I’ve been thinking today how the concepts of yoga are useful in business. And, how teaching yoga has helped me find a career as a professional writer.

I am reminded of this because I taught my first restorative yoga class in Philadelphia. It’s a subbing role as I take care of Jodi’s students at Practice Yoga – like I was their aunt.

Yoga and the Art of Business 

Neither yoga nor writing is new for me. Memorabilia suggests I wrote (illustrated early) as a youngster. This morphed into other creative writing projects. Back when hand written essays were a thing. Also, because I always wrote in a journal, getting thoughts on a page was – if not easy – then comfortable.

I became a professional writer during this journey. It’s a lot like teaching – you have to convey a message to your student in a way s/he will understand it. Sounds like “marketing to a target audience” to me.

Using Yogic Principles in Business

Many equate yoga with its physical aspect. Twist no shout. But it is actually a philosophical system with broader connotations. Let’s take a look.

Community (sangha)

Talking to a millennial the other day about community. She says today, community is inconvenient. Relationships take time and consistency and people are too busy for it. Hmm.

“the sangha of, or community, of yoga teachers and students that forms around studios and and other places people practice, provides the kind of social support which scientific evidence suggests benefits health.”[1]

I argue that social media needs to generate shares, not likes. To build that kind of support, you’ve got to actually have someone to track the account and engage. To create and support community. Yes, it takes effort, skill and money. Your community is valuable though. Try and expand it. Understand and help it.

Friendliness (ahimsa)

Building a community takes a certain friendliness. Friendliness of course, keeps our hearts open. Kindness, friendliness, non-violence and thoughtful consideration of all things is a yogic concept. It is part of a behavior pattern (one of the 5 Yamas) called Ahimsa. In business, friendliness is the basis of customer care. Even Google is going all “helpful” on us if you don’t believe me. See above “was this page helpful?”

At least I do not spend money in stores where the staff is snobby or blows me off. As a business owner, I would never hire anyone to represent me that way either. What are your thoughts?

See – “Emma noted that nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases”.

Teacher – pupil (learn)

Yoga has taught me to keep learning. To listen for positive guidance and teach what I know. When I started to teach yoga in 1997, I was a voracious reader of yoga books. Remember highlighters and all that paper!? In them, most teachers told their story and how it filtered into their practice.

The knowers who have seen the Truth will instruct you in wisdom.[2]

In business we do the same – keep on trend, read and study. Yet to do this well, it helps to know (and listen to) your audience. What are they asking? How can you answer the questions while staying authentic?

As a professional writer (yoga therapist), I like to know who that audience (student) is so that I can structure the content to reach them. Much like how I would teach a private yoga therapy session. Are you in tune with your audience? Are you limiting that audience for a reason? Does your content convert? Mine does (I am told).

Sattya – Truthfulness

As a writer, I have two distinct boundaries. One to stay clear of writing untruths.  I will research and inquire before throwing something ‘out there’.

The other is I will not write someone’s term paper, thesis or dissertation. It feels deceptive. Yes, there are sites which offer this service.

As a teacher, I only teach what I have experienced. For this reason, I have tried to learn from excellent mentors. And, to extract the lesson from teachers I do not agree with. We can only ever have our own voice, even when we are not re-inventing the wheel. Don’t copy what you don’t understand.

I like what the character Jackson Maine said in A Star is Born (2018). “Just tell them what you want to say.” Be truthful in your message. Having integrity is preferable too but let’s leave that one aside. Use an authentic voice. Strive for this in business to build your community. 

Jackson Maine: Look, talent comes everywhere, but having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag. And unless you get out and you try to do it, you’ll never know. That’s just the truth. And there’s one reason we’re supposed to be here is to say something so people want to hear. So you got to grab it, and you don’t apologize, and you don’t worry about why they’re listening, or how long they’re going to be listening for, you just tell them what you want to say. Don’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you?
Ally: Yeah, I do. I don’t like it, but I understand it.
Jackson Maine: Oh, I think you like it a little bit.  [3]

[1] A Star is Born, 2018

[2] Yoga as Medicine, Timothy McCall, M.D. p.44

[3] Bhagavad-Gita, iv.3.4

#livelocal business community philadelphia yoga yoga teacher yogs