Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living

The Inner Work of Inclusion: Yoga Philosophy for Thriving Workplaces featuring Jeremy David Engels, PhD 16.06.2026 44min

Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, Season 2, Episode 4 The Inner Work of Inclusion: Yoga Philosophy for Thriving Workplaces featuring Jeremy David Engels, PhD Join me for this episode featuring guest Jeremy David Engels, PhD, a cofounder and teacher at Yoga Lab, which offers science-based yoga and meditation classes that emphasize mindfulness and functional movement. He is the Liberal Arts Endowed Professor of Communication and Ethics at Penn State University and has written extensively on community-building, peace, and justice. His newest book is now available! Living Namaste, A Practical Guide to Mindfulness, Yoga, and Building Community (Inner Traditions, June 2026) Listen as we explore: 🌿 How to build community and care for one another at work. 💛 The significance of mindfulness and yoga practice is about remembering to return to a state of awareness, presence, and connection. ✨ Svadhyaya as a practice to understand our own patterns, assumptions, and reactions so we can genuinely see others and how it can help navigate a challenging team dynamic. 💛 The practice of namaste to respond thoughtfully even when under workplace pressure. 🌿 The benefits of practicing empathy and gratitude. 🧘‍♀️ The internal work of inclusion. ✨ How to start a practice when you don't know where to begin For leaders at all levels and those who are navigating challenging circumstances at work, this episode is for you! Learn more about our guest: Jeremy David Engels, PhD Liberal Arts Endowed Professor, Penn State University | Co-founder, Yoga Lab | Author, Living Namaste (Inner Traditions, June 2026) Author: Living Namaste, A Practical Guide to Mindfulness, Yoga, and Building Community By Jeremy David Engels Jeremy David Engels, PhD, is a cofounder and teacher at Yoga Lab, which offers science-based yoga and meditation classes that emphasize mindfulness and functional movement. He is a Liberal Arts Endowed Professor of Communication and Ethics at Penn State University and has written extensively on community-building, peace, and justice. RELATED LINKS: Author's website: https://jeremydavidengels.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremy_david_engels/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeremydavidengels.bsky.social • Living Namaste review on Kirkus Reviews • Living Namaste interview on VITA magazine Living Namaste is available now everywhere books are sold! About the host With more than 20 years of experience leading strategic business teams, Monica Phillips supports leaders at all levels in creating thriving and inclusive workplaces by elevating leadership, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. She is the CEO of Spark Plug Labs (CPCC, PCC, CPQC), the founder of the Legal Academy on Equity and Inclusion, and she developed and runs ChIPs Network's year-long General Counsel Boot Camp to advance women to the highest levels of leadership. She has a master's degree in international education and is a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF. She is a yoga teacher (ERYT-200, RYT-500) and loves hiking and being on the water. Learn more about Monica Phillips. https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/bio Full episode details and transcript available online at: https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/inner-work-of-inclusion-living-namaste Cultivate your courageous leadership journey through an 8-week Positive Intelligence Group Coaching Cohort. https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/group-coaching

Leading With Courage in Uncertain Times featuring Angela Cheng-Cimini 12.06.2026 29min

Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, Season 2, Episode 3 Leading With Courage in Uncertain Times Welcome to Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, where we explore how ancient wisdom supports modern leadership, work, and life. This episode is on Leading with Courage in Uncertain Times. I am joined by Angela Cheng-Cimini, Chief HR Officer at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, who is an accomplished HR leader with three decades of experience across industries. In this episode, she shares what courage looks like in the workplace and why it's a critical skill for today's leaders. Learn what courage looks like in practice for a leader today, how small acts of everyday bravery build a culture of courage and the ripple effects they have throughout an organization, and how courage champions inclusion. SHOW NOTES Leading With Courage in Uncertain Times, Season 2, Episode 3 I am joined by Angela Cheng-Cimini, Chief HR Officer at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, who is an accomplished HR leader with three decades of experience across industries. In this episode, we discuss what courage looks like in the workplace and why it's a critical skill for today's leaders. Learn what courage looks like in practice for a leader today, how small acts of everyday bravery build a culture of courage and the ripple effects they have throughout an organization, and how courage champions inclusion. Listen as we explore: 🌿 What courage looks like in practice for a leader today. 💛 How small acts of bravery build a culture of courage. 🧘‍♀️ What we can learn from fear. ✨ How mindset gets in the way of us doing our best work. 🤝 Why is it important to take action that is aligned with our core values? 🌿 How we cultivate inner steadiness amid change. We weave in yoga philosophy through the lens of Satya, from the yamas (external ethics) and Svadhyaya, from the niyamas (internal ethics). Satya means truthfulness and how speaking truth, even when it's uncomfortable, is an act of courageous leadership. How is honesty rewarded in your organization? Svadhyaya (self-study) and how courage begins with self-awareness — knowing your fears, triggers, and values. How can leaders use self-inquiry to shape their leadership style or decisions? For leaders at all levels and those who want to cultivate courage in the workplace, this episode is for you! Learn more about Angela Cheng-Cimini online: Angela Cheng-Cimini is chief HR officer at The Chronicle of Philanthropy. She is a global executive Human Resources leader with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in both Generalist and Specialist competencies, partnering with C-suite leaders. She has been a proven contributor to the business strategy by helping leaders identify and build organizational capabilities. She is a board advisor to technology start-ups dedicated to the future of work, a keynote speaker trusted by Fortune 500 organizations as well as some of the largest HR associations, and a dedicated advocate of the AAPI community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-cheng-cimini/ About the host With more than 20 years of experience leading strategic business teams, Monica Phillips supports leaders at all levels in creating thriving and inclusive workplaces by elevating leadership, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. She is the CEO of Spark Plug Labs (CPCC, PCC, CPQC), the founder of the Legal Academy on Equity and Inclusion, and she developed and runs ChIPs Network's year-long General Counsel Boot Camp to advance women to the highest levels of leadership. She has a master's degree in international education and is a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF. She is a yoga teacher (ERYT-200, RYT-500) and loves hiking and being on the water. Learn more about Monica Phillips. https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/bio Cultivate your courageous leadership journey through an 8-week Positive Intelligence Group Coaching Cohort. https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/group-coaching

Courageous Presence: How Yoga Shapes Modern Legal Leadership 18.02.2026 38min

Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, Season 2, Episode 2 Courageous Presence: How Yoga Shapes Modern Legal Leadership Welcome to Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, where we explore how ancient wisdom supports modern leadership, work, and life. In this episode, our host Monica Phillips is joined by two extraordinary leaders who embody what it means to lead with presence, clarity, and courage: Carolyn Herzog, Chief Legal Officer at Elastic, and Alice Geene, former Chief Legal Officer at Paycor. Both Carolyn and Alice have navigated high-pressure, high-stakes legal environments while bringing yoga, mindfulness, and intentionality into the heart of their leadership. Their practices inform how they show up for their teams, how they make decisions rooted in truth, and how they create space for trust, connection, and community. In this conversation, we'll explore how mindful leadership can transform not only how we work—but how we relate, communicate, and cultivate environments where people feel seen and supported. Themes we explore: • How mindful presence transforms decision-making • What courageous leadership looks like in real time • Creating space to build trust across legal teams • The role of truthfulness (satya) in difficult conversations • And why intentional, grounded leadership matters now more than ever About the host With more than 20 years of experience leading strategic business teams, Monica Phillips supports leaders at all levels in creating thriving and inclusive workplaces by elevating leadership, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. She is the CEO of Spark Plug Labs (CPCC, PCC, CPQC), the founder of the Legal Academy on Equity and Inclusion, and she developed and runs ChIPs Network's year-long General Counsel Boot Camp to advance women to the highest levels of leadership. She has a master's degree in international education and is a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF. She is a yoga teacher (ERYT-200, RYT-500) and loves to hike and be on the water.

From Dosha to Dialogue: Transforming How We Connect at Work 19.09.2025 53min

Have you ever been in a meeting where someone talks so fast you can barely keep up… …or with someone who speaks so slowly you're tempted to finish their sentences? Turns out, yoga philosophy has something to say about this. 🧘‍♀️💡 In Season 2, Episode 1 of Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living, I sit down with the extraordinary teacher Jeanne Heileman to explore how the doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—show up in the workplace. 👉 What if understanding these natural tendencies could help us: ✨ adapt our communication style ✨ reduce tension ✨ and build stronger connections at work? We also dive into the gunas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—and how these energies shape the way we think, respond, and lead. 🌿 🎧 Listen in to learn how Ayurvedic wisdom can transform not just your health, but also your meetings, teamwork, and leadership. 🔗 Click the link to to watch, listen, or read the full episode: https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/dosha-to-dialogue-season2-episode1 From Dosha to Dialogue: Transforming How We Connect at Work 1. The doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—are often discussed in terms of physical health, but how do they influence how we express ourselves, make decisions, or respond to conflict in the workplace? Learn how Ayurvedic wisdom informs us of practical, interpersonal dynamics in a professional setting. 2. How would you describe the gunas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—to someone new to yoga philosophy, and what are some ways they show up in our communication styles at work? How do we move through the doshas at different times? Energy and behavior are fluid, rather than fixed. 3. How are the gunas and doshas interconnected, and what does that relationship teach us about adapting our communication style to different people or situations? 4. Can you share an example of how understanding someone's dominant guna or dosha helped improve communication or collaboration in your own work? 5. In a high-pressure or fast-paced workplace, how can we cultivate more sattva—or balance among the doshas—to foster clarity, empathy, and meaningful connection? Gain insights you can apply to shift the energy of your teams or conversations. Episode highlights: 9:09 - If you are working with someone ...the most important thing is to meet them and slow yourself down. 19:00 - Caress someone's pitta dominance to lower their resistance and soften their need to control and criticize. 19:54 How do you add femininity to a demanding workforce? Weave in a sliver of femininity to soften the harshness... 21:23 The Vatas don't always finish their tasks. Catch them with your eyes and hold their gaze to help them feel grounded and safe. 27:35 - The gunas are qualities of Nature. It's natural for things to change. They originate in the mind. 34:32 We have this lovely feeling and we start clinging to it, we don't want it to end. If we stay too long in this, we lose the sense of humor about ourselves. 40:57 The gift of a steady meditation practice is to be able to ride the wave of our own thoughts so you can sit with hard situations. Learn more about Jeanne Heileman and check out her latest offerings including a Master Training in the Subtle Body. Sept. 19 – 21 and Oct. 3 – 5, 2025 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST Livestream via Zoom and On Demand. https://jeanneheileman.com/ About Monica Phillips As a heart-based leadership coach, executive coach, and wellness coach, Monica Phillips brings play to work. These moments where we can check in with ourselves, bring calm to our minds and bodies, and reset our brains are so important. When we draw in and stop the chatter in our minds, we live better, create more meaningful relationships, and reach peak performance. It is not about doing more and pushing to the max, it is about noticing ourselves and others and allowing space to be seen, heard, and valued. Learn more and connect with me at sparkpluglabs.co

Yoga in Executive Coaching and to Heal Trauma 21.07.2021 2min

The full episode with video and transcript is available online at https://bit.ly/yoga-coaches. How do we bring the ancient wisdom of yoga to our coaching practices? Join me in a discussion with certified coaches who have all taught yoga featuring Erin Owen, Dr. Chiara Hayganush Megighian, and Ronna Schneberger.

Our Path to Enlightenment through Focus and Meditation. Samadhi and What That Means in a Modern World featuring Melissa Townsend 21.07.2021 45min

Melissa Townsend is an Artist, Author, Psychic & Astrologer. Her paintings of the Yoga Sutras Book One and Book Two are available with translations and commentary, published in full-color, soft-bound books. She also features them in her meditation deck. She hosts a popular YouTube series with videos on Astrology and the Tarot. In this episode we look at these universal questions through the lens of yoga philosophy and the path to Samadhi, a state of meditative consciousness and how this process of concentration and focus can be part of what we do in this very busy modern world. From Patanjali's Eight Limbs, we discuss the last three -Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

Withdrawal of Our Senses – Pratyahara featuring Marc Holzman 25.04.2021 47min

The full episode with video and transcript is available online at http://bit.ly/yoga-Holzman. Marc Holzman is a pioneer for deep change who has dedicated most of his own life to unraveling this great mystery. He is an avid Truth-seeker, a playful risk-taker and is passionate about refining the art of living and empowering his students to do the same. Join us in this episode as we explore pratyahara and learn more about the power of breath, Ayurveda, and yoga nidra.

The Significance of Breath - Pranayama featuring Lisa Walford 25.04.2021 29min

The full episode with video and transcript is available at http://bit.ly/yoga-walford. Lisa Walford is an extraordinary yoga teacher who holds a Level III Iyengar teaching certificate and has been teaching yoga in Los Angeles since 1982. She studies annually with the Iyengars and teaches worldwide. She was a co-creator of the YogaWorks teacher training program that started in 1990 with Maty Ezraty and Chuck Miller. Join us as she shares more about the power of breath through pranayama.

Yoga for Peak Performance and Wellness featuring Bob Levant 13.04.2021 33min

Find the full episode with video and transcripts online at https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/peak-performance-bob-levant In May 2018, Bob secured the largest malicious prosecution civil rights verdict in Pennsylvania history when a jury awarded his client, Khanefah Boozer, $10 million. Khanefah Booker had been wrongfully accused of a crime he not only did not commit but that never even happened. Bob shares with us the influence yoga played on his journey as a trial lawyer.

The Physical Practice of Yoga - Asana featuring Camille Moses-Allen 07.04.2021 45min

Camille Moses-Allen, expert yoga teacher, discusses the benefits of asana practice. View full episode details including transcript and video at: https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/asana-camille-moses-allen Since 2006, Camille Moses-Allen has been one of Baltimore's top yoga teachers. Camille is a senior YogaWorks teacher and teacher trainer, yet she is an eternal student of yoga having taken 5 teacher trainings at both the 200 and 300 level herself. Camille is a certified YogaWorks teacher and trainer, OM Yoga teacher, and restorative yoga teacher.

The Niyamas and Svadhyaya, our self-study featuring Tiffany Russo 30.03.2021 16min

In this episode we discuss the niyamas - the second of the eight limbs of yoga - and in particular svadhyaya, our self-study. This one is how we show up in this world, our internal discipline for how we live. See the full episode with video and transcript available at http://bit.ly/niyamas-russo

Discovering Yoga for Holistic Healing with Sameer Bhide 19.03.2021 24min

Sameer Bhide, author, One Fine Day: Overcoming Adversity and Embracing the New Normal with Grace - order a copy now! View full episode details including transcript and video at: www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/holistic-healing-sameer-bhide Before January 31, 2017, Sameer Bhide's life was pretty good. He moved to the US from India in 1990. He had already completed an accounting degree, and then completed a management degree followed by his MBA in 1993. He had a career he enjoyed in consulting and technology, was married with kids, and settled outside of Washington DC. But that notable day in January, just as he was beginning the workday from his home office, he suffered a catastrophic stroke in his cerebellum. He required two brain surgeries and spend the next month in a medically induced coma before transitioning to the path of recovery.

How Do the Yamas and Ahimsa (Non-Violence) Guide Us in Everyday Living? 09.03.2021 47min

Dianne Bondy is a social justice activist, author, accessible yoga teacher, and the leader of the Yoga For All movement. Full episode with video and transcripts available at: http://bit.ly/yoga-Dianne Her inclusive approach to yoga empowers anyone to practice—regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability. Dianne is revolutionizing yoga by educating yoga instructors around the world on how to make their classes welcoming for all kinds of practitioners.

Yoga for Increased Consciousness and Innovation featuring Navi Radjou 03.03.2021 1t 11min

In this episode, Navi Radjou explores the idea of increased consciousness through yoga. Full episode with video and transcripts available at: https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/yoga-for-increased-consciousness-navi-radjou-05 The famous Yogi philosopher Vivekenanda said that yoga is a science of accelerating consciousness. If we allow nature to evolve our consciousness, it will take centuries. So yoga is like being on a fast track. And that's why I think we all have to be yoga so that we can evolve. Navi Radjou is a New York-based innovation and leadership thinker who advises senior executives worldwide on breakthrough growth strategies. A Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, Navi has served on the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Previously, he served as vice president at Forrester Research, a leading technology research and advisory firm in Boston. In 2013, Navi won the prestigious Thinkers50 Innovation Award, given to a management thinker who is reshaping the way we think about and practice innovation. He delivered a talk at TED Global 2014 on frugal innovation (over 1.8 million views). Navi co-authored Frugal Innovation: How To Do Better With Less, published by The Economist in 2015, as well as the global bestseller, Jugaad Innovation (over 250,000 copies sold worldwide). He is a sought-after keynote speaker and widely quoted in international media. Born and raised in Pondicherry, India, he holds dual French-American citizenship. He attended Ecole Centrale Paris and Yale School of Management. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. He is a life-long student of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vipassana meditation.

What are the 8 limbs of yoga and what do they mean for daily living? 26.02.2021 22min

Tiffany Russo is a yoga teacher, mentor, trainer/educator, athlete and world traveler (an advocate of real connection….). She believes that connection creates change and the most important connection to cultivate is the one that we have with ourselves. On this episode she talks about the eight limbs of yoga from Patanjali's yoga sutras. They are: Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Learn more and watch the video episodes at https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga

Yoga's Journey to the West 23.02.2021 46min

Nishanth Selvalingam grew up learning yoga at his grandfather's ashram in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Now a 500-hour certified yoga instructor from YogaWorks, a guitar player, and a teacher at StayOm Yoga and Yoga World Heart he shares with us more about the journey of yoga from east to west starting with the Rigveda to Ramakrishna, to Swami Vivekananda, and Yogananda.

What can we learn from yoga to help us live every day? 18.02.2021 42min

Jeanne Heileman specializes in discovering the needs of an individual and gently guides each student to their own grace and balance. She has been a Teacher Trainer with YogaWorks since 2005. She is a Level II Certified ParaYoga Instructor and a 500-ERYT. She is the founder of Tantra Yoga Flow. In this episode she answers questions about yoga. What are some ways yoga can help us in our everyday living? Like overcoming fear? Getting comfortable with change? How can we use yoga to stop the chatter in our heads that keeps us from doing our best work? Is yoga a religion? What is yoga for you? What are the main paths of yoga? (karma, bhakti, jnana, raja, tantra, hatha) Where does the Bhagavad Gita fit into all of this? What are the koshas? How does one get started with practicing yoga? Find Jeanne Heileman online at jeanneheileman.com To watch the video episode, visit https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/what-can-we-learn-from-yoga-jeanne-heileman-02

What is yoga? Excerpts from leading yoga instructors and executives 18.02.2021 6min

In this bonus episode, hear from leading yoga instructors and executives as they share their answers to the question, "What is yoga?" Transcript available at https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga

Introduction to Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living 15.02.2021 1min

This trailer is a short introduction to the video podcast, Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living. Hear from the global community about "What is yoga?" Please subscribe, listen, rate and review it, share it with a friend, and visit sparkpluglabs.co for more inspiring content.