Coaching & Yoga

Coaching and Yoga

In this article, I will be exploring the parallels between Yin Yoga and #coaching . I have taken guidance from a variety of sources, and the books can be found at the end of this article.

This is an opinion piece, with inspiration taken from my learnings. For a more comprehensive understanding of Yin, please do refer to the books.

Thank you for reading – please feel free to leave a comment!

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The Ancient Chinese observed that in life, everything is either Yin or Yang. Example characteristics of Yin include still, calm, and hidden. For Yang, moving, excited and exposed (Grilley, 2012)

And in the centre, we have Dao, the balance between Yin and Yang. The concept of balance can be found in many ancient philosophies from the Vedas to the Greeks.

I believe the modern-day world of work is a Yang environment demanding continuous action and reactions. Finding silence and opportunity to think in the chaos of modern life can be difficult and there seems to be an addiction to always being busy. Participating in coaching offers the individual to experience the Yin, thus creating a balance of self in the work environment.?

The purpose of the Yin Yoga practice is to target and stretch the connective tissues including the fascia, bones, and the ligaments. When I first practiced Yin Yoga I found the activity boring, slow and soft. My understanding of exercise was always associated with constant movement and high energy. When Yin re-entered my life, I found the stillness, the calmness and the space in which I sat incredibly reassuring. A welcome quiet in a noisy world and in a noisy brain.

Yin Yoga works on the body at a deeper level and the focus is on the stretch of the connective tissue. Other Yang style exercise involves stressing the tissue and muscle, for it to tear and repair itself.

The parallels of Coaching to Yin and Yang type activities are to help the individual understand the difference between stretch and stress. Through coaching one can explore and understand the difference these two states and recognise where development and growth might sit.??

The three principles of Yin are:

• Coming to your depth and finding your edge?
• Stillness?
• Holding the pose for time.?

As a student and newly qualified teacher of Yin, I have found these principles to translate beautifully into coaching.

When coaching, I often start my session by inviting the individual to take part in a breathing exercise. This helps the individual divorce themselves from their previous activity and arrive into their coaching. The slow yogic breathing involves deep inhalation-exhalation of each breath.?

In addition to this I remind the individual of their accountability in the practice, which is understanding their boundaries as well as their depth and edge.

The stillness of Yin is super powerful, and in coaching this can translate into something as simple as posing a question and allowing the individual to sit with the answer. The stillness and silence may also be the space that is needed for the individual to find their edge of comfort, moving them into a space of learning and self-reflection.

And finally, the importance of holding the pose for time. In coaching this is encouraging the individual to hold on to their thought, their commitment. Sitting in their space will create what is known in science as a ‘phase-change’ when matter changes from one state to the next. In coaching, this is the space of growth, when a thought moves from one space to the next.

Creating long term change in any work we do, requires repetitive behaviours, a desire to sit with what requires change and recognising the space between growth and discomfort.

Those who have access to a Coach can use this Yin space to find and hear their own voice within the noise of the Yang corporate (or any other) world, allowing balance to be found.

I am still exploring and learning about Yoga and Coaching and welcome any thoughts from anyone who has insights, comments or thoughts on what I have shared.

Thank you for reading!?

#coachingskills #coachingtips #coaching #leadershipcoaching #yoga #yinyoga #leadership #coaches #coachinglife #coach #coachingworks #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoach #leadershipculture

Book references:?

Yin Yoga Principles & Practice, 10th?Anniversary Edition, Paul Grilley

The complete guide to Yin Yoga, Philosophy and practice, Bernie Clark