378: Embodied Leadership with Sumaya K. Owens

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

378: Embodied Leadership with Sumaya K. Owens

 

Description:

Being a leader is challenging. From making tough decisions to guiding others, it demands a lot from us and it can be difficult to make the right choices. As yoga teachers, how can we ethically show up as leaders while also being aware of our own power and privilege? Sumaya K. Owens shares their insights.

 

Sumaya K. Owens is the founder of Present Moment Media where they help uplift the voices of changemakers by using content marketing as a tool for social & cultural impact. Sumaya has nearly 20 years of professional experience in the health and wellness field and is a trauma-informed yoga teacher and ayurvedic health coach. They currently teach weekly virtual yoga classes for Burmese students living in a military coup in Bago, Myanmar, as well as offer workshops, trainings, and retreats on mindfulness, stress management, and trauma-informed practices for business and nonprofit leaders. As a community leader, Sumaya serves as the DEI Co-Chai for the local chapter of AIGA Asheville, and the lead organizer for the Embodied Leadership Meetup in Asheville.

 

In this episode, Sumaya explains what embodied leadership means, why it is so important for leaders to check in with their bodies when making decisions, and some tools to integrate this into our leadership playbooks. Sumaya also talks about how to show up for hard conversations and how to balance speaking up for causes we care about while being mindful of the impact we have on our followers and students. Shannon and Sumaya also discuss the need for a supportive community and community care, particularly in these divisive and polarizing times.

 

Key Takeaways:

[3:16] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsors OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.

[5:52] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sumaya K. Owens.

[8:05] What does Sumaya do and who do they do it for?

[9:13] How did Sumaya get into their line of work?

[11:00] What does embodied leadership mean?

[12:22] Working in the health and wellness space doesn't necessarily mean that the job is relaxing or stress-free. Sumaya explains why it is important for leaders to check in with their physical bodies when making big decisions.

[17:09] What advice does Sumaya have for leaders who might feel like they are struggling to be embodied leaders?

[20:25] What does it mean to have privilege and power?

[24:01] What defines a leader?

[25:52] Shannon reflects that the yoga world has been largely silent in the face of many injustices happening around the world, most noticeably with regards to Palestine. What are Sumaya's thoughts on this? 

[31:40] We may not be able to stay up to date with all the injustices and news events that are taking place around the world, but we can hold space for one another with compassion and love.

[34:43] How can yoga teachers balance wanting to keep their posts on social media positive and helpful, while still sharing about causes they care about that may be triggering or upsetting to others?

[39:03] Shannon pops in to share some exciting news from OfferingTree.

[41:26] What is lacking in the conversation around embodied leadership in the yoga world?

[46:21] What are some of Sumaya's favorite resources to learn about nonviolent communication?

[48:40] What advice does Sumaya have for yoga teachers who may be thinking about starting a support group for other yoga teachers and entrepreneurs in their area to learn about and practice embodied leadership?

[51:32] How can we get into a more embodied state when it comes to making big decisions in our businesses?\

[55:12] Find out more about Sumaya and their work on social media and join their Facebook group.

[59:05] Sumaya shares a few concluding thoughts about community care.

[61:07] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Sumaya.

[62:40] Shannon talks about some of the guest expert calls in Pelvic Health Professionals

 

Links:

• Sumaya K. Owens, Present Moment Media

• Sumaya K. Owens on Instagram and Facebook

• Holistic Digital Marketing Strategies Facebook Group

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 376: Collective Care Over Individualistic Self-Care with Muna Shakour

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 266: Social Location, Power & Privilege with Raudhah Rahman

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 100: Cultivating a Community of Professional Peers with Linda Sparrowe

• 310: How To Create a Yoga Routine with Shannon The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode Crow

• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, by Marshall Rosenberg

• The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh

• Guest Speakers in Pelvic Health Professionals

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

• Pelvic Health Professionals

 

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, Summer Biz Camp, and Pelvic Health Professionals.

 

Quotes from this episode:

"Embodied leadership is the practice of turning your attention towards the physical body and sensations while in a position of power or privilege."

 

"As a leader, I am in a position of power. I am in a position of privilege and it is my responsibility to be incredibly aware of how I'm using that for the benefit of others."

 

"Every yoga teacher is a leader. ... The whole context of being a teacher means that your students are looking to you for guidance, they're looking to you for support, and that puts you in a position of power."

 

"As embodied leaders, it's also a responsibility to show up in the community and be calm and compassionate and caring, human beings who take care of each other and know how to have hard conversations without lashing out at each other, without blaming each other."

 

"What feels really important to me is that as yoga teachers and as leaders that we have values and that we know what they are and that we stand up for what we believe in and especially if it's something that's really aligned with our brand or our organization, our vision for the business or nonprofit that we run."

 

"One of the best things that we can do as leaders is know when we don't have all the answers and ask for help because that means we'll be more effective in the work that we're doing."