No support from Yoga Teachers in my city

[Yoganow]

I feel as if my balloon has been inflated. I had such a wonderful teacher training experience in Mexico this past March. The facilitators were awesome, the students in training were great. We were so supportive of one another. There was so much love. I get back to my home city and feel as if the yoga teachers here are not supportive at all. It's such a strange thing. I feel as if they are bordering on being critical or judgemental of me. Trying to get my business going and trying to see past this. Can anyone help?

[Administrator]

Hi,

Words that come from the heart, enter the heart.

I'm so sorry you are finding people so critical.

In every group - yoga teachers or otherwise - there are people who are going to be critical.

But there are also people who are going to be supportive.

There's a famous story about someone going into a town and asked, "Tell me, what kind of people are in this town?" The person said, "Oh the people in this town are so mean and heartless." The person kept walking and found someone else and asked again, "Tell me, what kind of people are in this town?" And the second person answered, "Oh the people in this town are so wonderful."

What made the difference?

Food for thought.

If you have any questions, this is a good place to get it.

The people on this forum are so wonderful!

Peace.

Harlan

PS. WELCOME!

[Yoganow]

Hey thanks Harlan...I appreciate your words. I am lucky I have a fantastic husband and great friends that keep cheering me on. I will focus on their support and kindness.

peace and Namaste!!

[pegasus]

I can sympathize, I have the same situation in my own town. There are very few yoga teachers here, and they do not associate with each other.

The truth is, however, that this means an open niche market for me! I try to change this atmosphere by being very open, sharing, serving, and friendly. I hope that in time, I will be able to build a yoga community here.

Meanwhile, I get my reinforcement from my husband, close friends, and clients who believe that I have a calling and love my teaching. These may be local or keep in touch via email or phone, but their belief in me often keeps me going.

I also travel an hour away to a larger city from time to time to attend kirtan, workshops, etc. and be with other serious yoginis and teachers. It's worth that shot in the arm now and then.

I wish you the best!

[Administrator]

There was a Talmudic teacher who was the precedent for Rip Van Winkle.

He went to sleep and woke up 70 years later.

When he woke up, all of his friends were gone.

He suffered greatly and stated, "Either give me friendship or give me death."

So what you are experiencing is not unique.

Create the community you dream of.

More hints on this in the future.

Peace.

[Marlobee]

This is my first input to this site so firstly I want to thank you Harlan. I live in Sydney Australia....
I have been visiting your web site the past few days and have found it so very comforting and reassuring.
I think you see the future and the bigger picture in the way that I do but I have felt alone and experienced some ups and downs over the years trying to stretch my mindset to it.

Also my income went up and down to match, funnily enough. This issue of community and feelings of isolation is close to my heart as well. I think it is as you say that we yoga teachers often lack self worth and this problem of low self worth effects our ability to support each other. In other words we fear the competition that would cause us to keep reaching to higher levels.

Part of my intention is to start to facilitate more positive networks here. I see the goal for all of us come together in a united effort of raising up consciousness and awareness globally....and for this effort all these yoga teachers will be needed and have their important place and there will never be too many.
And each new person who trains brings their expertise to it as you have done.
To occupy such a big picture mindset takes consistent practice. I think we can really offer each other a lot of strength by reaching out and honestly sharing our experiences and feelings with other teachers.

As standardisation takes place and the industry becomes more structured I want to see an improvement in the situation so that young teachers gain more support and mentoring and don't fall through the cracks.

At the moment I am preoccupied with building my own strength because I would like to play a hand in channelling things in that direction.

Right now though I am the person with big dreams that lives in the tiny house trying to save myself from the cracks.

Listening to your talks and watching your videos brings not only reassurance and comfort but I am getting flooded with ideas.

Please please keep the videos and talks flowing it is such a great big help.

love and salutes from Marlo