Lessons from the Mat #2: Leadership as Practice — What Yoga Teaches Us About Leading with Intention
July 22, 2025
Lessons from the Mat #4: Flow & Flexibility — Navigating Change Without Losing Your Core
July 24, 2025
Leadership is not about standing above. It’s about standing with.
Yoga teaches us that strength begins in awareness. On the mat, we don’t lead by force — we lead by presence, intention, and care. Leadership, like yoga, asks us to be grounded in values and generous in action.
From Posture to Purpose
Warrior II (virbhadrasana II) isn’t just a pose — it’s a metaphor for how we show up: rooted in integrity, gaze forward with vision, arms strong and wide in support. This metaphor can directly apply to leadership also.
True leaders:
- Stay aligned with their purpose — especially when it’s hard.
- Make decisions that uplift others, not just themselves.
- Embody what they teach, practicing transparency and kindness.
Yoga reminds us: it’s not how flashy your posture is. It’s how faithfully you breathe through it.
Leadership Builds, It Doesn’t Just Direct
On the mat, teachers adjust gently. They encourage, not command. They offer presence — not performance.
The best leaders:
- Invest in people’s growth with patience and belief.
- Create belonging, not just buy-in.
- Offer space for others to rise — not just stay in line.
They lead like a seasoned yoga guide: attuned, empowering, and committed to collective progress and success.
Ethics Are Embodied
Yoga is built, in part, on yamas and niyamas — ethical commitments like truthfulness (satya), non-harming (ahimsa), and self-discipline (tapas). Leadership is no different.
A values-driven leader asks:
- Am I doing what’s right, or just what’s easy?
- Can my team trust my actions, not just my words?
- Do I hold myself accountable with grace and clarity?
Leadership isn’t a strategy — it’s a moral practice.
Leading with Example, Not Ego
When you lead from the mat, you lead from humility. You model consistency, not perfection. You show others what it means to live in integrity.
Every breath in practice is a quiet recommitment. In leadership, it’s the same:
- Show up when it’s inconvenient.
- Apologize when necessary.
- Lead visibly through challenges, not just celebrations.
This is what makes a leader inspiring – inviting others to show up in an authentic way.
Leadership, like yoga, is a lifelong practice. It’s not defined by posture — but by how we inhabit it. And how we live it.
