From the Ashram to your Meeting Room: How Corporate Yoga Can Upskill Your Team

Exactly one year ago, I was on a plane to India, about to start what can only be described as one of the wildest, sweatiest, most transformative experiences of my life.

I spent a full month at the Kerala Sivananda Ashram, and I still remember the first day vividly.

I’m jetlagged beyond belief, barely able to keep my eyes open. I’m in a sauna of 100% humidity, listening to the soundtrack of a jungle—mosquitos buzzing, monkeys screaming—and the smell of… *everything* 🤯

So I head to my very first philosophy class, half-wondering if I’ll manage not to fall asleep and the teacher drops the this:

“Yoga It’s not just movement and breathing like in the West. It’s about proper movement, proper rest, proper thinking, proper eating…. Yoga is the most ancient and comprehensive self-development system.”

I felt the distinct click of a lightbulb going off over my head.

💡 Coach brain activated.

I snapped back my my jetlagged trance. She had my attention.

Fast forward to today.

I’ve been teaching corporate yoga for over a year and a half now, and I can confidently say that when you join one of my classes, it’s a full-on coaching session… in disguise.

Yoga and coaching might seem like opposites—one’s all zen and stretchy, and the other can seem all thinking and brainy.

But after working with many teams, it’s so clear: yoga is just as powerful for teams as a good coaching workshop.

The ashram wisdom is still fresh in my mind, and I do feel I blend that same philosophy into my corporate yoga sessions.

How a Mindful Corporate Yoga class looks like

1. Check-In with your current version of yourself

Begin with a moment of awareness. “How am I feeling right now? What’s my headspace like? How’s my breathing?”

Spoiler alert: How we feel at the moment is not always what we expect!

2. Set an Intention

Just like in a coaching session.

Ask, “What am I here for today?”

Whether it’s clarity, growth, or focus to go through a challenge, grounding ourselves in a purpose helps us get more out of our practice.

3. Build the Mind-Body Connection

In a typical workout, we train our muscles; in yoga, we train our attention and attitude.

The mind will drift, so our task is to gently bring it back to the body with curiosity and kindness over and over again.

Cultivating this skill creates a ripple effect beyond the mat.

3. Reflect and Integrate

End with a check-in: Has anything shifted?

And if not, can we be with it without judgment?

If you want to give your team a mindful experience that doubles as a coaching session and a yoga class, let’s chat.

Let’s work together to foster growth and clarity in your workplace! ✨

Check out my new corporate well-being package here:

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Maria