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When the sadhaka is firmly established in brahmacarya, knowledge, vigour and energy flow to him. 1
When you’re in conscious relationship with your energy and firmly grounded in your center, the Shakti flows uninterrupted. 2
Yoga = Life Coaching
For many years, I've believed that the essence of life coaching is grounded in yoga. The psychology and philosophy behind yogic teachings are vibrant, current, and profoundly applicable to contemporary living.
When the organization and yoga community I had aligned with for years crashed and burned, the teachings rose from the ashes — reminding me of what is genuine and what is illusion.
After the initial shock of loss and grief, as healing slowly began, I found myself longing for a teacher again. I craved immersion in knowledge, the spark of revitalization, and an expansion of awareness. Yet, deep within my body and heart, I knew I wanted a different kind of teacher: a new method of learning.
After much contemplation and soul-searching, I discovered a life coaching program and eventually trained to become a certified coach.
Power Leaks
This week, I connected with my dear friend,
, who’s visiting her daughter on the East Coast. It was lovely to sit in my favorite chair, sipping coffee and catching up. I imagined Sue doing the same, settled into a cozy chair, cup in hand. Like hummingbirds sipping nectar, we flitted from one topic to another. Somewhere between laughter and reflection, we acknowledged something essential: If we’re not mindful of our energy, it drains quickly. And it’s not just us — it’s our clients, friends, family, and you, dear readers. Many of us feel zapped, like bugs caught in a light trap. In coaching, we often call this power leaks.But what is the connection between energy drains, power leaks, and the above yoga sutra?
Imagine that you are a beautiful, hand-crafted oil lamp, the kind used in ancient yogic rituals. You’re filled with precious, fragrant oil — your vital energy: prana-shakti. When your lamp is intact, your flame burns bright and steady. It warms, lights, and inspires. This is your focused power. Your presence, creativity, clarity, and ability to make aligned choices. But over time, small cracks appear in the base of the lamp.
Not from weakness, but from overextension, people-pleasing, saying yes when you mean no, over-consuming, or failing to rest. These cracks are your power leaks.
At first, they’re barely noticeable. But eventually, the oil begins to drip — quietly, slowly. Until one day, your flame flickers. And you feel depleted. Disconnected. Off your path. The good news: your inner flame is never fully extinguished.
But your radiance gets dimmed. We’ve all been there. We’ve all known that feeling of depletion. You might be there right now.
A Yogic Perspective
These leaks happen when we forget brahmacharya — the art of conserving and consciously directing our energy. Or when we neglect pratyahara — allowing our senses and attention to scatter outward in every direction. We leak power when we chase what isn’t ours to carry — breaking the vow of aparigraha, the art of non-clinging and simplicity.
In Tantra, energy is everything, everywhere, all at once — Spanda is the sacred pulse. When your energy stagnates or dissipates, you become out of alignment with your svadharma - true path.
Coaching helps clients plug power leaks, essentially guiding them back to resonance with their personal spanda — their soul’s true rhythm.
To reclaim your power, you don’t need more hustle. You need to seal the cracks.
That means…
Saying no with love and clarity.
Creating rituals of rest and solitude.
Releasing attachments that no longer nourish.
Turning inward to refuel your sacred flame.
Because you’re not just a lamp. You are the radiant light of love.
Question for the Comments: Where are you losing power, and where do you need to seal in the energy?
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Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra - Pada II.38 (Sadhaka - student or practitioner)
My Rendition of II.38
I love the four bullet points at the end of your post, such essential guidance. Thank you, Paulette, for sharing your wisdom as well as your friendship! 💕
Lest our warmth leaks, drains,
may we fuel each other’s lamps.
Protect our bright lights.