Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living

Yoga Philosophy for Everyday Living is a video podcast series featuring global yoga instructors and executives. I started this series to share the ancient wisdom of yoga and how it connects to your everyday living both on and off the mat. I want to champion you on your journey, help you get out of your head, and be present to living an active and inspired life.

The Inner Work of Inclusion: Yoga Philosophy for Thriving Workplaces featuring Jeremy David Engels, PhD 06/16/2026

The Inner Work of Inclusion: Yoga Philosophy for Thriving Workplaces featuring Jeremy David Engels, PhD 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! 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: 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, 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: Instagram: Blue Sky: • • 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. Full episode details and transcript available online at: Cultivate your courageous leadership journey through an 8-week Positive Intelligence Group Coaching Cohort. /episode/index/show/yogaphilosophy/id/41635130

Leading With Courage in Uncertain Times featuring Angela Cheng-Cimini 06/12/2026

Leading With Courage in Uncertain Times featuring Angela Cheng-Cimini 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. 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. Cultivate your courageous leadership journey through an 8-week Positive Intelligence Group Coaching Cohort. /episode/index/show/yogaphilosophy/id/41627675

Courageous Presence: How Yoga Shapes Modern Legal Leadership 02/18/2026

Courageous Presence: How Yoga Shapes Modern Legal Leadership 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. /episode/index/show/yogaphilosophy/id/40149010

From Dosha to Dialogue: Transforming How We Connect at Work 09/19/2025

From Dosha to Dialogue: Transforming How We Connect at Work 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: 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 /episode/index/show/yogaphilosophy/id/38274035