Who’s at Your Board Room Table? (And Why It Matters)

Every day, every decision - big or small - is shaped by the voices we listen to most.

Most of us let one very loud, very confident Board Member run the show: the Ego. Sometimes it’s enthusiastic at the start of something new. Sometimes it’s a judgmental, overprotective loudmouth who tells you you’re not ready, not good enough, or that small steps are pointless.

CAUTION: if Ego is the only one at the table, your life strategy is limited.

The magic (healing, whole-ing, enough-ing, enjoying) happens when you start inviting the other Board Members to speak. In Yoga, we think of this as listening to the Koshas - the five inseparable layers of your being. I like to imagine them as a circle of advisors, each with unique expertise. When they all have a seat, your decisions are wiser, more aligned, and far more joyful.

Here’s how I picture them:

1. Body (Annamayakosha) – The boots-on-the-ground expert. Knows your limits, your energy levels, your aches and your strengths. When it’s cared for, it’s confident and capable. Your body give you OJAS - vitality, capacity, sustainable energy to keep the ball rolling. I needs sleep, nourishment and effective energy management.
   
   
2. Breath (Pranamayakosha) – The translator and mediator. Reads the room, senses when you’re safe, excited, or scared. It is always exposing the truth in each moment, revealing if something is to far out of your comfort zone, or just a little scary.  It’s the one who can calm the chaos or spark courage with just one deep inhale.
   
   
3. Mind & Emotions (Manomayakosha) – The analyst, risk assessor.. Gathers all the sensory data, notices patterns, keeps you in familiar territory. Needs gentle guidance so fear doesn’t get mistaken for wisdom. Sometimes the Ego is in this Manomayakosha - the Mind trying to run the show, with heavy backup from the Emotion of fear or shame. 
4. Intuition (Vijnanamayakosha) – The visionary strategist. Sees possibilities your mind can’t rationalize. Speaks softly in nudges, gut feelings, and flashes of knowing. This one is often quiet, we’ve been trained to shove it aside, and not trust it.  Allowing it a safe place to speak means other board members need to shut up and let silence fill the space for a hot minute until Intuition is ready to speak up. Try to not immediate dismiss what this wise member will offer.
   
   
5. Bliss/Connection (Anandamayakosha) – The Chair of the Board. The “big why” behind your life. Brings a sense of peace, joy, and belonging that aligns every decision with your deeper purpose.I like to think that our Spirit Guide and all the Universal Wisdom we have yet to embody lives here. Ganesha, Archangel Michael, My Grandpa Rudy and My late Auntie Ann are among my Board Members. Auntie Ann is wise and a wise-ass, sharp witted, often pointing out the absurdity of life, and bringing a giggle back to the table. 

So, The Ego still gets a seat - but while it may be the loudest voice, we can’t let it be the only voice we use to direct our life. .

Our work, whether on the mat, in meditation, or through daily habits, is to make space for these quieter voices. Clear the static. Learn the language of each advisor. And trust that together, they’re building the most aligned version of your life. 

What practices connect you to your Board Members? How do they assemble and download messages to you?

Who’s running your Board Room right now - and who’s missing from the table?