Yoga From Mat To Boardroom

The timeless principles of yoga can elevate your success.

Yoga has long been associated with physical health and meditation, however, yoga’s deeper principles offer transformative tools that can be applied off the mat and into the heart of the boardroom.

I’ve been applying the practical aspects of these principles for more than two decades, with transformational and long-lasting business results.

If you think you don’t know anything about yoga, you don’t need to! Rarely do I even mention yoga – the principles are our natural way of being.

Focus Presence and Mindfulness: Leading with Clarity
Without focus, mindfulness and being fully present in moment to moment business can become overwhelming.
Improving focus and intentionality improves critical decision making and fosters team dynamics helping you stay focused and mindful as you cut through noise and approach challenges with laser focused clarity.

When I show leaders how to show up fully present as they walk around their company or hold meetings, they say they feel more confident, calmer and people act with greater impact.

Balance: Sustaining Personal and Professional Harmony
In yoga, balance isn’t just about standing on one leg – it’s about creating equilibrium in all aspects of life. Leaders burnout rates are rising from juggling high-pressure roles and personal responsibilities. Yoga principles teach that living a life in balance is essential to long-term effectiveness.

Finding the balance of setting boundaries to protect your personal time or knowing when to push forward and when to pause and recharge ensures you can lead from a place of strength and longevity, rather than running on empty.

Resilience: Building Inner Strength
Yoga trains the body and mind to breathe and stay calm as you handle discomfort and change, which mirrors the unpredictability of business. Leaders who embody resilience can navigate challenges with grace and adapt to shifting circumstances without finding themselves managing rising stress or attrition levels.

Curiosity is your friend for cultivating a growth mindset as you inspire your team and your wider business colleagues to see obstacles as opportunities for growth.

Non-Attachment: Letting Go of Ego and Control
One of yoga’s guiding principles, non-attachment (Aparigraha), teaches us to release attachment to outcomes and ego-driven decisions.

Letting go of micromanagement, setting up effective quality, employee and client service and management systems as well as fostering trust within your team are great ways to maintain ownership, delegate responsibility so you can focus on the bigger picture rather than staying immersed in setbacks of the past.

Releasing the need for tight control, creates space for innovation and collaboration to thrive.

Non-Violence and Compassion: Leading with Empathy
“Do no harm” (Ahimsa), or non-violence, encourages leaders to cultivate supportive, compassion for others and themselves.
Whilst most people, most of the time would not be physically violent towards people, there is a deeper meaning and opportunity to be explored. Every stressful thought causes your mind and body harm, maybe creating stress or anxiety in others.

An easy way to incorporate Ahimsa as you immerse yourself in conscious leadership, building a sense of trust and loyalty is to endeavour to leave each conversation and each interaction a little sweeter.

Focus: Mastering the Art of Attention
In yoga, focus (Dharana) refers to focused concentration, which is critical for navigating the complexity of today’s sometimes chaotic world.
Leaders who can tune out distractions, focus and give their full attention to priorities achieve better outcomes.

Silencing mobile notifications, blocking out uninterruptable time for your most important tasks have become normal hacks, as has the understanding of the benefits of creating tomorrow’s plan before you leave work today. But, the problem of losing focus comes when you are drawn to checking your emails before you start your most important task. Before you can blink an eye, it’s lunchtime, then “where has the day gone” are the echoes of your thought causing you irritation and frustration you didn’t do what you said you would do – this turns our attention back to “Do No Harm”.

Focus is a muscle that can be quickly built, start by becoming aware of your thoughts and gently bring them back to what you’re doing each time they wander, which is a natural condition of the mind.

Ditch multi-tasking, keep your attention on the person you’re talking to are other practical ways to develop your focus muscle.

Vision: Staying True to Future Vision
Your vision for your future in life and business is essential for creating your strategy and tactics. Keeping your focal point (Drishti) on what truly matters keeps your vision alive and aligned with your values and purpose. Carrying out your daily actions whilst staying focused on your vision keeps you purposefully on track.

Talking with your team or your mentor keeps your vision alive and helps you stay true and focused. Regularly revisiting your mission ensures your daily decisions stay aligned with your vision.

A steady focus on your purpose keeps you grounded, even amid uncertainty.

The Beauty Of Yoga Lies In Its Versatility
Yoga isn’t just a physical practice, but a framework for life and business. By incorporating its principles into your leadership style, you can create a workplace culture that thrives on mindfulness, balance, and resilience.

Business success isn’t just about crunching numbers or meeting deadlines. It’s about showing up as a leader who inspires others, adapts with grace, and remains unwavering in their purpose. Yoga offers the tools on and off the mat to do just that.

So, step off the mat and into your leadership role with intention. You, your team—and your business—will thank you for it.

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