Opinion

Yoga Practice for Leadership Development and Change

Rachel Elms*

Tarleton State University, 1807 County Road 390 Stephenville, Texas, USA

Submission: July 11, 2024;Published: July 31, 2024

*Corresponding author: Tarleton State University, 1807 County Road 390 Stephenville, Texas, USA

How to cite this article: Rachel Elms*. Yoga Practice for Leadership Development and Change. J Yoga & Physio. 2024; 11(4): 555820 DOI:10.19080/JYP.2024.11.555820

Abstract

While extensive research has highlighted yoga’s various benefits for physical and mental health, this article discusses yoga’s application for leadership development from an experiential lens. The article provides a vulnerable reflection of personal, transformative qualities which include yoga’s enhancement of self-awareness, empathy, positivity, and empowerment. The discussion closes with a call to action for improved support of ‘corporate yoga’ within organizations for the betterment of leaders, employees, and society as a whole.

Keywords: Yoga, Leadership Development, Emotional Intelligence, Asana, Corporate Yoga, Ahimsa

Opinion Piece

As an avid fitness enthusiast and lover of all things movement-oriented, there is a period that I refer to as my ‘pre-yoga’ days. As a former ballerina, the majority of my time was spent in the dance studio. I remember cross-training and taking Pilates classes, but I never truly experienced yoga until my senior year of high school. I remember feeling uncomfortable as I took my place on the mat. I remember laughing to myself as I heard names like ‘downward facing dog’ and ‘happy baby pose.” Yet, I recall feeling relaxed, peaceful, and still on my drive home. I slept like a baby, and for once my brain seemed calm. From then on, I was hooked.

While I recognized the physical benefits that yoga carried for me as a ballerina, (flexibility, balance, poise, etc.), what I failed to see was the gradual, internal transition occurring over the course of seven years, which started as an uncomfortable teenager on a borrowed yoga mat and morphed into a role where I was not only teaching yoga, but managing other yoga instructors. Yes, there was an initial addiction to how yoga made me feel, both mentally and physically. But I believe there are important and overlooked elements beyond the mat that encourage confidence, inspire change, and even develop personality.

The history of yoga includes asanas which contain a necessary balance of strength and grace. Just as leadership skills shift and develop over time, yoga is an expertise and practice that can be built upon and polished. As a young ballerina, I remember struggling to focus solely on movements while remaining entirely present in the studio, in outside conversations, and in school settings. But as the years progressed, my attention span improved and my ability to focus on one task was refined. While one would argue that this ability comes with age, yoga sessions specifically provide a space to practice mindfulness and attentiveness. Through repetition, I was able to learn how to achieve true clarity of mind while minimizing distracting and intrusive thoughts. To this day, I use these strategies and tactics in courses, meetings, and in the completion of important tasks.

Additionally, in recent years, resiliency has been reviewed and researched as self-awareness undoubtedly serves as a key part of emotional intelligence. Through years of practice, I believe yoga gave me the self-awareness I needed to grow into a leader who can move with intention while recognizing my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In early yoga practices, I was shy in confrontation, unsure of challenge or change, and hesitant to expand my horizons or step out of my comfort zone. While some of these insecurities may also improve naturally with time, I attribute my ability to manage stress levels and shift perspectives (when needed) to my time on the mat. While breathing is the most rudimentary task, simple yoga strategies not only promote courage, but they encourage leaders to endure challenges with an open mind and a positive attitude.

Today, these same leaders are also expected to work efficiently with a variety of individuals in fast-paced environments. While partner yoga is beneficial for children and couples to learn empathy, teaching ‘ahimsa’ (nonviolence) through yoga develops compassion within ourselves while promoting connection to the world around us. As a servant leader now, I identify the guiding principles of yoga to my ability to develop and sustain healthy relationships. While many people believe ‘namaste’ means peace in its translation, it is rather a reverent salutation to honor a person or group. To its core, yoga supports the key uplifting values of compassion, understanding, and kindness. In the early days of my yoga journey, I wasn’t always kind to myself. My competitive nature would kick in and I would view myself negatively and even feel resentful of others. As a yoga teacher and manager of yoga teachers, I was forced to shift this pattern for my good as well as for the good of others. Learning to celebrate other’s successes while acknowledging personal developmental skills improved both on and off the mat as I was able to carry these life lessons over to workplace settings.

Just as leadership is dynamic and empowering, yoga is a journey that involves the active practice of confidence. Yoga encouraged me to push my boundaries safely within a secure environment. As a young adult, I was unable to consistently follow through after setting intentions. Practicing yoga has not only enabled me to take responsibility for myself and my actions, but it has allowed me to express myself with strength while controlling my negative emotions. In making the transition from attending to teaching to managing classes, I remember seeing this development first take place on the mat before shifting to real-world settings. For example, I would get frustrated with my inability to achieve certain poses, specifically sirsasanas (headstands). My negative thoughts would impede my abilities and I remember stepping away from yoga altogether for a time. Silly! At the end of the day, it took me realigning my goals and shifting my perspective. Once achieved, those goals became sources of empowerment! Now I have the opportunity to lead others in a way that cultivates this empowerment while praising success and encouraging positive practice.

Lastly, yoga is an energizing alignment of body and mind to generate positive thoughts and minimize mental roadblocks. In addition to possessing a transformative power, yoga is uniquely designed to convert negative thoughts into positivity. As an anxiety-ridden teenager, yoga taught me how to stop negative self-talk, which resulted in lower stress levels. As leadership skills develop over time, the ability to turn negative thoughts into positive action isn’t simply encouraged, it’s required to survive in challenging scenarios. While I no longer take ballet or teach yoga, I am currently in a leadership role where I promote a positive environment for several reasons. In addition to improving workplace or classroom morale, a positive mindset helps to create a sense of well-being. Furthermore, I believe that optimistic leaders set the tone for the organization which often leads to improved retention rates and a higher level of organizational commitment for employees.

One of the many misconceptions about yoga is that it is simply a workout. Now, as a mom of two young children, I have certainly encouraged ‘family yoga time’ for flexibility, development and balance, regulation of emotions, etc. But I remind others that there is no such thing as starting yoga ‘too late’. The term ‘corporate yoga’ has developed in recent years as companies are seeing employee benefits such as boosted energy levels, stress relief, and alleviation of pain from prolonged sitting. On a larger scale, I believe that corporate yoga improves company culture and increases creativity, it boosts overall morale and can help save money through the management of chronic health conditions.

As I reflect upon years of personal and professional growth, I remember the phrase: leaders create leaders. While it is normal and healthy for leaders to have different personalities and strengths, leaders impacted by yoga may similarly inspire their employees to be empathetic, self-aware, and focused individuals who positively empower others. While I went from a timid ballerina to a bold university professor, leaders would do well to similarly reflect on their experiences and apply yoga principles to their development. The power of yoga extends beyond the obvious; it is a tool for personal development, societal betterment, and lifelong personal and professional improvement..