5 things I’ve learned from yoga that apply to business

Over the last two years, I’ve been deepening my yoga practice. I’ve found a style of yoga that appeals to me (ashtanga!), I’ve found a studio that I love (three different studios, actually), and I’ve found a routine that works for me.

On my drive home the other day, I started thinking about the ways that my approach to yoga can be applied to my approach to business, and I came up with five different things.

1. Make doing the hard work a part of your routine.

There is no substitute for hard work and dedication when it comes to achieving success in any field. This is especially true when you’re working for yourself online. The pressure to produce results is high, and the competition is strong. 

On my yoga mat, I can tell how far I am from being able to do some of the harder poses. I know I’m not going to get to those poses without building strength and putting in the work.

The same is true when I sit down at my desk. I’m not going to connect with anyone if I don’t publish content online.

So my trick?

Set my alarm in order to get on the mat every weekday at 7AM.

And block off time on my calendar every week to create content for publishing and distribution.

Consistency is key, and willpower is weak. 

But adhering to a schedule? 

That’s something I can do.

2. Focus on the activity rather than the outcomes.

“Income is a lagging indicator,” someone brilliantly stated in a mastermind group I belong to.

So yes, obviously, set your goals.

$1M dollars.

Standing head-to-knee.

But focus on the activities that will get you there, not the outcome itself.

For business, too, it is important to have goals and objectives you are working towards. 

But don’t tie yourself to the outcome. Focus on the activities. You have a zero percent chance of a piece of content going viral if you’re not creating content in the first place.

I see this in my yoga practice, too. Distancing myself from the outcome means not allowing the fact that I didn’t get into a pose to ruin my day.

When you focus on the activity, not the outcome, you can take a step back and appreciate the journey and the progress you have made, rather than getting bogged down in the results. This can help to keep you motivated and ensure that you are making the most out of your business. 

3. Commit to consistent daily activity.

Consistency is key when it comes to running a successful business. Just as with yoga, it is important to commit to a consistent daily practice in order to achieve your goals. This could involve setting aside time each day to work on specific projects, or dedicating yourself to a certain number of tasks each week. 

Consistent daily activity allows you to create the future you want, as well as to make sure that your business is running smoothly and efficiently. It also gives you the opportunity to review your progress and to make any necessary changes. Consistency helps to keep you on track and to ensure that you are making the most out of every day. 

4. Don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t land.

When starting a business, it is important to remember that things will not always go to plan. Just like with yoga, sometimes a pose just won’t work, or you might not be able to get the results you want. But it is important not to be discouraged by this and to keep trying. In business, this means taking risks and having the courage to try something new. It is important to remember that failure is a part of the process, it is a journey, so it is important to keep trying and to not be discouraged if something doesn’t land. 

5. Learn from mistakes and keep putting in the work.

In business, it is important to recognize when something is not working and to learn from your mistakes. This can be difficult, especially when you have invested a lot of time and effort in a project. However, it is important to remember that mistakes are a part of the process and that learning from them can help you to improve and become more successful. This is very similar to the practice of yoga, where it is important to recognize when something is not working and to be willing to adjust your approach. It is important to be open to feedback, so you can make necessary changes and reach your goals. 

Overall, the key takeaway from this is that hard work, focus and consistency are essential to running a successful business. Just like in yoga, it is important to make hard work a part of your routine and to focus on the activity rather than the outcomes. It is also important to commit to consistent daily activity, not be discouraged if something doesn’t land, and to learn from mistakes. By following these principles, you can set yourself up for success.