Yoga Wisdom at Work: Finding Sanity Off the Mat and On the Job.

ABOUT Jamie Showkeir

Jamie Showkeir
I am co-author with Maren Showkeir of Authentic Conversations: Moving from Manipulation to Truth and Commitment (Berrett-Koehler, 2008).  A critically acclaimed business book, Authentic Conversations challenges conventional wisdom on key business and workplace practices and presents concr More...

Description

Yoga’s Ancient Wisdom Can Transform Your Work Life

In the Western world, the yoga practice associated with doing poses on a mat benefits millions of devotees every day. Yet few people realize that the physical practice is rooted in a larger philosophy offering profound insights that can help people confront the complexities of daily life, especially at work.

 

Maren and Jamie Showkeir’s unprecedented book brings into crisp focus the full range of yoga’s rich, transformational benefits. Based on the traditional Eight Limbs of Yoga (the postures, or asanas, are only one limb), it offers straightforward, practical suggestions on how to integrate yoga’s ancient philosophy and beautiful spiritual principles into the modern workplace.

 

The Showkeirs know firsthand how yoga’s wisdom can make work—and life—more rewarding and worthwhile. They explain each of yoga’s tenets and show how a broad, steadfast practice leads to a productive, creative, and energizing work environment. The book offers illuminating stories from people in professions such as banking, law enforcement, film directing, education, and more. These living examples illustrate how yoga’s teachings reduce stress and increase meaning and satisfaction at work.

 

The Showkeirs believe passionately that a physical practice alone will barely scratch the surface of yoga’s transformative powers. Much more than a simple how-to book, Yoga Wisdom at Work is an invitation to use the Eight Limbs to cultivate the spark of the divine that dwells within each of us. Yoga’s precepts offer you the keys for staying centered, compassionate, positive, and sane every hour of the day—including from nine to five.

 

 

“Filled with personal insights and stories that carry yoga into the world of daily decision making.… It is wonderful to see the foundations of practice brought to life in such a confident, sincere, and thoughtful way.” — Pandit Rajmani Tuganait, Chairman and spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute

 

“Maren and Jamie show that yoga is not just about poses—the practice is about creating the stillness of mind that will allow you do the work you were meant to do. Seriously, read this book!” — Russell Simmons, cofounder of Def Jam.

 

“The [Showkeirs] bring the deepest teachings of yoga alive by showing exactly how to bring our yoga—and our best selves—into the world.” — Judith Lasater, PhD, author of Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times.

 

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.” – Christine Day, Former CEO lululemon athletica.



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 C. Cutler, MD, coauthor of The Art of Happiness (with the Dalai Lama).

 

"It is common these days to speak of how we can "embody" our values and lead from authenticity.  This book is the best practice manual I've read for how to embody our integrity.  I am grateful to Maren and Jamie for bringing together the disciplines of yoga and leadership. This is a generous, insightful and eminently practical book, offered with an open heart from years of experience." - Margaret  J. Wheatley,  author of many books, including Leadership and the New Science and most recently, So Far From Home: Lost and Found in Our Brave New World.