Surviving or Thriving? Strategies for Teachers in Times of Uncertainty

The big picture: Kali Yuga
I can't talk about current times without referring to Kali Yuga, which is how the yogis called the time we are in. Kali Yuga, the dark age, is characterized by materialism and both crisis and destruction are needed in order to create space for the new. All seekers will find resistance in their path. In general, the environment will be more conducive to numbing ourselves through TV, overating and overconsuming, than to sit and meditate. Around us, we may find more examples of selfishness than generosity. And teaching yoga, especially meditation and pranayama will probably be harder than to teach pilates or be a personal trainer. So we should expect resistance, even if we are following our bliss, even if we are aligned with our dharma. The Universe is still supporting us, and the more we practice, the more we experience that.
To learn more about Kali Yuga, I recommend the Prophecy of the Sages book, but it's almost impossible to get it, unless you are willing to pay $200 for a used copy (does that tell us something about the dark ages?)

So what can you do when business slows down?

Practice.
In times of uncertainty, as yogis (I like to think that we are yogis, yoga teacher is what we do), our first duty is to remain a harbor for peace ships. People come to your class wanting refuge from darkness, so you better be shinning very brightly. So what would it take for you to show up radiating love, even if your class is now half of what it used to be? What would it take for you to feel protected, guide and safe, even if your bank statement is sogged with tears (this is why I prefer to get them on line)? The sages have the answer: silence. Silence cures it all.

There's no better time to rely on your own practice to find the strenght and the inspiration to be the best teacher you can be.

Find ways to stay connected with your students.
If they are not coming to the studio, go to them. Choose a medium that you feel confortable with (Facebook, email, newsletter) and share your goodness. Short and light tends to be more accepted than long and serious (though I rebel against my own advice too often). Link it to your blog, if you have a blog, where you can take more freedom both in terms of content and lenght.
Also, stay available. Continue showing up early for class and staying a few minutes after. This makes a difference, even if no one comes to talk to you. Some students need to see you iddle many times before they decide to ask a question.

Continue growing
Even if everything around you may look and feel stuck, you can create inner movement. Use the extra time you are having in ways that create value for yourself and others. Be resourceful. Travel to places where you can stretch your money. Volunteer - give and you shall receive. Weren't there times you wish you could do more karma yoga? Study - consider work/study programs and apprenticeships. This NY Time article talks about how hard times are jamming the ashrams. That's exactly what I am talking about! Create and nurture your community - either on line or in person. Stay in the company of like-minded people who can remind you of all that you already know.

Adjust to the situation
The power of now. Be here now. Can you temper the expectations that things will get better with a radical acceptance of what's going on right now? So that you can live it fully and complete whatever needs to be completed?
Find out what this means for you. Maybe is a shopping embargo. Maybe it's falling in love with cooking. Maybe it's creating a personal budget. Whatever it is, find a way to acknowledge and honor the fact that it's time to conserve resources.

Be practical and the philosophical
A student in California asked me if one really had to go that deep into philosophy before going into practicalities. My answer was that I don't know about other people, but for me, I really do need to go back to the philosophy. And that is probably going to be the case for most yogis, that's how we make sense of the world. Besides, in my case, I don't think I have anything better to offer to the world than a business perspective steeped in tantra and yoga. Hope you agree with it!