As a studio owner, it's always a "Divine Dance" between deciding what's best...when I say that I mean the fine balancing act between Karma Yogi and Business Yogi. I believe that will always be an advanced practice. The financial responsibilities of running a studio are only the beginning, layer on top of that the obligations towards the teachers, staff, students,community and the desire to build and grow your specific kula and the outside "perceptions" of that, you have a LOT to pray and meditate on...there is the thought process that if I promote an event outside of my specific studio that it will "take away" from my so called "gains"...I tend to disagree. If your mission is to truly share, spread and strengthen your passion (mine just happens to be yoga) that if you just DO IT!! SHARE IT, SPREAD IT with your heart full of good intentions then it will only strengthen YOU and YOUR COMMUNITY! and in the long run add to your so called "gains."Yes, I typed in caps...I'm pretty passionate about this topic. It can't always and only be about what will produce the biggest profit...that's so NOT YOGA. So again, I'm back to that "Divine Dance" between the Karma Yogi and the Business Yogi...I think they can both exist and tango together. On the flip side, vegetables, clothes, chocolate, chap stick, and yes even massages do not pay the rent. I am all for TRADE, especially when first starting out with a business...but the bottom line is my landlords would laugh in my face if I tried to mail them some of the things I have traded for yoga classes : D
Guruv Yoga/ Lake Mary is well into it's 5th year of business, and I can now be a little more open with my traveling schedule and branching out to teach at other locations, festivals and projects. That is mostly to do with the amazingly strong teaching staff and community that has organically grown through the studio and our Yoga Teacher Training Programs. We are now in the process of opening Guruv Yoga / ORLANDO on Turkey Lake/Sand Lake Road in Dr Phillips. I say WE because it truly has been a "WE" adventure! (though it's my name solely on the rent checks, and ME not WE who is responsible for the rent each month)... I have been dancing my whole life since the age of 5, and the dance continues on...just now I wear flip flops and not pointe shoes, (Thank you JESUS!)
I'll be blogging and keeping you posted as the RASA LILA FESTIVAL begins tonight at 6pm...
<3 Tymi
