all students, sportsperson, office goers, and homemakers with life skills and to enhance their performance by fortifying their mental, psychological, emotional, and physical fitness.”
Panellist Commander Abhilash is a naval officer who had sailed more than 52,000 nautical miles in his naval career and is also a pilot who has flown naval reconnaissance missions. In 2013, he circumnavigated the globe solo and covered Sagar Parikrma non-stop in 151 days, covering 23,000 nautical miles. He is also a recipient of Kirti chakra, Nausena Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, and McGregor Award.
Throwing light on Commander Abhilash’s journey, Captain Yashika said, “In 2018, while competing in Golden Globe Race, a storm broke his small boat and injured him severely, he received a spinal injury that immobilised him. Grievously injured, all alone in a small boat with wild sea howling and raging all sides, Commander Abhilash displayed exemplary guts and courage till he was rescued three days later. Never want to give up, Commander Abhilash is now ready to participate in Golden Globe race 2020 and has even taken voluntary retirement to chase his dream with undivided focus.”
Arpan asked Commander Abhilash about how the idea of circumnavigating the globe came to his mind. He replied, “The idea of going to sea came to me when I was a child, I must have been six or seven years old and then the Trishna expedition happened which was an Indian Army expedition circumnavigating the earth with 19 stops that put that thought in my head that even I should grow up to do something like this. I must have been 19 when I got hold of a magazine in which they spoke about a race called ‘Around Alone’. People were racing alone around the world on sailboats that reignited that thought in my head and I thought that at least by the age of 40 I must attend a singularity circumnavigation. One thing led to another and I joined the Naval Academy sailing team and learned the ropes of sailing. Then, as part of my career in the Navy, I was a reconnaissance pilot but would take time off, and go sailing. I joined the Navy team and then I was deputed to be a manager for the Volvo Ocean Race and got a chance to sail with Professor Radhakrishnan, who is Sir CV Raman’s son, from Oman to Yemen. After that, the Navy put me as Captain Dilip Donde’s shore support, he was doing a single-ended circumnavigation with stops. After that, the Navy wanted to raise the bar higher and wanted somebody to do a non-stop circumnavigation and without batting an eyelid I volunteered for it. That’s how it started for me.”
Sharing his past experiences, Commander Abhilash said, “The most interesting experience was when I’d just turned 21 probably and was posted in Jamnagar, doing electrical courses. I took a windsurf out in the evening and for some reason, it just stopped sailing properly and broke down. There was another enterprise sailing close to me, they also had some failure and we started drifting away, rescue boat came to help us and that also had a technical snag. Finally, all of us tied our boats together, and just drifted away. Next morning at 3 a.m. a meet from the Air Force Station came to our rescue, they located us and picked up two of the five sailors and finally, a fishing boat came and rescued the rest of us. So my adventure started at a very early age.”
Talking about his mental resilience, toughness and where it stems from, he said, “I don’t think it has to come from somewhere else except within you. I believe everybody has that level of toughness and it is just a matter of time before they discover it. Either you discover it yourself or somebody has to guide you. In my case, I believe it was a step by step thing as my sailing horizons expanded I took greater risks and I think my mind also expanded and got tougher. As years progressed, it was just about slowly expanding my comfort zone and I reached a stage where, with multiple spine trackers, I was still within my comfort zone.”
Speaking about the personnel that works for CatFit and how they achieve their aim of performance enhancement, Arpan said, “We’ve lucked out with Special Forces tactics. We’ve taken the best of what the Special Forces and the Black Cat Commandos do and have replicated that for corporate systems, students, etc. As far as the trainers are concerned, we have motivational speakers, experts, psychologists, counsellors, physical fitness trainers, toughness trainers, storytellers, and personality development trainers. The whole idea we undertake mental, physical, psychological, and physical training so that when the person goes back to doing what he does, they do it better.”
Captain Yashika spoke about the aspects of mental toughness that CatFit brings into the civilian world. She said, “CatFit’s moto is Mind Matters. We believe that your mind is a powerhouse and everything is achievable if your mind can believe it. The coping mechanisms, how to deal with adversity or the adversity quotient is essential and trainable. How soon can you bounce back once adversity hits you? That is what we can train you in. I am a leadership multiplier as I draw strength from my personal experiences. Mental toughness is gender-neutral and when I speak with personal experience people connect and understand where I’m coming from.”