An article was recently published in the local newspaper about the business of yoga, featuring some of the leaders in our yoga community who each have a shared commitment to helping others in learning, practicing and teaching yoga.
I have a bias to share on the topic of yoga. I am also a yoga teacher in training, a journey that began in January 2013 when I was accepted into the year long, 300 hour Bodhi Tree Teacher Training program, with Colin Hall and Sarah Garden. Over the course of the year, in becoming a teacher, I have learned that it is more than just calling out poses. It is about understanding who is the room and what they need to experience in that moment.
When I read the story,I was reminded of something our professor used to say: that good journalism generates dialogue, except when the dialogue is about the journalism itself. And that is what happened at least among a group of people who felt affected by the story.
I was annoyed by the structure, argument and editorial tone that was unnecessarily present, breaking the J-School rule of becoming part of the story.
When I read the piece as a journalist, publisher, business owner and yoga teacher, I had a negative response that I can only attribute to three possibilities that together created the perfect storm for this occurrence:
- a lack of understanding of the topic (the words "upward facing butts" tells me the writer has never practiced or experienced yoga);
- a lack of understanding about business in general; and
- a lack of understanding of balance and responsibility in the art of story telling.
Since the intent of the article was to discuss the business of yoga as its title implied, I would like to offer a perspective based on over 20 years of business planning, some 200 hours of yoga training, countless hours of practicing yoga in Regina as well as other cities, and as one trained and working as a journalist / publisher.
First, the "business of yoga" as defined by a trade of time or money is perfectly understandable. Yes, we can practice for free in our homes if we like but to learn, one must venture into a learning environment, just like we do when we attend university. So it is perfectly acceptable to expect to pay for the service and the expertise.
Yoga teachers invest countless hours in learning, practicing and teaching. So that experience also comes with a value of time and money.
Yoga studio owners as business people have real costs. In business, we call those costs "overhead." That includes leasing the space, or buying it, maintenance and utilities. Overhead goes up, whether or not revenue follows. So business must invest in marketing their products and services, and they must invest in having skilled people to deliver. Managing business is a fine balance between managing costs and revenue. The bottom line for the consumer is, if you want the product and the experience, you have to pay for it. And you always get what you pay for.
Cost per class is not a deterrent ever. In Regina, the average cost is apparently $15.00 according to the article. I don't know if that's true. I have paid $25.00 and up for Yoga in Vancouver. Further to that, the yoga community reaches out, providing free yoga classes. On Thanks Giving Sunday, the Bodhi Tree's Scott McLean offered a free yoga class with a contribution to the food bank. If someone cannot afford yoga, studios will make adjustments.
People come to yoga classes for many reasons. Some come for a physical practice, others come for the restorative practice. Some come to heal injuries. Other come to live with injury. Some come for the meditative practice. Others came to be a part of something bigger. Some come to feel connected to the universe beyond, others come to find the connection to the universe within.
The teacher is there to lead a practice of asanas (poses), but each person is there moving in his or her own body, experiencing their own practice. The bottom line is, it feels good on some level and it's good for us, and that's why we do it. As a new yoga teacher in the community, I am honoured to be part of the student's experience and this growing community.
I think we cannot mistake that yoga is a practice for the privileged in North America. Attending a paid yoga classes at a studio is most certainly an act of capitalist consumerism. Not that there is a huge problem with this, but I think we need to be real in recognizing that yoga has become another commodity with studios offering specialized classes intended to draw crowds or attention - classes that often draw away from the intent of practice. Sometimes it's hard to emerge from this sea of consumerism with a good handle on authentic practice. I thought the Leader Post article was a non article, with no real point to make. The facts are clear, we live in a capitalist culture - we pay for service. As yoga practitioners and teachers our main objective needs to be finding authenticity amidst this and then bringing the yoga off the mat and into the lives of those we come into contact with. As teachers, we ought to encourage the same of our students. A more mindful, thoughtful, compassionate population should be the goal or intent of modern yoga practice. Enlightenment is probably for another lifetime. Let's just focus on being present, and aware participants in consumer culture.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about the Leader Post article. As a yoga practitioner and teacher, i wondered what point the author was trying to make. It seemed that there was little understanding or research into this ancient art/science. Thanks Lynn, i was wondering if it was just me:)
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