🦅 Week 6: Eagle Pose (Garudasana): Focus in the Midst of Complexity

Welcome to Week 6 of Yoga for Leadership™.

🌱 This is your calm and centered leadership series where I share one yoga pose each week for you to integrate into your leadership practice.

We've practiced 5 awesome poses already. If you've missed them, check out the full series here: Yoga for Leadership™.

With Week 6, we shift again.

This time, from open heart and courage, to attention and discernment. 

🦅 Eagle Pose (Garudasana): Focus in the Midst of Complexity

You know that one pose where you never feel fully settled,

where you are constantly calibrating and paying attention

in order to stay in integrity with the posture?

Eagle Pose is that pose for me.

No matter how many times I do it, it feels different.

Some days I find my balance easily.

My foot hooks steadily behind my calf.

My arms weave together.

My shoulders soften down.

My eyes rest on a single point.

And then there are days when none of that works.

I fall out of the pose.

I sway.

I cannot sink as deep.

And that is the beauty of this pose.

You wrap your legs and arms and let your body find its balance.

Your gaze softens on one point.

Your breath steadies the shape from within.

And even though the bind looks tight, your awareness expands.

You see more by giving your focus to just one thing.

There is a calm fierceness to this pose.

A quiet determination that comes from holding your center in the midst of all the wrapping and complexity.

It mirrors leadership so clearly.

Life and work often place us in the middle of competing priorities.

So many things pulling at our attention.

So many responsibilities asking to be held at the same time.

When I feel that swirl, that tension, that anxiety - I notice something.

I start doing a little bit of everything (hello, 63 open tabs) and not enough of anything.

I feel stretched, scattered, and slightly off center.

Does this happen to you too?

Eagle Pose taught me something helpful.

When things feel complex, narrow your focus before widening your perspective.

Gather in.

Steady your gaze.

Breathe.

Then move with intention.

This is not about shutting things out. 

(Although - I probably should close out those 63 tabs.)

It is about choosing one thing that deserves your focus right now.

🌱 Leadership Practice:

When you feel pulled in ten directions, pause.

Pick one priority to focus on for the next hour.

Let your breath and attention settle there before moving on.

💫 Invitation:

What would become clearer if you focused on less today?