Yoga has fallen victim to society’s social media obsession, with countless Instagram accounts of people showing off their contorted bodies in extremely tight leggings.
In day-to-day conversations, you may have friends who say “I don't sweat from yoga” or “yoga is for crunchy hippies.” Despite these stereotypes, I bought my first yoga mat in 2013 to find a stress-relieving outlet beyond venting to my friends.
In just three years, I went from practicing alone in my bedroom to proudly working for a $1 billion yoga apparel company. I have yet to impress anyone with my “crazy yoga skills” (one day I’ll master a headstand). By showing gratitude for others and constantly asking questions, my yoga journey led me to exciting opportunities and a powerful network of go-getters.
Yoga calls for bringing the best version of yourself to the mat, and there are 3 things you can do to navigate the job hunt like a yogi:
1. Embrace who you are by saying it aloud
When you take away the clothes, money, and technology we depend on for survival, how would you describe your values and goals? Similar to setting an intention before every yoga practice, write down the values you live by and repeat them aloud everyday to hold yourself accountable for your decisions. By sharing these values with an interviewer as transferrable workplace habits, your level of self-awareness will stand out among other candidates who may focus more on emphasizing impressive numbers than clearly articulating what motivates them to succeed.
2. Find opportunities within your greatest pains
When you feel tension in a pose, a yoga teacher will simply guide you to observe and breathe through the discomfort, rather than judge yourself for not being as flexible as your neighbor. If your dream job requires a skill you haven't quite mastered yet, acknowledge that opportunity with gratitude! There are many ways to deepen your understanding of an industry without drowning yourself in debt. Check out Skillshare for self-paced instructional courses taught by industry experts, or find a nearby General Assembly community to network with creative professionals at webinars and workshops.
3. Grow your community through authentic connections
While yoga reminds us to practice self-love first, it’s also fun to share the best stories and ideas we learn about with our social networks. Try building relationships with thought leaders on Twitter by retweeting articles and mentioning the author to grab their attention. Use TweetChat and hashtags to your advantage by paying attention to real-time conversations and sharing your perspective. Put your longest rants in the distraction-free Medium community to connect with like-minded doers. You never know who will StumbleUpon your content and reach out with an opportunity!
Human beings at their core want to be accepted, and finding a new job is the ultimate compatibility test. While it’s impossible to be the perfect candidate for every job, you can learn a great deal by embracing every job interview and random Twitter follower with gratitude for adding another facet of opportunity to your lifelong journey.