Utilize These Body Mind Centering Yoga Principles To Strengthen Your Business
Body Mind Centering Principles For Your Business | Photo by Eneko Uruñuela on Unsplash
Scroll through Instagram for even a few minutes today, and the photos you encounter may instigate you to categorize yoga as just another way to workout. From the often advanced looking postures to the countless activewear brands, it’s easy to fall victim to the “manicured” version of what is actually an ancient practice.
However, if you’re willing to look deeper into what this mind, body discipline actually means, you will find that it reaches far beyond getting fit or even feeling calm. In truth, yoga exists as a guideline for those eager to live more purposeful lives. Ironically, when it comes to the world of business, quality entrepreneurs, creatives, and driven professionals, are typically eager to do the same. So how can you utilize the principles of body mind centering yoga to strengthen your business in a meaningful way? Read on to find out.
To really understand where we’re going, we’ve got to start at the beginning, and in this case, that means a very, very long time ago with a text called The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. The Yoga Sūtras are a collection of 196 aphorisms (translated from the Sanskirt word “sutras” to mean threads or strands) on the theory and practice of yoga.
Widely regarded today as an authoritative text on the practice, this piece was first compiled by an Indian sage (or perhaps, sages) at least 1,500 years ago and designed to provide direction for dealing with daily life. Within the Yoga Sutras is a thorough explanation of “ashtanga” otherwise known as the eightfold path or the eight limbs of yoga.
Among other things, these eight principles can be seen as prescriptions for conduct, discipline, and ethics- all of which are not only important to living a purposeful life, but also cultivating a meaningful business. For the purpose of this piece, we are going to dive into the first four teachings.
However, I urge you to take some time to investigate the eightfold path in its entirety, as this guide emphasizes the important role total health and body mind centering yoga practices play in our lives. (For reference, Yoga Journal’s Mara Carrico offers a great and concise summary of the topic which can be found here.)
Body Mind Centering Yoga Principles
1. “Don’t just talk about it, be about it.”
Choosing to hold yourself accountable for your actions isn’t always easy. However there’s a lot to be said (both in business and the everyday world) for being a decent human. The first limb of yoga (aka the yamas) is all about integrity, and within it exist five important areas of focus: nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-possessiveness.
The yamas, like all other guidelines that have existed throughout history, are of course up for interpretation. However by and large, the gist of what you take from this should be the same: Do your best to leave the world (and the people in it) better than the way you found it. Sure, paying attention to how you behave may seem simple enough. But as we all likely know by now, nobody's perfect. And unfortunately, when we slip into moments of unkindness, dishonesty, or selfishness, the impact can be huge.
Think about it. How many people have you interacted with throughout your career that left you feeling less-than? Probably a few. On the flip side, now consider how you’ve felt after a really great professional interaction. It’s more than likely that that positive experience not only enhanced your mood, but also motivated you to want to work with that individual or business again.
That’s because at the end of the day the way others make us feel matters. Therefore, to thrive in this world, both as a human and a professional, you must be willing to adhere to a standard of excellence when it comes to ethics and behavior.
So, now I challenge you to ask yourself:
If you’re a business owner are you finding ways to give back through your brand? Are you treating your employees the way you yourself would want to be treated? If you’re freelancing or a professional eager to excel, are you working with companies whose principals align with yours?
If the answer to any of those questions isn’t one you’re proud of, then it may be time to make some changes in a more meaningful direction.
2. “It starts and ends with you.”
Similar to the yamas, the niyamas are broken down into five areas of focus: purity, acceptance/contentment, discipline, self study, and devotion. However, unlike the yamas these are much more about how we show up for ourselves than how we show up for others.
International yoga teacher, business owner, speaker, and author Kino MacGregor described these principles perfectly when she said, “I see the yamas as the moral and ethical guidelines for how the yogi ideally acts in society and in relationship to others, and the niyamas as the same outline for how the yogi treats oneself. The niyamas are observances that can be done in silence and without much fanfare.”
In most cases, it’s certainly easier to do the right thing when others are watching. Whether that means donating to a charity or volunteering in your community, it’s human nature to want validation from those around us. However, what the niyamas really point to is the reminder that what you do behind the scenes is just as important.
Something as simple as keeping a clean workspace is far more essential to success than we tend to realize. After all, discipline is a daily practice that requires a strong foundation. Learning to find joy within your life, continuing to better yourself as a person, working hard when nobody's watching, and finding faith in times of doubt, are all examples of how you can look after your wellbeing. Ironically though, they are also essential to thriving in business.
3. “Sometimes, you have to get out of your head and into your body.”
Ask any motivated professional, be it a business owner or a creative, and they will likely tell you that finding a balance between work and life is challenging. And let’s be clear, there is nothing wrong with working hard. The problem however, is that sometimes we do so at the expense of our own health. Luckily though, that’s where the third limb or “asana” comes in.
The beauty of mind body centering yoga principles like asana is that they force us to let go of the external and tap into what life actually feels like within our bodies. In yoga specifically, asana refers to the physical postures or poses you would practice on your mat. However, on a grander scale, you could also look at this limb of yoga as a reminder to take care of yourself and the body you’ve been given. Whether it’s sweaty vinyasa flow or even a long walk with your dog, your body is your vessel. Therefore, for you to thrive in other areas of your life (including your career) you have to be willing to care for it fully.
Sure it may sound strange to be told in an article about business to get a workout in, but the proof is in the pudding. Give yourself time to check in with how you feel, and you’ll be surprised at the positive changes you'll see. After all, there’s no greater opportunity for discipline than when you want to skip out on a run.
4. “Everything in life comes down to connection.”
In the article referenced earlier by Mara Carraco the author explains the first four stages of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga as areas that “concentrate on refining our personalities, gaining mastery over the body, and developing an energetic awareness of ourselves.” So, it is no wonder that body mind centering yoga principles that take such a comprehensive approach to life can also be applied to one’s career.
The fourth limb of yoga we are going to dive into in this article is prāṇāyāma or breath work. In yogic tradition it is said that our breath is our life force. Therefore, through this body mind centering yoga practice students learn to control the breath through a variety of techniques (some of which are done on their own and others are linked alongside movement) that promote centering and rejuvenation.
So what does harnessing your breath have to do with your career? Actually, a lot. You see, in yoga we practice breath work as a means of better recognizing the connection that exists between our minds, our bodies, and yes, our emotions. Having the ability to take a step back, breath, and process before reacting, might not be something they teach in business school, but it’s definitely a skill we could all profit from mastering. How you choose to connect with yourself tends to manifest in how you connect with others. Therefore, to create meaningful relationships, it often behooves people to start with themselves.
In taking a quick look at just a few of the many mind body centering yoga principles that exist, it is important to keep in mind that we’ve only just skimmed the surface. Contrary to popular belief, being better and growing in business isn’t simply about learning to crunch numbers or gain social media followers. Sure, those skills have their place. However, at the end of the day the people behind any company are what truly make it successful. So if you’re going to invest in anything, always be willing to invest in yourself: physically, mentally, and spiritually. After all, you are an undertaking you will never regret.
To learn more about the practice and principles of yoga, here are a few other helpful resources:
https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/ways-to-put-the-niyamas-into-practice-right-now
—-
If you liked this piece, don’t forget to read Net Mind Body: The Cure To Removing Stress