biz: yoga teacher etiquette

as a yoga teacher, we're in a position to set an example for our students.  the way we dress, act and speak both in and out of the studio is observed, and can affect how our students feel about and experience the practice itself.  we're our students doorway into yoga, and that role calls for a certain level of decorum.

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this morning, i went to a studio that i had never been to before.  i arrived about 15 minutes before the start of class to find the studio dark and locked.  hmm...  5 minutes before class was supposed to start, a car pulled in -- and it was another student.  we waited by the door, and were just about to leave (since it was 5 minutes past when the class was scheduled to begin), when the instructor pulled into the lot.

she was friendly and nice, but also didn't act as if this were out of the ordinary.  after signing in and setting up, we started a good 10-15 minutes late.  it was an enjoyable practice, and i felt the slight tension/confusion begin to melt away as we gracefully moved from one posture to the next.

savasana was sweet and accompanied by a much-appreciated head and neck massage.  there was no clock in the studio, so when i got back into my car, i was surprised to see that we ended nearly 20 minutes late.  since we started late, i understand the notion of giving us a full class, but she hadn't checked with us to see if we were able to stay late.  it was fine with my schedule, but i know the other woman who took the class was headed to work afterwards.

it's important for yoga teachers to remember that their students have a life outside of the yoga studio.  be on time for your classes -- actually be early.  get the music ready, the candles lit, your mat rolled out and be ready to welcome students as they enter.  end on time -- you don't know what your students are up to or where they're headed afterwards, so show them respect by ending on time.  if you feel like you need extra time or might go over, let them know, and give them the option to leave.

i know that yoga's more about intuition and feeling than time tables and schedules, but if you consistently disregard these professional courtesies, your students will likely resent you or even choose to forgo your class (or yoga) altogether.  give them the best possible first impression -- and subsequent impressions.  you're the face of "yoga" for many of them -- do it justice :-)

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biz: essentials steps to build your yoga biz

are you feeling unclear about what to do now that you've completed teacher training?if you're a new teacher, fresh out of teacher training, it can be a little overwhelming knowing the first steps to take as a yoga professional.  but, if want yoga to be your business, not just your hobby, there are a few things you should consider -- all of which helped me to land my first clients and get my first teaching job :-)

1. build a resume -- yes, even yogis need resumes.  highlight your trainings and experience -- having an organized, professional resume will instantly put you ahead of the competition.

2. get insurance -- i know, getting insurance sounds daunting and expensive (it's neither, by the way).  most studios and gyms ask if you have it, and if you're thinking about teaching for companies, at schools, or in private homes, it's a must!

3. be social -- get online!  the web is the ultimate equalizer, so even if you're new, but have an awesome facebook page, blog, or website, you'll be taken more seriously.  plus, it will give your students (and future students) a way to connect with you!  have you ever googled a restaurant only to find it had no website, and therefore decided not to go?  'nuff said.

with a little time, and very little money, you can easily start building a foundation for your yoga biz today -- and begin living your passion!!!

if you want more yoga biz advice, check out www.CALMbiz.org -- or, if you have a suggestion about what biz or social media topic you'd like to learn more about, send me your ideas at cailenascher@gmail.com.

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bringing balance back

credit {here}

in last week's post, i talked about how things can spiral out of control (or at least feel as if they are) when we let negative emotions get the better of us.  negative thoughts breed more of the same, so it's easy to find yourself stuck in a rut.

it's funny how when we're stressed, or frustrated, or angry, we often let other aspects of our life - not just our emotions - get out of whack too.  we don't eat as well, we skip going to yoga class, and we toss and turn all night running through our to-do list or replaying events from the day.  sound familiar?

to bring balance back to your life, sometimes working from the outside-in is the best approach.  instead of getting down on yourself for feeling blue, take better care of yourself.  be gentle and kind.  as if you're your own best friend.

start your day with a few moments of quiet, whether you're lying in bed or seated.  take some deep breaths, and feel how the breath begins to settle - and balance - the body.  then, feed yourself a balanced breakfast like overnight oats or a scrambled egg to get your body going.  if your usual breakfast is sugary cereal, a bagel or donut, or nothing at all, feeding yourself a wholesome breakfast can be a real treat (in a different kind of way). 

continue to move purposefully throughout your day, with the intention not to rush.  whatever you're working on or talking about - be there.  give yourself the gift of presence.  if you can, take the time to do something you love that may even feel a bit selfish - read your favorite magazine, go to that awesome yoga or pilates or zumba class that you haven't been to in months, or take a luxurious bubble bath.  often when we feel off-balance, it's because too much of our energy is focused outward, and we get burnt out.  instead, turn-in, and see if balance begins to find you.  to complete your day, make a real dinner (no frozen lean cuisine, please), and sit at the table to enjoy it.  i guarantee that after a day or two of what i've prescribed, you'll feel balanced, calm and at peace.

in yoga we talk about the balance of effort and ease.  no pose should be all work, or all chillin' out.  there should be a balance - an ebb and flow.  life's like that too.  you need the yin and the yang for the sense of balance to come.  and, just to clarify, we're talking about "balance" in the fluid, breathing, moving sense - not in the static, holding sense of the word. 

i know the tips i mentioned above may seem obvious, but the truth is, even through we all know to some degree what will bring us greater balance and peace, so often we still don't do it.  we all need a little reminder sometimes to take time for ourselves, feed our bodies well, and move them a little bit, too.  simple practices such as these can really make a world of difference.

feeling more balanced yet?...

meditation for your journal or cushion:
what is something that you continue to do that you know takes you out of balance?
what is one thing you can do today that will bring you a sense of calm and balance?

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california gurls

santa monica pier

we’re back from our whirlwind tour of the city of angels. we managed to experience about a week’s worth of activities in just a quick 3 days. having never been to LA (or california for that matter), the most welcome element of the trip was the weather reprieve. it was consistently 70 and sunny. a nice break from snowy, 20 degree bucks county, pa.

hollywood walk of fame

besides reveling in the sunshine, we walked the hollywood walk of fame and took pictures of the hand prints outside grauman’s chinese theater. enjoyed a golf-cart tour of fox studios where amy (our LA hostess) works. and made sure to see the hollywood sign, then proceeded to drive up the hillside to see the houses (and the view). amazing. with santa monica as our home base, we were able to walk to both venice beach (and muscle beach) and also the santa monica pier. a lovely walk, but my feet were killing me because of the new flip-flops i was sporting. (for some reason, even though i knew the projected weather forecast, i still packed as if i wouldn’t see the sunshine…)

sunset!!!

saturday afternoon we attended a “jersey shore” party and enjoyed hours and hours of foot-soaking goodness as we dipped our toes in the hot tub. our last full day found us hiking up a hill (or was it a mountain?) to enjoy breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains, downtown LA, the coastline and catalina island. gorgeous. afterwards, us girls enjoyed an abbreviated afternoon at universal studios, while craig stayed back to watch the jets v. pats game. after a handful of rides at universal, we jumped back into the car to make it to the santa monica beach by sunset. i had never seen a west coast sunset before. o. m. g. stunning.

in between the “must-sees”, we talked (ate), laughed (ate some more) and caught-up on what’s going on with everyone.

sunset over the pier

here are some of the lesser known attractions that really made our trip. (as usual, many are food-related):

1. urth caffe. a fabulous little bistro in santa monica that looks like it was plucked off the mediterranean coast. if you ever find yourself at urth, here’s what to order. small cappuccino, americano style, strong. Honestly the best cappuccino (and foam) of my life. and the bread pudding. original with caramelized bananas. delish!


cappuccinos at urth caffe

2. alibi room. awesome little bar with great food. amy took us there for korean tacos. don’t ask, just go. what to order: korean tacos (you can pick from short ribs, pork or chicken) i got the chicken, but I hear the short ribs are amazing too. and the sweet-chili chicken quesadilla. so so so good. yum.

3. topanga state park. fun, relatively easy hike through the santa monica mountains. the hike up to the lookout takes about a ½ hour, so it’s very manageable : ) and the vistas are totally worth the exertion, don’t worry. 

view from summit at topanga state park

4. diddy riese. totally cool ice cream sandwich place. yes, you read right…ice cream sandwich. you pick your two cookies and your ice cream, and they create a custom ice cream treat. and they only cost $1.50 each!!! i don’t know how they do it, but if you’re in the area, GO! what did i get? cookies ‘n cream ice cream sandwiched between one oatmeal raisin cookie and one white chocolate chip cookie. the cookies were soft, chewy and warm, and the ice cream was cool and creamy. utter perfection.  (oh, and if you check out their website, you can design your fave concoction.  but unfortunately they do not ship...)

awesome trip with awesome friends.

craig & me at sunset

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