The Conductor as Yogi: Seeing Ourselves Whole

“Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

It’s hard to believe I am starting my fifth year writing this blog.  My intention in those early days of the pandemic was to encourage conductors, teachers, and leaders as we navigated an unprecedented time and struggled to find ways to “keep it together.”  By exploring mindfulness, wellness, inspirational writings, and classic yoga philosophy and practice, I aimed to inspire readers towards greater wholeness in their professional and personal lives.  And I hoped The Conductor as Yogi would be an authentic, conversational approach to finding one’s personal voice amid a sea of chatter and to letting that voice speak in the practice of life.

So as we start this new year, a return to our academic calendars and concert seasons, I go back to square one.  Why is yoga still a smart framework for our conversation?

The word “yoga” translates as “yoked” or “union.”  The wholeness of the eight-limbed yoga practice—which includes breathing, mindfulness, and universal ethical principles in addition to movement on the yoga mat—is an ideal context for understanding our work as choral conductors who are also humans wanting to live fully, to live well (that would be all of us).  Trying to be one person in our professional lives and another, in our personal lives is draining, demanding that we switch back and forth in ways that can feel inauthentic or mentally chaotic or just plain tiring.  Seeing ourselves as whole, a being whose mind, body, and spirit are interwoven and expressed in unique and purposeful ways, is the first step to creating a more focused and manageable life.  Focused, because we know who we are.  Manageable, because clarity helps us see what to do, how to spend our time and effort, and what to let go of.

How do we begin to “see ourselves whole?”

The ancient texts on yoga define it this way:  “Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.”  The goal of yoga is not just the development of the body but the development of a mind that can select and direct towards what is important, necessary, healthy, and joyous.  In our modern world, the distractions are overwhelming, pulling at us in every moment.  Becoming aware of these distractions and then developing the habit of choosing what to attend to helps us begin to see ourselves as more than the current circumstance, latest “like,” or our list of tasks or professional accomplishments.

“Stilling the fluctuations” starts by stopping.  Taking a few moments to breathe and let the even flow of the breath clear the mind.  It is a habit we can develop and apply in virtually any situation—before a rehearsal or performance, a doctor’s appointment, an interview or audition, or a tough conversation.  Clear the mind with the breeze of the breath and welcome the clarity and composure to move forward bit by bit, with insight and wisdom.  And notice the change in your feeling state as the nervous system resets and you start to feel more like yourself again.

Wholeness comes in moments, but it is always there if we seek it.  And we can help our singers experience wholeness, as we bring simple techniques and approaches to our work that they, too, can apply and take with them outside of rehearsal.  It’s the pebble in the water idea . . . a great metaphor for the start of the season.  As we aim to see ourselves whole, we learn to teach and conduct this way, bringing bodies, minds, and spirits together through great music and selfless community, rippling outward for a better world.  That’s our job, our gift, our opportunity.

“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

Dr. Ramona Wis is the Mimi Rolland Endowed Professor in the Fine Arts, Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and the author of The Conductor as Leader:  Principles of Leadership Applied to Life on the Podium.  Dr. Wis is a 500-hour CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher) and a certified Brain Longevity® Specialist, a research-based certification on yoga and integrative medicine for brain health and healthy aging. Reach her at: or ramonawis.com.