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:

https://www.sparkpluglabs.co/podcast-yoga/dosha-to-dialogue-season2-episode1

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