2/5 Headstand vs Change Management

I started to write these posts inspired by my own experience as a consultant and as a yoga practitioner to show how everything that you learn on the yoga mat is reflected in your life off the yoga mat.

I have friends who find similar inspiration in different type of activites, e.g. long distance running, cooking, theatre, etc... The list is as long as many friends I have :) I also did and still do many of other activites as well. However, among all of them, I am so far the most impressed by the effect of yoga (especially Asthanga yoga) on all areas of my life.

This is the second of five learnings focusing on my professional experience as a consultant and how yoga ties to it without over-mystifying it.

Why yoga? - Intro

Link to the intro post answering general questions about yoga

1/5 Be respectful

Link to the first of the five learnings. Sun salutation vs. Client salutation

2/5 Find your own voice

On the mat - Chose the style of your yoga practice

The Ashtanga yoga tradition has a fix structure requiring that you always repeat the same sequence of poses. The advantage of this repetition is that you can easily compare the version of you today with the version of you yesterday. You progress step by step to the next level. The structure still allows you to tweak each pose in a way to accommodate the body type or just the current state of the body (see 1/5 as well) and the style of the yoga practitioner (yogi).

Everyone gets something else out of the structure, and forms it in a way to become their own unique journey.

Off the mat - Adapt your methodology to the client and to yourself

Applying the right approach and methodology from the beginning of any project is key to succeed. Structure gives confidence for the client, but at the same time it can offer also a playground to fit it to their unique needs and to the consultant`s style.

Not only the client but you as a consultant should feel comfortable using the selected methodology.

In different cultures, countries you might have to use a different style and approach in order to be successful. Getting out of our comfort zone is a good thing but it has to be sustainable, staying true to your values.

Yoga mat takeaway:

Ideally structures and methods were developed by knowledgeable experts who invested a lot of effort to find the best solutions that fit the majority of people applying them. Both as a consultant and as a yogi you should be able to fit your toolkit of methods to fit to your style and the circumstances.