In corporate environments where perceptions matter, your presence speaks before your pitch does. But confidence isn’t built by chance—it’s built from within. And that’s exactly where yoga, especially the practice of bhavas in yoga, becomes your inner toolkit. Celebrity yoga guru - Rupal Sidh mentions how postures become portals—into focus, wisdom, release, and radiance.

As we observe International Yoga Day, it’s time to recognise yoga as more than a fitness routine. It’s a way to develop emotional mastery, build presence, and enhance your emotional intelligence in the workplace.

What Are Bhavas in Yoga?

Derived from classical yogic philosophy, bhavas are emotional expressions or mental attitudes that shape our inner and outer experiences. Far from being esoteric ideas, they are energetic intentions that subtly influence how we think, act and relate to others—both on the mat and in the boardroom. 

Rupal talks about four primary bhavas:

• Dharma Bhava – The attitude of purposeful duty: Cultivating grounded focus, responsibility, and commitment to one’s life path.
• Jnana Bhava – The attitude of inner wisdom and clarity: Encouraging discernment, self-awareness, and seeing through illusion.
• Vairagya Bhava – The attitude of detachment and surrender: Letting go of ego, expectations, and past patterns with grace.
• Aishwarya Bhava – The attitude of inner sovereignty and abundance: Awakening self-mastery, confidence, and expansive personal power.

When integrated into daily practice, these emotional bhavas in yoga help cultivate not only a deeper spiritual connection but also a stronger, more stable version of self.

Related article: A Yoga Trainer’s Go-To Healthy Breakfast for Busy Mornings

Yoga for Confidence and Inner Strength

“Yoga is more than shapes. It’s who you become in the process,” says celebrity yoga therapist Rupal Sidh, as she explains the 4 Bhavas—emotional states that deepen your yogic journey. She also beautifully connects each asana with inner transformation:

1. Dharma Bhava – Sukhasana (Easy Pose):
   Sit cross-legged, spine tall, palms resting on knees or open at the heart. Ground your sit bones, soften the shoulders. This posture instils purpose and responsibility—perfect for building discipline and clarity of action.
    
2. Jnana Bhava – Vrikshasana (Tree Pose):
   Stand tall, shift weight to one leg, place the other foot on the inner thigh or calf (not knee). Hands in prayer or overhead. Gaze at one fixed point. It cultivates focus and discerning wisdom, quieting mental chatter.
    
3. Vairagya Bhava – Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold):
   Sit with legs extended. Inhale to lengthen, exhale to fold from the hips. Let your spine relax, release the jaw, and soften the gaze. A practice in letting go and surrender, it helps detach oneself from the outcomes.
    
4. Aishwarya Bhava – Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand):
   Lie on your back, lift legs overhead, support the lower back with your hands. Align the spine, keep the neck soft. This inversion channels sovereignty and inner strength, helping you rise above chaos with confidence.

Related article: A Celebrity Yoga Trainer’s Guide To Inversions

Yoga and Emotional Intelligence at Work

Antonio Damasio’s Somatic Marker Hypothesis reveals that bodily sensations—such as a racing heart or tight chest—serve as emotional signals that guide our choices. Yoga, particularly when practised with an awareness of bhavas, becomes a powerful tool for improving emotional intelligence, which ultimately contributes to better decision-making at the workplace. 

Through regular corporate yoga sessions, professionals can:

• Recognise and regulate emotional triggers
• Approach high-pressure situations with calm rather than reactivity
• Lead with empathy through prem bhava
• Cultivate focus and mindfulness, enhancing productivity

In essence, yoga for emotional intelligence supports a more compassionate, connected and confident workforce.

Preventing Burnout Through Yoga

The rise in corporate burnout has made wellbeing practices non-negotiable. But yoga is more than a midday stretch—it’s a holistic stress relief tool. Breathing techniques like Anulom Vilom or Nadi Shodhana, done with shanti bhava, calm the nervous system and help reset the mind.

Start with a 5-minute emotional alignment practice:

• Sit in Sukhasana
• Inhale with the intention: “I am aware” (gyana bhava)
• Exhale: “I am at peace” (shanti bhava)
• Inhale: “I am strong” (aishwarya bhava)
• Exhale: “I offer kindness” (prem bhava)

Rupal reminds us - “The mat is your mirror” and these small moments of internal shift create lasting emotional resilience, give clarity of thoughts and boost self-confidence.

As we honour International Yoga Day, let us remember that yoga is not just about flexibility of body—but of mind and heart. For the modern corporate professional, it offers more than calm; it offers clarity, confidence, and a conscious way of being.

By practising with the bhavas in yoga, we access more than poses—we access power. In a world that constantly demands output, yoga invites us inward, towards balance, wholeness, and authentic living.

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