Offering Kundalini Yoga to work colleagues

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam everyone,

 

For about 2 months now, I've been offering Kundalini Yoga classes over the lunch

break to some of my work colleagues. I have about 20 people on a mailing list,

which I use to invite them every week. Pretty much all 20 people were there on

the first class, and now there are about 5-7 people every time, because people

often have other commitments during the lunch break. No big deal. I'm also

offering these courses on a donation basis because I can't charge for the class

since I don't pay for the space.

 

I've been learning a lot about myself and human behaviour through these classes,

not to mention that I'm picking up tricks on how to teach certain postures.

Sometimes though I get a bit irked about the excuses people give me for not

attending-- " I forgot my mat... you need to send a reminder the day before,

because I always forget! " (even though it's always EVERY Tuesday, no exceptions)

or " I was too hungry so I didn't go " or " the class is too far " (even though it's

a block away from our work). Why is this? These are the same people that tell

me that they feel so great after our class, and can't wait to attend the next

class, leaving the class with a wonderful " yoga glow " . But, when the time comes,

they convince themselves of not coming by coming up with these excuses that seem

very trivial to me. Have you experienced this in your classes as well?

 

Blessings,

 

Nadh Singh

[Guest guest]

Hello,That sounds typical. I am not a teacher but it seems like they get scared to grow and make up all sorts of lame excuses. Guess it's best to not take it personally and focus on doing what you think is best. I think eventually the serious ones will stop with the excuses and realize that growth and giving up that which you don't need is actually good for you!

PaulaOn 6/18/09, terrarium44 <terrarium44 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

Sat Nam everyone,

 

For about 2 months now, I've been offering Kundalini Yoga classes over the lunch break to some of my work colleagues. I have about 20 people on a mailing list, which I use to invite them every week. Pretty much all 20 people were there on the first class, and now there are about 5-7 people every time, because people often have other commitments during the lunch break. No big deal. I'm also offering these courses on a donation basis because I can't charge for the class since I don't pay for the space.

 

I've been learning a lot about myself and human behaviour through these classes, not to mention that I'm picking up tricks on how to teach certain postures. Sometimes though I get a bit irked about the excuses people give me for not attending-- " I forgot my mat... you need to send a reminder the day before, because I always forget! " (even though it's always EVERY Tuesday, no exceptions) or " I was too hungry so I didn't go " or " the class is too far " (even though it's a block away from our work). Why is this? These are the same people that tell me that they feel so great after our class, and can't wait to attend the next class, leaving the class with a wonderful " yoga glow " . But, when the time comes, they convince themselves of not coming by coming up with these excuses that seem very trivial to me. Have you experienced this in your classes as well?

 

Blessings,

 

Nadh Singh

[Guest guest]

Nadh Singh,

 

Oh sure...this is typical. It helps not to get attached to how many people are

coming, and/or why. I find focusing on the work and preparing the class attracts

the " right " people. The ego will always come up with excuses or try to block or

sabotage a student from showing up. The spirit wants to open, expand, and

create. That's why they feel so happy after class. If you're friendly and open,

whether they come or not, it keeps a dynamic of neutrality. I don't even ask

people why they missed a class. Also, if it's a financial issue, it helps to

charge for a block of classes. That way you get paid whether they come or not.

For example, I offer 9 weeks for 90.00, 4 classes for $50.00, or a single class

for $15.00. I give one make-up per session. Most of them buy the 9 class series,

and their attendance patterns are very consistent. The same people are always

there, the same people have repeated schedule conflicts, (or double book

themselves,) the same people quit. The more grounded people become, the more

likely they are to show up and make class part of their routine. Also, sometimes

as their vibration changes, their family and friends will run interference to

block the new direction they're taking. Advetising and marketing helps, too.

 

Best of luck to you in your teaching,

 

Satpal Kaur

[Guest guest]

Sat nam Nadh Singh ji,

 

Those numbers sound really good. In my experience, one can expect about

25% to actually attend from a group of people who are interested,

available, and have an intention to participate. The things that we do

for ourselves generally end up at the bottom of our list, for many

reasons.

 

It is better not to question the veracity of someone who says that she/he

would like to attend. I suggest giving encouragement but avoid putting

your colleagues in the position of having to make excuses to you. Don't

be the one to point out that they missed class. I will cut someone off

in mid-sentence who is trying to explain why they aren't coming--saying

'why is it so hard to do things for ourselves?' Then I will tell them

what we'll be doing next week.

 

We have been teaching classes at this address since 1991 and have a large

pool of regular students. With our class card arrangement, it is easy to

see who intends to come and who actually comes. Generally, to have a

class attendance of 6-8 people, there needs to be a pool of 24-32

interested people. Our students have busy lives with jobs, families,

school, friends--I'm amazed that they fit in Kundalini Yoga to the extent

that they do.

 

Teaching a 6-class or 10-class series helps keep attendance more regular.

For instance, Balancing the Chakras, Strengthening the Ten Bodies, For

Health and Healing, For Prosperity, etc. (What do we teach that isn't

for health, healing and prosperity?) Also plant a seed at the end of

class by introducing what will be taught in the next class. Our

techniques are so fabulous--you can make any kriya sound like a

cannot-miss experience.

 

Keep up. When I began teaching, I was told that it isn't up to us who

comes. So I teach and sometimes it or one (or even none occasionally),

and other times a few or many. It was a great relief to me when I could

accept and be happy no matter how many people are in class. I have been

teaching since 1979.

 

Blessings,

Gurusurya Kaur

Kundalini Yoga in Park Slope

Brooklyn, New York

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[Guest guest]

This is why I stopped offering free classes, except as promotion, because if people pay in advance, they have made a commitment. Yogiji's steps to success begin with commitment. People put more value on something that is not free. I offered classes several times to my co-workers, upon their request, and, like your experience, they didn't show. I think that out of 20 people you are actually getting a great percentage. Keep up the great work! Trust in the process. Sometimes the person has come to only one class, but you have planted a seed. That person may become a KY teacher some other time and place. Blessings, Kartar Kaur

[Guest guest]

" Excuses are self-abuses " - YB

 

Sat Nam,

 

The excuses that people give for not doing attending class are the exact same

reasons that they need to attend the classes. Ironic, eh?

 

Yoga acts as a mirror for people - because yoga is simply about life and living

- so their excuses actually reveal their challenges and assets.

 

My advice would be to find out through their " excuse " (read: challenge) what is

their complimentary asset and then perhaps uplift them to use that asset to make

it to class.

 

For instance: One super high-strung woman at work says: " Well, I'm not flexible

enough to do yoga. " (yes, you can laugh). But read into it, and you can gather

her challenge is breaking out of her routine at work, as she's trapped by her

responsibilities and obsessive immersion in the " rules " of life.

 

You may approach her and say something completely unrelated to the struggle

like... " There's so many little precise rules and techniques in Kundalini, I bet

with your focus and attention to detail that you'd really love some of the neat

things we do, and you'd probably be the best student I've ever had. "

 

try it, and let me know how it works.

 

Also, you have to accept and allow - open the space for people to come to their

own realizations and growth. As much as we'd love to thrust this beautiful

technology on everyone we meet, it just doesn't

stick with everyone, and everyone isn't at the right place and time for it --

even though you can clearly see how much they need it!

 

Count your blessings that you have 5-7 people coming regularly, and focus on

helping and uplifting them! The rest all benefit just by being around the others

who are coming!

 

Great job!

 

Wah hey guru,

Fateh Singh