Yoga, Breathwork, and Wellness in the Corporate World with Kimia Shirkhani

What if the most powerful wellness tool you have is already inside you — and it costs absolutely nothing? In this episode, Melanie sits down with Kimia Shirkhani — executive operations partner at Cisco Meraki, certified yoga and fitness instructor, and MBA graduate with a background in industrial engineering. Kimia's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a deeply personal journey that led her from horseback riding in Iran to finding her sanctuary on the yoga mat in the United States — and ultimately choosing to share that sanctuary with others. What we cover: How an industrial engineering background shapes a systems-thinker's approach to wellness The surprising link between horseback riding and mindfulness meditation The eight layers of yoga — and why asana is just one small part of the picture Simple, practical rituals to bring calm into a busy corporate workday How breathwork regulates the nervous system in real time — even mid-meeting Building psychological safety in corporate teams through sensory experiences Kimia's personal story: culture shock, weight gain, COVID isolation, and how yoga became her rope Why you don't need equipment, experience, or an hour to spare to begin a yoga practice The train metaphor: finding the space between your thoughts Connect with Kimia: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimia-shirkhani-69a48214b/ 🧘 Teaching at CorePower Yoga, San Francisco Bay Area 🌿 Join The Motivate Collective community: www.motivatecollective.com Subtitle / Teaser: Kimia Shirkhani — yoga instructor and executive operations partner at Cisco Meraki — on breathwork, mindfulness, and why your inner sanctuary is already within reach. Author: Melanie Suzanne Wilson Episode Type: Full Season Number: 5 Episode Number: 8 Explicit: No Keywords / Tags: yoga, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, corporate wellness, nervous system, personal development, inner work, Kimia Shirkhani, wellness podcast, conscious living, sensory yoga, yogic philosophy, stress relief, The Motivate Collective Categories: Primary: Health & Fitness → Mental Health Secondary: Society & Culture → Personal Journals (Alternative primary: Education → Self-Improvement)