CHALLENGES OF THE YOGA ENTREPRENEUR. People initially drawn to yoga to help cope with stress in their lives often discover it becomes the catalyst for career change. Cathy Cox, also of Yoga Works in California, was a Social Worker specializing in family violence for fourteen years. In a field where giving of yourself is mandatory she felt like “I had nothing else to give – I was all used up in the field.” So she quit to teach yoga where she felt she could continue giving without draining her own resources.
An interesting side effect of yoga as a full-time career is how people react to this change. Many are shocked, which I think is a reflection of the value our society places on high-profile, high income employment. Chrissy Carter’s former Wall Street employer sat her down to explain to her how much potential income she was walking away from. She adds, “I knew in that moment I had made the right decision!”
CONTEMPLATING A CAREER CHANGE? Be inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s life-changing journeys in Eat, Pray, Love. Join Big Sky Yoga Retreats May 1-3 for a Women’s Eat, Pray, Love Yoga Weekend, dedicated to discussing the book, doing yoga, and finding your own inspiration for positive change. More Information »
Many people don’t view teaching yoga as something to be taken seriously. Cathy Cox’s ex-husband thought it was “cute” that she taught yoga, until she opened her own studio and the level of commitment that required clashed with his career goals. This ultimately led to their separation.
I find it amusing that people often ask me why I bothered to get an MBA if all I was going to do was teach yoga. It used to hit a nerve; why indeed? I would love to explain my journey to them, and discuss how life and yoga have been the best education of all. Instead, I just smile to myself and sit comfortably with the knowledge that I wouldn’t do anything different.
There is a misconception that once you make a big career change, particularly if it’s to yoga, work life will be so much easier to navigate because you will be doing what you love. While there is truth to that, some of the biggest work challenges have been in my yoga career. My biggest challenge is finding a balance between being yogic and being businesslike. It is hard to find equanimity when you find out someone is stealing from you. Managing a staff of yoga teachers has been a lot more thorny and complicated than I ever imagined. How could there be so much conflict amongst yogis? How about the student that makes a scene because the yoga class or retreat wasn’t what they expected?
Well, yogis are people too and human nature has its darker side. But over the last few years I have realized that within these situations the greatest opportunities for learning and growing my yoga practice can be found. I don’t know if I would have been able to see things that way while climbing the corporate ladder and trying not to look down or get knocked off. The perspective I have gained from my yoga career has been yet another unanticipated gift.
BENEFITS: Viparita karani, or legs up the wall, is a wonderful restorative pose that will help harness ungrounded energy. Practice this pose in the evenings as part of your wind-down routine; it will calm your mind and transition you towards bedtime.
HOW TO: Stand with your side against a wall so that your shoulder is touching it. Sit down, maintaining that close connection to the wall. In one movement, swing your legs gently up the wall and lay your torso down on the floor. You’ll then need to shift your hips away from the wall a few inches; experiment with a position that feels right for you. If you have tight hamstrings or lower back issues, you can put a folded blanket underneath your hips for support. Once you get settled, make sure you have some distance between your feet and take your arms away from your body, palms up. Let your head rock gently from side to side; bring it back to center and close your eyes. Stay here anywhere from 5-15 minutes, focusing all attention on your breath.
Another wonderful shift that I have experienced has been learning to let go of the achievement driven side of a typical career. In American culture we value achievement. While learning to let go of this, I have found a way to make peace with it too, since it is my cultural heritage. So there is a balancing act involved.
Obviously I have to achieve certain goals in order to make a business work, but I strive not to view my own yoga practice and teaching through this lens. I am not achieving higher qualifications by taking more yoga training. I am evolving my understanding of yoga and myself. And who can ever get enough of that? It doesn’t matter how many years or hours I’ve taught, because if I am not present and connected to my students at that very moment, my 1,000th class could be worse than my very first.
Yoga is a lifetime of continuing education. That is its great appeal. Liana Sheintal left a position in Finance at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts to become the full-time manager of Georgetown Yoga. Liana says, “It is encouraging to notice that in my free time, I still choose to do things that relate to my job.” This is one of the benefits of making the switch. You do yoga all the time because you choose to, not because you feel obligated or because it is necessary to advance your career.
The yogic career path will be very different for each person, and it is important to be open to the inevitable ups and downs involved in the process. But as yogis, whether we are students, teachers, or yoga entrepreneurs, we all want the same thing. More peace in our lives. And it’s wonderful that in our fast-paced, achievement-oriented, technology-obsessed culture we have allowed the alternate universe of yoga to flourish and take hold. So do whatever you can to support the growth of yoga for all that it is; a heritage, a lifestyle and a business too.
MARGARET BURNS VAP is the founder of Big Sky Yoga Retreats, combining yoga and outdoor fitness in Montana Big Sky country. Her relationship with yoga began almost a decade ago as a way to balance her hectic New York City lifestyle and a corporate career with cosmetics giant L'Oreal... {more»}
Still loving work in the yoga world! I couldn’t encourage others more to pursue a career in which they are truly passionate. It’s wonderful:)
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My teacher training was with a yogi who opened the first yoga studio in Texas. He was successful because he was able to be a businessman as well as a teacher of asanas and meditation. He emphasized to us the importance of putting on the studio owner’s hat and taking care of business. I’m so grateful to him for that. It’s difficult for a yogi to step back from meeting the needs of students (some of whom can be wonderful, others who can be demanding, fragile or difficult) and take care of her own livelihood. There’s a delicate balance between providing a life-changing experience for students and a livelihood for yourself. Often, the needs between the two conflict. It take a special person who makes it all work and continues to provide inspirational classes to students.
Great article, Margaret! Thanks to Athleta Chi for continuing to feature her!
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Great article. As I look at my upcoming Yoga Works training with trepidation and excitement, I too am wondering how all the pieces will fit together!
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Great series of articles!
Thank you!
There’s so many things I want to say about yoga as a career, but I don’t want to write a super long comment… might just have to write a post about it instead. Gives me an excuse to link to your articles too :)
There’s no doubt that teaching yoga is about far more than just showing up in front of students and delivering a few instructions – especially if one wants to turn it into a “career”.
More on this please!
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Fit Mommy: you are going to LOVE the YW TT, it is the best training I’ve taken. I took it when my daughter was just over a year old and every day questioned how I would make it all work. But it worked, and in fact all came together spectacularly. Enjoy every moment! Namaste.
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Thanks to the chi for featuring more of M’s articles. This could not have come at a better time for me… I am just finishing up my first yoga teacher training and beginning to teach at my favorite studio. I have also expressed interest in learning more about the functions of the studio as a business. Luckily the owner was very receptive of this, and I am going to become involved in the busienss aspects as well as teaching. This article was great! Thanks again.
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I too am on the teacher’s path of yoga, learning the Seven Spritual Laws of Yoga. I am so happy and elated at the thought of how much my life has changed in the last few years. Peace and love flow so freely and I feel that the qualities that people have always seen in me, are now so much brighter. My life revolves around giving to others and I can’t wait to teach and share my joy. I will be teaching in June. Peae, Harmony, Laughter and Love!
Thanks for the community extended here! Namaste.
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Hi Margaret,
I found your article very interesting and encouraging. I am not very involved in yoga at the moment, but I am an active person involved in various other sports interests. I am currently contemplating getting my MBA. I noticed that you didn’t regret it even though you were planning to go into yoga instruction. I would love to see your comments or advice you would give to a prospective MBA student, who does not plan on being in the career world, but in some sort of entrepreneurial venture. Good idea? not good idea?
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Hi Amy, glad you liked the article. I think it really depends on your current life stage…and actually, I had no idea I was going to teach (or even practice) yoga when I enrolled in my MBA program. I had just finished my 2 years out of university first job experience. For me it was a critical stepping stone in my career, and it did help me land my next marketing job (with L’Oreal) at a higher level. I was in my mid 20s then, single and no children. It was the right move for me at that life phase, and given the career path I was on then – marketing in a corporate environment. Back then I didn’t think I had any entrepreneurial yearnings, they came later.
Years ago my husband was considering getting his MBA. This was after 10 years of starting up and owning his own company. I told him to forget it, he had already lived everything he would study in theory. A graduate degree is a big investment in time and money. While an MBA has loads of practical applications no matter what you end up doing, it is an expensive endeavor. It was a valuable experience for me, but in terms of starting my own businesses the most I learned was from being in the trenches, so to speak. In other words, just doing it and figuring it out along the way (and accepting the sometimes big mistakes that result!) I didn’t need an MBA for that. So, it really depends on where you are with your career and family, what previous work experience you have, etc. – but in general my advice would be to skip it if you see yourself becoming an entrepreneur. You will have to educate yourself, but it will be worth the effort. There are also so many continuing education programs out there that are targeted to specialized areas, so maybe that’s a better option depending on what you want to do with your venture.
I’m happy to chat with you more on this if you like! best of luck to you.
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Margaret… another great article. As always, it is wonderful to see your insights in writing. How true it is that what we foresee our paths to be when we are 19 or 20 have somehow transformed into something very different when we turn 30 (or 40). I like how Rumi said it, “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” I do hope our paths cross again someday. Peace!
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Hello Margaret,
I am truly inspired by your writings. I am currently at the “jumping off” point in that I’ve “made the decision” to make the big switch from a career as a Software Engineer to a career in teaching yoga. My current career is very dissatisfying and unhealthy. All tech jobs appear to be the same to me now and no amount of money for these types of jobs is inspiring at all. I am finished with this leg of my life journey and anxious to live and work more meaningfully. Still… I’m a bit fearful to make the change and not sure where and how to start, but I feel that I must begin this transition soon or my health will be impacted severely. Will you please offer some tips and/or advice on how to start this transition, knowing that I must continue to pay my bills? Your thoughts and experience are truly appreciated!
All the best!
Kelly
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Hi Kelly, soooooo much to say on this topic of career transition, esp to a yoga career, so please feel free to contact me directly at margaret@bigskyyogaretreats.com and we’ll go from there…I can get more detailed info on exactly where you are in the process and would be happy to offer my input. hope to hear from you and wishing you all the best! Namaste.
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