A Message From Sara

Hello Friends,

The holidays are approaching and peoples' lives begin to become consumed with holiday shopping and festive cooking.  This is a busy time of year and for most can also be a stressful time. Usually around the time of holidays, clients decide their bodies and health are of lesser importance. Especially if people have children, they get caught up in taking perfect care of their families and not of themselves.

I recently signed up a new client and she was shy about her husband  knowing how much she was spending on her two private yoga sessions a week. However she is exhausted with house and children responsibilities and she is not feeling healthy in her body.

I asked her if she thought that taking care of herself was equally important to that of her family. She replied “absolutely". Then she smiled and said as much money as we spend on our children and getting them what they need, there is no reason why I should not do the same for myself, especially when it is enabling me to feel  better physically and emotionally.

If  you have private clients or students in your classes, now is the time to check in with them about the holidays and emphasize how during this time they should make sure they continue on their schedule of yoga.

By doing something simple and sweet for your clients  you can remind them to be good to themselves. One suggestion is to find a poem  that has reference to yoga, meditation, health, the breath, serenity or what ever speaks to you and that you may find inspiring. Type this poem out, roll it up and tie a nice colorful ribbon around it, and give it to your clients. It does not have to be expensive or elaborate to touch a person’s heart.

If you have a studio, you may want to do a special Holiday promotion for giving a discount on classes or bring in a friend for a first time class and receive a gift.

At Christmas and Hanukah I give my clients a present and a card.  Even when I taught a lot of classes, I made a point to give a small gift (typically a yoga book) to each person. It is my way of saying to them that I appreciate their business and I value them as my clients. I love to give gifts to people for any occasion and I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t like to receive them.

“Suddenly I remembered that I had forgotten to remember myself!” -Ouspensky

Your classes may slow down a little or clients may cancel during this holiday season but allow yourself to be unaffected . Ask them in advance to be respectful of your schedule and let you know one to two days in advance. When ever my business slows down a little I delight in being able to use the time to be outside (playing at the beach), or doing the creative things I usually don’t have time for. 

Instead of thinking  "No clients, No money in my bank account", I reverse that thought with "No client, More me time" and have ultimate faith that when business with get even busier after the lull. There are time in your day or week where rest and play are way more important than a client canceling.

As much as we give to everyone else as yoga teachers, don’t neglect any part of yourself. In order to continue to give and be effective with our students, we need to replenish our bodies, balance our emotional self, stay in alignment with our intuitive self, rediscover serenity on a daily basis and love every part of ourselves.

Last night, I got a chance to have a good heart to heart with one of my closest girlfriends. With our schedules we don’t get a lot of time together but the time we make to talk is quality. She mentioned that she is missing more peace in her life. She feels a lack of serenity in her world. She mentioned that she had it years age but not anymore.  She said “I just want more time alone and time with no background noise; the radio or television”. 

I realize that when you are married or raising children, this becomes more difficult, However if your spirit is craving that, then you must find a way to what it is your spirit is telling you it needs. My favorite time is when I can be in silence. No phone, no music and usually soaking in a tub full of lavender bubble bath with candles all around the room.

Some food for thought:

do you find time in your day or week to be in silence? Other that your yoga practice, or meditation, Do you seek silence ? Are you comfortable in silence with yourself and with others. When you are in silence, what arises for you. Some time this week, indulge in silence and sink into awareness. Afterwards journal your experience.

I read this quote in the book : Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita By: Ram Dass.  I strongly recommend you read this book.  You can get it at the link above. And if you haven't read this book, you are in for a treat.

“The whole world is tormented by words And  there is no one who does without words. But only insofar as one is free form words Does on really understand words”

-Saraha (early Tantric Buddhist)

May you all continue to enjoy your unfolding journey,

Love, light and peace,

Sara

Blowing It For My Teacher

I'm such a yoga nut that not only do I work with Sara in a Vinyasa Flow class daily, I also do first series of Ashtanga with another teacher Valerie.  Over the summer, I invited a friend to join me in Valerie's sessions with me and he got hooked.

He hired Valerie to come to his home and do privates with he and his wife two times a week.  They were enjoying their sessions immensely and he quickly shed 14 pounds in just a few weeks.

Recently, Valerie was invited to give an Ashtanga class at Boca's leading yoga studio and I wrote an email for the studio to send out.

I was so proud of Valerie and made a critical mistake.  Sara reminded me of it but it was too late.

I invited my friend and his wife to Valerie's class with me.  Whoops!

Never ever invite a private client to one of your classes.

Can you guess why?

Yep, they decided on sticking with the $15 class instead of the $100 private. 

Ouch.

I apologized to Valerie for inviting them to her class.  I never expected them to cancel their privates.

So let my error be your lesson.

Valerie, do you forgive me?

Thanks.

Harlan

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