Inhale Strategy, Exhale Creativity

Let me just preface this by saying that I am not at all insinuating that I’m a ‘yogi guru’. 

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Yoga has a deep history, dating back to more than 5,000 years ago (arguably longer) in ancient India, and has been a casualty of cultural appropriation to a staggering degree.So please take this with a big grain of Western-washed-Lululemon-salt. 

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I started practicing yoga in college. I had a wonderful professor (Her name is Dr. Moon—you cannot make this stuff up!) who taught ‘Movement’, a class that all Acting Majors were required to take. Why would anyone major in Acting you might be asking yourself, what practical application would that be good for? 

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Well, while I’m not winning an Oscar anytime soon, being immersed in the world of theatrical performance taught me many things. How to work as a team, cross departmental collaboration (think: costumes, props, lighting, set design, all the things that have to come together to make the show happen), public speaking, presenting, groundedness, breath work, being present in the moment, and most importantly: how to get sh*t done, done well, and done on time. 

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The show must go on after all. ;)

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To make a long story even longer, I fell in love with the practice of yoga more than a decade ago and have been pretty consistent in keeping up with it. In 2023 I finally had the time and budget to take a 200YTT (industry terminology meaning a 200 hour yoga teacher training course). The benefits I reaped from that course are insurmountable. 

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There is so much about life that you can learn from yoga, both on and off the mat.

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What Yoga Taught Me About Marketing (and life)

The word yoga, translated, means a connection between breath, body, and spirit. A gentle but firm reminder to not underestimate the interconnectedness of the world we live in. This awareness opens the door to intentional movement and mindfulness. To navigate challenges with acute precision.The discipline of yoga brings clarity to the creative process and the strategic decisions being made. 

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This is a bit of a stretch, but hear me out. Just like breath flows into movement, insights flow into execution.

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Yoga also teaches us patience. Anyone who has held ‘chair pose’ for more than 10 seconds can attest to this. All things, even the most uncomfortable, will pass. Yoga helps me bring a centeredness to the fast-paced, reactive digital world. A calm approach that helps our team pause before panicking, especially useful during brand crises, trend hijacking, or social backlash.

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One of the principles explained in the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali is Aparigraha, or non-posessiveness. It’s been interpreted—yes, it’s a little abstract—as detachment from ego. For me this has been helpful in developing the detachment of ego or identity and my work. In my twenties, I attached so much of myself and identity to my job. Practicing mindfulness and yoga has created a healthy balance for me which has definitely improved my creative and strategic output. 

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So this principle, along with the other Yamas and Niyamas (the first two limbs of the eight-fold path of yoga, known as Ashtanga Yoga) provide an endless and bountiful source of self reflection, kindness, and just overall being a better person to the community.

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If you had to take anything away from this meandering, I hope it’s this: yoga can teach us to be intentional and not reactive. It helps us see the forest through the trees, and reminds us that… It's just marketing. We’re not saving lives. So let’s have fun and enjoy the moment.