A Metaphor for Life – Mindful Moments with Marita

Reading about yogis, you find many have stories about escaping the corporate space. After yogi teacher training, oftentimes there seems to be a misalignment with corporate life and the yogi way of life which leads to full immersion in practising and teaching yoga. I’m not trying to escape the corporate space. In fact, I love my job. In my Health & Wellness division, I think I have been fortunate to find a team I love, a culture I enjoy and a job that aligns with my passion and interests. I do think it is the best corporate experience of my career. That being said, in knowing I have no plans for immediate escape, my approach had to be one of a yogi-corporate blend. It is this blend that gives me the perspective of effectively using a yoga approach to navigate corporate waters. Essentially, I live this life – managing tight deadlines, attending meetings, managing a team, managing markets, strategising how to achieve objectives, maintaining a work-life balance in days that feel like they have too little hours. I understand this path. I blend yoga and other practical approaches to help me navigate this path.

What I share in these columns are approaches that work for me that I hope can be of some use to you.

Plan the Day
Setting the tone for the day is very important for me.
It is grounded in my morning routine. I am an early riser (much to the chagrin of many a team member).

Last week, I mentioned revisiting my to-do list when feeling overwhelmed. To re-visit, one must first start somewhere. My list starts here in the early morning. I plan my day. I use an app which I can easily manipulate; it’s synced to all my devices, so regardless of what tool I’m holding, I can always take a quick peek to update, cross-off or modify based on priority. I like to do lists.  I can write an entire article on my approach to managing my list but I’ll keep it simple for now. I genuinely enjoy this aspect of my day and even more so when I clear the last item from the “Today List”. It gives me a genuine sense of accomplishment. It’s a small win; I take those where I can.

Move the Body
After I plan the day, I move my body – sometimes I do a cardio routine followed by a gentle asana sequence or I do a full vinyasa flow. These days I have been alternating almost daily between vinyasa flows and yin yoga flows.

These yoga flows or cardio help awaken my body. My mind feels alert, my body feels great and I have a “feelgood” high that, coupled with my to-do list, gives me an optimistic outlook on the day. This is about 30-40 mins max dependent on the day. I enjoy having a banana or a bit of oatmeal before I start moving the body.

Steady the Mind
With my body feeling great, I take some moments to quiet the mind. This quiet period helps with greater self-awareness and helps me better understand and manage my external triggers. When the stressors of the day ensue, I am able to respond in a healthier manner.

These 3 steps in the morning help set me up for a productive day; I reach the office, my outlook is favourable and I’m ready to attack the day. I am not always successful in accomplishing these three steps; life sometimes happens. I don’t judge myself too harshly; I just try again the next day.

About Marita Greenidge
Marita Greenidge is a certified yoga instructor and a former ACSM certified personal trainer. She is Sales Manager of the Health & Wellness Division of Bryden Stokes Ltd., responsible for Barbados and the OECS markets. She is also Vice President of the Barbados Chapter of Variety-The Children’s Charity.

She can be contacted at mlgreenidge@gmail.com | Find her on Instagram @ekam.wellness or @thegardeningyogi or on Facebook atekamyogabb

“With my body feeling great, I take some moments to quiet the mind. This quiet period helps with greater self-awareness and helps me better understand and manage my external triggers.”