I taught my first in person, indoor class this week after…. what is it now? 18 months or so? I’ve lost track. In England we’ve had multiple lockdowns, so many government u-turns and obfuscating changes of regulations…
Throughout that time I maintained a zoom community of students. Bar a couple of necessary pauses I’ve brought a small number of people together every week, from my home to theirs, sharing some yoga practices that I believe are helpful to them and make a difference to quality of life in some way. I’m beyond proud of myself for this.
Meanwhile the workplace where I used to teach closed the facility. So this week was our first class together again, in a new location as close to the old one as I could get. For the first time ever I’m now hiring a local room with all that goes along with that. Will I cover the expense each week? Can I grow a little community here over time? Will this new space work for us? How should I spread the word?
So many ‘business’ issues… Different to being paid a regular fee per class, having all the booking done for me, and so on.
But also this: I don’t have to worry about answering to someone else (a gym manager) about what I choose to teach, I don’t have to compete with the loud music from the gym or worry when savasana is disturbed by the guys bellowing at the weights rig on the other side of the wall. Now I get to create my own vibe and attract students who see me as their kind of teacher. I’m no longer prohibited from chanting OM in class ๐
In short, I am free.
I feel that I am creating again from the ground up — like you do in each asana.
It’s wonderful and a bit terrifying — how I feel about a lot of asanas and transitions.
Yet I am more capable of all this than I think — surprise, my asana practice also teaches me this.
And how was the first class? Of course, it was wonderful and inspiring — for me, so hopefully for my students too ๐ They came in nervous about class, frazzled from their working day, two a little tearful. They left chatting with one another, laughter bubbling, softer faces, and a certain radiance.
I helped them find that. Wow. This yoga… Sometimes my heart bursts in wonder and gratitude that yoga can be so simple and powerful, and that I can help others in this small (big) way.
Congrats on your new business!!!! May your new turn in life bring you more peace, joy and prosperity with each passing day!
I almost went into yoga business in 2019 but ended up finding a job doing something else and was glad for it when pandemic hit. Some of my friends live near the ocean and I imagine that one day I could afford owning a house in scenic location where I would dedicate a patio and a room just for yogasana and have people over for sangha. At the workplace (a k-age 22 school for students with autism) I am at now, I just set up the Professional Development calendar for the year for the teachers and have my eye on several months to fine tune yoga for specific energy/ emotions! I have been working on writing a yoga book and really need to finish it because itโs been on the finishing touches stage since beginning of pandemic if not longer!
Reading about your class bringing joy to the world of your little community was super heartwarming! What joys and hopes you have! ๐๐ฝ The gym you were at may have been โburnedโ by the pandemic but the embers of your passion live on igniting new life!
Happy New Adventures!!!!
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thank you so much for your encouragement! I’m not sure I call my little class a ‘new business’ — a bit more humble in aspiration, more like your vision for a room for yogasana, sangha, and love perhaps.
Good luck with completing your book — so exciting to be nearly at the finish of such a project.
thank you so much for stopping by my blog and lending your support x
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No chanting Om in class? Yikes! It seems that all too often people want a sterilized version of Eastern practices, whether in Yoga or Buddhism. Iโm so glad you found a new place where you can be authentic, and are finding your strength and balance in forging ahead!
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Congratulations in taking this step, BBC! It sounds like you’re creating a wonderful “practice container” for your community. So very sweet. Blessings on your endeavour!
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thank you so much k8! I’m sure you’ll hear more here…
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It’s lovely to follow the natural unfolding of your yoga practice, babycrow. ๐ค I’m sure your little space is a wonderfully large hearted one for all those whose lives you touch.
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aw thank you for saying that! It does feel so nice to be teaching in ‘my own’ (rented) space and feeling that I share directly from my own practice.
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