Recently I was teaching a workshop in one of the prettiest studios in Melbourne. The owner has an incredible eye for interiors and every time I visit, I fantasise about actually changing the locks and moving in. While day-dreaming about where I’d put my furniture, I noticed a small poster advertising for ‘Karma Yogis’. In exchange for light cleaning, social media work or tidying up before and after classes, applicants could receive complimentary classes at the studio.
This use of the phrase ‘Karma Yoga’ is common in Yogaland. I’ve also seen it on the schedule at the Ashram I visit. A couple of hours every day where people cook the meals, work in the garden or otherwise contribute to the operations of the Centre. In these situations the phrase is implied to mean ‘energy exchange’ or sometimes ‘selfless service’. But this isn’t the only meaning of being a ‘Karma Yogi’.
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In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna explains to Arjuna the importance of ‘Karma Yoga’ or ‘the Way of Action’.
Arjuna, who is facing a terrible war that can only end in heartache and death, is terrified about taking action and bringing about more pain and suffering. Krishna points out that action cannot be avoided. That Arjuna must take action – right action – as a way of pursuing his dharma. ‘It is not to avoid work, especially the duties required by his station in life, but to perform those duties without selfish attachment to their “fruit”’, writes Eknath Easwaran in his translation of the Gita (Nilgiri Press, 2007).
Krishna teaches Arjuna that taking action can be the means to spiritual development. The WAY we take the action can vary, but we must always take action. ‘Everyone who is born, who is alive, who is dependent, acts, compelled to do so by nature itself… Do what you have to do, rather than not doing anything at all’, writes Devdutt Pattanaik, paraphrasing the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, verses 4 to 8 in his great text ‘My Gita’ (Rupa Publications, 2015).
So what does Karma Yoga look like in business, and how can we apply these teachings to grow the offerings and communities we’re building? Why is it important to emphasise the ‘Karma’ part of Yoga, especially in wellness businesses?
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A few years ago, while I was getting my business of the ground, I was spending a lot of time with a group of peers working on establishing themselves as coaches, too. We met up in lavish locations to attend high-demand conferences that bordered on cultic. Paris, Miami, Dubai, Majorca. It was exciting, fashionable and kind of heady. Jimmy Choos, late nights, expensive lunches: you get the idea.
At one of these conferences I was asked to be part of a panel to share my insights and experiences hitting a certain financial goal after my first year in business. My coach at the time wanted me to share any insights I had with the rest of the audience, while indirectly acting as an ambassador for her program.
Someone directed their question to me. She stood up and waited for the mike runner. Once she had the microphone, she cleared her throat and said, ‘What was the mindset shift that you achieved to get to where you are and how did you change your thinking to make this shift?’
The question took me by surprise. I was expecting something more nuts and bolts. How much do you spend a year on advertising? What was the best hire you made? Which software do you use to manage your finances? I wasn’t prepared for this more nebulous question. I asked her to clarify.
She thought for a moment then said, ‘Well, how did you move your energy to welcome in more abundance?’
Then I understood what she was looking for. She was after my ‘secret’. My ‘inner work’. The magical thinking that brought around my success.
Unfortunately for her, mindset had very little to do with me achieving my goals.
How did I ‘call in my first six figures’ in my new business? The answer was much more pragmatic, and much more inspired by Krishna’s teachings to Arjuna in the Gita: I took action.
Simply, in that first year I worked a whole lot. Specifically, in the first twelve weeks I worked 14 hours a day, six days a week. I didn’t compare myself to others. I didn’t rest to ‘feel into my next steps’. I didn’t balance my Chakras, get my energy cleared or read wealth consciousness books. I just sat at my desk and methodically built a business.
Then, after putting in the action, I got the result.
Karma Yoga.
‘One who shirks action does not attain freedom; no one can gain perfection by abstaining from work
‘Indeed, there is no one who rests for even an instant; all creatures are driven to action by their own nature.’
Verses 4 and 5, Chapter 3, Bhagavad Gita as translated by Easwaran, E (see above)
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There are loads of business coaches on the internet who will sell you ‘mindset shifts’, ‘energetic recalibrations’, ‘abundance mentality’ and all sorts of other magical thinking that will, allegedly, support you to create the business of your dreams. In fact, some of the friends I went to all those ritzy conferences with offer exactly these types of services to their clients.
Personally, I simply don’t buy into this approach to business. What about you?
If I just desire this enough…
If I have it on my vision board and look at it every day…
If I'm so clear and I'm talking about it with all of my friends…
If I'm watching ‘The Secret’ every Saturday afternoon…
If I'm repeating my Laksmi mantras every time I get to my cushion…
If I'm praying…
If I'm calling it in…
Ring the alarm bells and sound the safety conch!
Thinking positively is important for keeping ourselves inspired and motivated. But it is NOT the answer to seeing results. At least not on its own. Positive thinking, mindset, attitude: all these things MUST be accompanied by action to see the results you desire.
And this is what I mean when I use the phrase ‘becoming a Karma Yogi in your business’.
I meet people at Yoga events who share with me that they are also planning on leaving their corporate jobs and ‘doing Yoga full time.’ While I’m in full support of this plan (after all, it’s what I coach people to do every day!), I’m also attuned to the difference between this being an active ‘Karma Yoga’ statement and a fantasy.
It’s easy to say we are doing something. It can be much more challenging to actually take the steps to DO it. If nothing is changing, are you actually building a business, or are you simply telling yourself you are?
Here's some journaling prompts to get you started with these concepts:
1. Where are you kidding yourself about taking action?
2. Where do you know you need to take more action?
3. Where are you in denial right now about the action required in your Yoga business?
In Part 2 of this series we’ll look at what ‘right’ action is. What can we learn from Krishna to guide us in not only taking action, but ensuring the actions we do take are the correct ones?
Make sure you don’t miss Part 2: sign up to this feed to receive email alerts.
And if you’re looking for more support and information about being an Abundant Yoga Teacher, find my podcast or FB group (of the same names) or DM me on Instagram at @amyyogabizcoach