CPAs have a bad reputation. When you think of an accountant, you envision a basic looking white man wearing a boring UPS-brown suit and glasses with a calculator in hand and a thick stack of files in the other. He probably eats spreadsheets for lunch, too. Yuck.
Well, I might be a CPA, but I’m not boring…and I’m definitely not just about numbers.
I also teach yoga! Yup, four days out the week I wake up at 4:30 AM, head to the yoga studio and teach a 90 minute Bikram Yoga class filled with at least 20, sometimes 30 folks.
The end of this year will make 5 years of me being a full out certified Bikram Yoga Teacher. Insane right?. Teaching yoga at 6am in the morning has taught me some optimal habits for living my best life by keeping me grounded and strong when stress comes my way.
So you’re probably wondering what the hell is Birkam yoga? Well, it’s basically the original hot yoga. Every class features the same 26 set postures, is taught by a Bikram-certified instructor (I was trained in Thailand couped up in a dreamy resort overlooking cool waters) and takes place in a 105-degree, 40% humidity room. Don’t let the high temps fool you, this yoga isa lot of fun, but also challenging because of having to hold positions in the sauna-like room. The three principles of Bikram Yoga are: breath, posture and deep relaxation.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – what the hell does yoga have to do with securing bags and leveling up in business? Well, allow me to explain.
Before I started teaching yoga, I didn’t understand the value of pacing myself like I do now.
I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2010. Running your own business is like having a kid. There are no designated hours, you can stay up all night and weekends tending to business and no matter what you do, it still feels like you aren’t investing enough time; there’s always more to be done
But like with parenting, running a business doesn’t mean you have to forget about taking care of yourself.
That’s where yoga comes in.
I practice Bikram yoga principles while I’m teaching and during my day-to-day life. That’s the key. You can’t leave mindfulness on the yoga mat – you have to take it with you!
When I’m feeling anxious or stressed, I shut off my laptop, push my seat back and breathe until I feel a sense of relaxation to begin. I hold that position for as long as I need.
Then, miraculously, with this renewed energy, I am more focused and ready to tackle what’s stressing me. Or sometimes I walk away and go home because I’m exhausted. Either way, giving myself the space to process the grueling day helps me figure out next steps.
But what does that have to do with money?
Well..
How can you even begin to think of tripling your revenue streams if you’re constantly stressed and burned out? How can you analyze your financial data accurately if you’re overworked? How can you be the Boss of your business if you don’t know when to take a break or even that it’s actually ok to take a break These are real questions from real women like you and me. And it’s crucial we switch things up before shit really hits the fan. Namaste.
To more money in our pockets,
Chika
P.S. Ready to switch it up? Sign up for my 9-week LIVE financial course, Polished CEO. Check out my amazing curriculum and learn about my awesome freebies (over $3000 in value) You won’t want to miss this 😉
