Where did you learn your most valuable lessons on leadership?
I don't think I ever set out to be a leader at all but only wanted to teach yoga and share yoga with as many people as possible. This was pretty naïve of me, and I quickly learned that as an employer, teaching mentor, visionary and entrepreneur it is very important to "take your seat" as a leader. So this became a great opportunity to put the principles of yoga -- generosity, non-harming, being helpful -- into practice. My own teachers have been good examples for me, but my main role model is my father. He was a Protestant minister and, in many ways, I am following in his footsteps. Like him, I also lead a community of spiritual seekers as well as run the organization that supports that community.
What keeps you motivated to continue your work?
Motivation is the most important aspect of spiritual practice. My work -- teaching, running a yoga center, writing -- to me, all of it is spiritual practice. My teacher, Gehlek Rimpoche, reminds us to always check our motivation. The motivation for my work is to be helpful. I continue to be motivated to try and dig deeper, to continue to discover more ways to be helpful through the means of yoga -- whether it's offering free yoga retreats for women with breast cancer, creating marketing campaigns that bring in more people to yoga, or training the best yoga teachers around -- all these are methods to help more people find and benefit from yoga. When I see the results of this work and how much it has helped folks, I am very inspired and motivated to continue.
Who has been the most influential leader in your life?
The most influential leader for me has probably been Gloria Steinem. I learned about her when I was in high school, and then my dad got me a subscription to Ms. Magazine. Everything that I learned from the feminist movement and the work promoted by Gloria Steinem was very powerful for me, especially at that formative time when I was leaving home, going to college and figuring out who I was going to be when I was out in the world on my own.
Tell us about how you got to where you are today
I have a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from University of California- Irvine, and I wrote my thesis on Women, Spirituality and Indian Dance. I began ballet lessons when I was about 7, and I grew up as a minister's daughter, so, from early on I've been intrigued by the relationship between movement and spirituality. I explored this theme as a professional choreographer for many years. At the same time that I grew tired of the performing life, I also met my spiritual teacher and my whole mind and heart turned toward deepening my Buddhist and yoga practices.
In addition to the influence of my father and my teacher, my husband was a primary influence in my opening a yoga studio. I've never been the least bit interested in business and even when I started the studio I didn't really realize it was a "business.” I just wanted to teach yoga my way and hadn't found a good fit for doing that at any place in town. I had clear ideas about what I wanted to offer and what kind of environment I wanted to create to help people feel safe and creative. I basically leapt before I looked and just went full steam ahead.
Eventually I had to learn to relate to money and authority and all kinds of things that make a business successful. It's been a struggle in many ways, but the biggest struggle for me has been to admit that if I want my studio to continue I must accept and learn about areas of business that are not that interesting to me. Once I stopped resisting and resenting and started to learn more, it was more fun to have a business. I also have a good team and advisors who know the things I don't know. So wherever I am today, that's part of how I got here.
Why is Physical Health an important topic for college aged women?
When you are in college being healthy is not usually a big concern. But it can be a really important time to begin creating healthy habits that you will be grateful for later. One way to think of physical health is the notion of balance. Being healthy doesn't mean you have to eat brown rice all day or jog for miles. It means finding out what makes you feel good and helps you sustain a consistent energy level all day long. Physical health is personal and how you maintain it will shift throughout your life.
The main reason that it is important at any age is that when you are healthy you have many options. You can do whatever you want -- stay up all night partying or be strong and clear for an important interview. Your choice! If you are unhealthy -- which can show up as looking unwell and unattractive or even having injuries, you will have a lot fewer options for activities, both leisure and professional.
Do you face any stigma as a woman professional?
I really don’t think so. But I can remember a time when that wouldn't have been true. Young women today are fortunate to be living in the gift of women before them who fought for equality in such a way that women almost don't even notice the opportunities they have now.
To learn more about Cyndi please visit:
www.omyoga.com