Weekly Newsletter

We're Back!

Namaste everyone. It's Harlan and I've returned from a long journey on the road doing two seminars in the month of February. My kids are looking at me as if to say, "Who is this guy?"

Sara is on the mend from a serious bout with the flu and busy planning her retreat in Costa Rica. If you tried to get a hold of my office while we were away, we're back in action.

The February print newsletter is a little unusual and so it is running late. It consists of print, a CD, and a DVD with video files that is meant to be watched on a computer ONLY. One look at the content of this newsletter and at the Craigslist ad and you'll understand this newsletter was well worth the wait. Sara saw the Craigslist ad and her mouth went..."Wow!"

The March newsletter is going to "double-wow" you. That's all I can say right now but we are expecting an incredible interview and some insider referral strategies. It completes one year of publication so we are going to make it special.

There are still a few remaining places at Sara's Costa Rica retreat. If you live outside the United States, the exchange rate with the US dollar has never been more favorable. If you are in the United States, airfares just went down. So check out the information on the retreat here.

And if you aren't a subscriber to our print newsletter, you can still get the February issue for free by joining us here.

Controversy Warning!

Every time we send out a newsletter, we get a response. Some people post on our forum. Some people email me.

I get lots of great advice but sometimes, I just shake my head in wonder.

Let me begin by saying the reason this newsletter exists is because so many yoga teachers lack financial balance in their lives.

Some people teach yoga simply because they love it and they don't care about money. That's beautiful.

Other teachers teach yoga and make a wonderful living at it. That's beautiful too.

But then there are the teachers who some how got the convoluted idea that poverty and teaching yoga MUST go together. It is to those teachers who think you have to be poor in order to teach yoga that I address my remarks in response to an email.

I'll quote from the email and respond. (Misspellings were in the original)

Your last email quite confused me, like I read it a few times... about how to receive referals... and I wasnt sure why you would offer flowers, or would a few petals do the same. Would chocolate work too?

Any thing your clients would like will work.

What confused me and felt really gut feeling weird, is that if I appreciate a student for who they are, because our sharing and experience together, I would offer him or her flowers, or olive oil, because of our relationship and just because I appreciate this person, Do I offer a gif to a person for them, for the experience? or for what I can get from offering a gift. But it aint about offering a gift for the true connection that might exist in these beautiful relations, but giving for receiving . Shouldnt we give with no expectations?

The purpose of the article was how to grow your referral business. This is a way of connecting with your students and showing them you care and you recognize them and their achievements. As a result of your gift, you may get additional clients. In fact, it happens quite often. But this is part of a strategy. If you would like to give gifts to your students (Sara often does) that's a beautiful thing. But this is about growing your business.

To expect and gain something from an offering feels slightly odd and not a real gift. Or a gift with the intention of gaining something. I mean sending a flower for a client not for them but for how the people react around them, to get to know me, is quite interisting, in order for me to get something out of it.
Would I send flowers to a client even I dont really connect with, or feel the gratitude and openness towards them. But because they work in a place where lots of people work, potential clients... yeahhaaaaa

What your comments are telling me is that you think there is something wrong with strategically growing your business. These gifts are recognizing the growth of your students. You aren't giving random gifts here in hope of a return. Your gifts - in true recognition of achievement - will be cherished by your students. And if you don't connect with your student, you should not be teaching them.

Many years ago, when hiring a teacher for a high school I asked the teacher, "What is the most important thing to you about teaching?" His answer got him hired immediately. "The most important thing to me about teaching is loving every single one of my students." I believe this is the duty of every teacher and if you don't feel the love for your students in your heart, work on yourself until you do or find a different job.

But to really expect to get more business in my new yogi eyes feels anti yoga approach to life, people, being generous and honest, pure intentions when is yoga yoga for transformation and positive social change or yoga actions and intentions to make cash. I think this is very intensive, the intention of our actions and why we do what we do. Pure intentions are the key we try to get to, If I plan a situation its about wanting to control, manipulate. Are we trying to decrease greed, self centerdness, the needs and wants, the controling of situations....

Here we come to the crux of the issue. This yoga teacher is completely incongruent about making money for teaching yoga. Teaching in order to earn an living somehow translates in his brain as trying to control, manipulate, being self centered, or being filled with greed.

Two of the greatest yoga teachers in the world Shiva Rea and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa are getting together to teach at Kripalu this summer. To me it's just fascinating. Here are two of the most well connected spiritually yoga teachers and they are both doing extremely well financially. They have no inner qualms or conflicts (and please don't tell me they never read the Yoga Sutras) about having abundance in their life.

And they are teaching at Kripalu which has the single most expensive teacher training program anywhere. It may be non-profit but the courses there can be very expensive to attend.

A few months ago, I received an email from someone who wrote, "Harlan, I'd like to teach private yoga clients but I want to be humble and true to yoga spirit and not to do anything to market myself."

My friends, this person is heading straight a live of financial imbalance. Do you think God wants you to be poor?

A teacher once shared with me that God puts money in everyone's bank account. And then he (or she) watches to see what you do with the money.

If you do good deeds and charitable works with the money, God will send you more - lots more.

But if you are miserly and think you don't have an obligation to spread the wealth around. God will direct his abundance elsewhere.

But if you sit in the dark and wait for students to come, you may be waiting a long long time. And if you have a family, this thinking is just not fair to them.

First, it is not an accurate representation of the Sutras. Pantajali doesn't want you to starve. He wants you to be balanced in your desires.

Amma is considered a living saint. Do you know how much money flows through her fingers and organization? Millions and millions. Yet she is simply not affected by it. She sees herself completely as a divine instrument. She believes money is directed to her by God and she acts where her heart and her brain tell her the need is greatest.

Of course we want to live from teaching yoga, and travel and train around the world... do I still have material needs, of course, comfort desire yes, but heading towards decreasing the desire of taking, needing ... is the key of the practice. Not take more, and do whatever I have to do to be recognise and loved...

Folks, if you want to teach yoga and make a living at it, there is something I would like to introduce you to. They are called bills. They appear like magic every month in your mailbox.

If you don't pay your phone bill, they turn off your phone.

If you don't pay your electric bill, you sit in the dark.

If you don't pay your rent, they are going to evict you.

And they don't care how spiritual you are.

Yes you can make an honest living doing what you loving and being well paid for it.

Yes you can change peoples' lives.

Yes you can spread positivity and spirituality throughout the world.

And yes, you can open your heart and hand to the universe and receive the gift of financial balance with complete integrity.

And if you look at all the yogis and yoginis who are living a balanced life financially, and shaking your head at them ... you have a lot of inner work to do. You may be able to balance in a difficult pose on the mat but it's lacking in your life.

So are you outraged? Inspired? Share your thoughts here.

Interest in Sara's Retreat Grows

I hope you'll join us at the Restoraflow retreat in Costa Rica. People have been calling wanting to join us from all around the world. Sara is already planning a retreat to remember. You'll discover how she gets clients who will never leave - ever.

Imagine never having to worry about attracting new clients. Sounds like a fantasy? Not once you learn the Restoraflow process.

Not only will you become certified in Restoraflow, you will go home with all the marketing materials so you can do what you love and be well paid for it.

You can find out the details here...

To find out how to post and use the forum go to:

http://www.buildyouryogabusiness.com/register.html