At the intersection of career coaching and teaching yoga
The intersection of career coaching & teaching yoga
I have learned that it is no coincidence that I am a career coach and a yoga teacher. I’ve practiced yoga for many years and benefited from practicing. For many years I thought about becoming a yoga instructor and decided to pursue my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification. I now teach a slow flow vinyasa class for beginners.
Reflecting on the work I do as a career coach and yoga instructor, I realized how many commonalities I find between them.
Lately, I’ve noticed that my language echoes from one practice to the other in so many ways:
Yoga teaches us to “start where we are”, to bring awareness to our body, mind, and spirit, to go in and listen carefully. In career coaching, we also start where we are, identifying our interests, values, and skills, helping clients bring their value to the forefront of the conversation and effectively present who they are and the value they bring to an employer.
Yoga students learn that “the way we get out of poses, or the transitions, are as important as the poses themselves”. In other terms, our yoga practice is a process, mindfully moving on our mat, outside of it, and always returning to learn and discover something new - physically, mentally, or emotionally. As employees, we face change and transitions too. We assume new roles, we move to different teams or companies, and each transition is as important as each job position we hold, providing us the opportunity to meet new people and discover new aspects of ourselves.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a foundational text of yoga, describes in Sanskrit the practice of yoga as “Sthira sukhamāsanam” (2.46). A practice would include poses (asanas) where we experience steadiness/strength (sthira) and softness/relaxation (sukha). Sthira and sukha are opposites, both present and important for anyone looking to build a career with the awareness that both challenging and comfortable moments will contribute to new learning, development, and ultimate career growth.
Most yoga classes start with meditation and breath work, bringing the body to stillness, quieting the mind from the chatter, and allowing our breath to guide us to the truth inside us. Often, clients in the job search or career transition express that they “are stuck” or “don’t know what to do next” and they are desperate for answers. It is in moments like these that intentionally sitting quietly or going for a walk can bring awareness of the many opportunities that lie in front of us.
As a career coach and yoga teacher, I am a witness of transformation. I watch individuals walk their career path, grow their yoga practice, and find their next favorite pose or career position. Practicing yoga and job searching takes time and intention but when accompanied by mindfulness, can lead individuals to their purpose. And just like in a yoga practice, should I add that taking a deep inhale and a long exhale before an interview can be a game-changer?
Namaste.
References. Satchidananda, Sri Swami. (2012). Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Buckingham, VA: Integral Yoga Publications.
Always feel free to reach out to me with any questions here.
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