Showkeir Maren - Yoga wisdom at work : finding sanity off the mat and on the job

More Praise for Yoga Wisdom at Work

A significant contribution to the body of literature bridging East and West, the Showkeirs work provides a powerful guide for applying the principles of yoga to develop human potential and enhance work satisfaction. Highly recommended.

Howard Cutler, coauthor of the bestselling The Art of Happiness (with the Dalai Lama)

This generous, insightful, and eminently practical book is offered with an open heart from years of experiencethe best practice manual Ive read for how to embody authenticity and integrity. I am grateful to Maren and Jamie for bringing together the disciplines of yoga and leadership.

Meg Wheatley, bestselling author of Leadership and the New Science and So Far from Home

With so much emphasis these days on practicing poses, the other seven limbs of yoga are often overlooked. The application of ancient wisdom to modern life situations offered here will be helpful to all people, whether or not they ever set foot on a yoga mat. Please read this book!

Desire Rambaugh, internationally known master yoga teacher

Translating this essential, ancient knowledge into a pragmatic, contemporary context is a huge and valuable contribution. Expand your knowledge and expand your life with this book!

Kevin Cashman, bestselling author of Leadership from the Inside Out and The Pause Principle

The Showkeirs draw upon 2,000-year-old wisdom and adroitly weave personal stories and case histories to crisply illustrate the Eight Limbs of Yogas applications in the contemporary workplace.

Dr. Paul Mittman, president and CEO, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences

By relating all aspects of yoga to the workplace and using everyday language, the authors put the intricacies of this advanced spiritual tradition within reach of the general public.a useful tool for those seeking to expand their understanding and practice of yoga whether they are experienced yoga practitioners or have just begun their first class.

Anna Jedrziewski, book reviewer, Retailing Insight (formerly New Age Retailer)

I love the books simple, clear instructions on how to infuse your daily work life with ancient spiritual principles and practices. Rather than rolling up your sanity in a yoga mat, you can keep it by practicing yoga at work. All together now: Ommmmm. Perfect!

BJ Gallagher, bestselling coauthor of A Peacock in the Land of Penguins and Being Buddha at Work

YOGA WISDOM AT WORK

Also by
Jamie Showkeir and Maren Showkeir
Authentic Conversations:
Moving from Manipulations
to Truth and Commitment

FINDING SANITY OFF THE MAT AND ON THE JOB

Maren Showkeir and Jamie Showkeir

Yoga Wisdom at Work

Copyright 2013 by Maren S. Showkeir and James D. Showkeir All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Ordering information for print editions
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First Edition
Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-60994-797-2
PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-60994-801-6
IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-60994-799-6

2013-1

Interior design/art: Laura Lind Design

Cover design: Susan Malikowski, Designleaf Studio

Production service: Linda Jupiter Productions

Edit: Lunaea Weatherstone

Proofread: Henri Bensussen

Index: Linda Webster

Lululemon is often described as a yoga-inspired athletic-apparel company because much of our business model is dedicated to serving the needs of yoga practitioners. However, that same phrase could apply to so much more than the products we offer. Yoga inspires the way we treat our employees, our customers, our investors, and our communities. Those who do not practice yoga might underestimate the quiet energy and focus that it can provide to individuals and companies, both. I can speak for my colleagues in saying that we do not view yoga as something that only happens in a class, after which we return to the real world. As Maren and Jamie Showkeir ably point out in this book, yoga is more a philosophy and a way of life than just another type of exercise. You do not have to be on a yoga mat to practice yoga.

Many businesspeople marvel at lululemons decentralized structure and abhorrence of micromanagement. Our store managers, for example, are empowered to make decisions for their unique stores and to take risks without checking with corporate. After reading this book, youll understand why such a work culture makes perfect sense for a yoga-inspired company. Does this thinking lead to a lack of responsibility, focus, or alignment? Absolutely not! We often speak of relaxing into a pose in yoga, or creating space, and yet find that we can achieve so much more when we do not try to establish rigid control over the body. I dont need to tell you that yoga is not for the fainthearted or for those who are not interested in reaching their highest potentialone reason we emphasize yoga practice in our hiring process, often asking applicants to join us for yoga class! The discipline of yoga provides a wonderful framework for bringing our best selves and talents to work, yet also giving us the space to recognize our doubts and limitations.

Yoga never asks us to be somebody were not (how many of us stubbornly insist on competing with others in yoga class even so!), yet it does call us to be everything we can be. I can say exactly the same thing about lululemon as a workplace. I heartily commend Maren and Jamie for describing the wonderful gifts that yoga can bring to the workday. I believe, as they believe, that work is life, too. To paraphrase the lululemon manifesto, This is not your practice life; this is all there is.