Values, Yoga and Lifestyle Change

We are living in - you might say swimming in- a culture that has become so oriented around the physical, and around money as an exclusive measure of one's worth, that the conversation is rarely had. Our virtually exclusive acceptance of money as equivalent to self worth is inconsistent with a yogic understanding of life, and it is useful to break up this mindset. I especially enjoy finding examples of this 'breaking up' in action.

Since much of the practice of yoga is a 'freeing up' of this attachment, something we strive to do in the way we begin to relate to our physical body, as well as in the manner in which we start to use our mind to focus our attention.

I recently ran across these two guys - Graham and Graeme - talking about money and 'status'. Its a podcast that you can download for free. You can also read about it here.

Along the way towards making changes to bring the usefulness and power of a yogic perspective into your life you will likely begin to think through issues around money and status, so as to deconstruct this relationshio for yourself. I think you'll find this podcast useful.

Rich (Raghurai)

Non-Attachment - Are we making progress?

Here's an interesting post which seems to suggest a bit of 'push back' against that seemingly unstoppable consumerism in our culture. Its written by Andrea Learned, who writes about marketing to women, and this particular segment is at the Huffington Post. The post is entitled " Who Are the Joneses, Anyway, And Why Do We Keep Up With Them? Here's one of the key paragraphs:

Here's the thing from the business perspective: Society is at a consuming crossroads, but not every consumer is aware of it yet -- and businesses are really lagging behind. As more consumers do realize and change their buying habits toward a more sustainable lifestyle, brands have an opportunity to take the lead within their industries. They can be the first on their blocks to deliver and market around the idea that less, or smaller, can be more.

When I talk about the 'yogic edge' in our business lives, this is a great example. Here's a marketing concept that is very in tune with our values, with the yogic philosophy of letting go, not identifying with 'stuff'. Granted, it is just a step, but it is a step in the right direction, and it illuminates an approach that a creative business person could explore to stay true to their yogic values, and eminently competitive!

Rich (Raghurai)

Tom Peters, Yoga, and a Non-Linear World

Tom Peters has long been a favorite of mine, even in my pre-yogi days. Today, his blog is very accessible, he utilizes a very transparent style, and lets you in on what he is doing, thinking, and who he is talking to.

I just read this post on "100 Ways to Succeed #95: NON-LINEARITY RULES."

The post is about having leadership teams 'be' non-linear, start to think non-linearly, and to understand that most things do not happen linearly.

I have no tidy "tip" here, but rather an extraordinary plea that you implicitly put "non-linear" thinking atop your and your leadership team's agenda—permanently. This may mean hiring poets and astrologers and putting homeless folks on your advisory board. It may mean sabbaticals or yoga, sabbaticals and yoga.

In fact, the Yogic Edge in business includes this perspective. As we learn yoga, we learn the art of being in the present moment, breathing with our experience. This is vital for 'dancing' with non-linear life. One learns to respond 'in the moment' most effectively by practice, and that practice can be done on a mat, in meditation, and through study.

One other thought. This post by Tom got me to thinking how important it is for managers to learn the deeper aspects of yoga, not just the physical asana practice. It is here, in the philosophical learning that managers will really prepare themselves for 'battle with the non-linear'!