A few days ago, on the way to my yoga class, I got pulled over for speeding. To make matters worse, I was actually pulled over in the parking lot of the yoga studio! 

Believe me, I recognized the irony the moment it happened. 

Here I was, rushing to get to my yoga class -- a place where my sole intention is to practice the art of slowing down and being present in the moment. 

To be honest, I didn’t even know how fast I was going.  I’d sent out a group text message right before leaving home and was distracted by the constant pinging of my phone as members of the group responded. (No, I didn’t pick up the phone to look at the responses, but I was distracted!)  The result?  A $116.50 speeding ticket. 

As a leader, what price do you pay for being distracted?  How does your performance suffer because you’re inattentive to the now? 

Whether it’s interacting with those you lead, making a sales presentation, or completing an item on your to-do list, being present in the moment leads to heightened performance. When you’re fully present in the moment, intuition comes alive and all of the senses become laser focused. 

Releasing the past, while holding on to the lessons learned -- as well as getting comfortable with the uncertainty of the future -- allows you to be fully present in the moment.  In doing so, you bring your whole self to the task at hand.

Yoga is the practice of connecting the whole self -- mind, body and spirit. It’s a wonderful way to build your “presence in the moment” muscle.  If you’re not quite ready to commit to a regular yoga practice, here are some elements of yoga that can help you develop your ability to be more present:

Intentional breath        Disengage from distraction by turning your focus to deep breathing.  In yoga, it’s called three-part breath. As you inhale, first fill your abdomen, then your rib cage, then your chest. As you exhale, let the air out naturally as you relax your chest, then your rib cage. Finally, pull in your belly to complete your exhale. Repeat several times.

Intentional breath almost immediately quiets the brain, allowing you to shift more easily to being present in the moment.  Intentional breath, practiced on a regular basis, keeps the brain in a state of calm and allows you to become fully present.

One pose at a time       A yoga sequence is a series of poses put together to create a natural flow from one pose to the next.  Each pose is done independently.  It isn’t possible to do more than one pose at a time.  There is no multi-tasking in yoga.  

As you go about your day, remember to slow down and focus on one task at a time.  You’ll find yourself being more present in the moment.

Letting go of judgment     Yoga isn't about perfect postures.  It’s about doing the best you can in the moment.  From day-to-day, the body feels and moves differently.   

In life, there are many influencers that can affect your level of performance.  To be present in the moment is to acknowledge those influencers, make the shifts you can in the moment, and be comfortable with the outcome.  Even if it wasn’t your best, you learn from the experience.

 When I saw the flashing lights in my rear view mirror, I moved quickly from being distracted to being in the moment! 

It was then that I experienced the benefits of a regular yoga practice.  I didn’t get angry at the officer or at myself.  With a calm composure, I simply accepted the situation and moved on to the next moment.

 If you'd like to learn more about developing a presence in the moment practice, contact me for a complimentary strategy session at gayle@total-life-leadership.com.