Posts made in October, 2010
Class Fees Defined
“How much do classes cost?” This particular question is our most frequently asked, and as such, Tyran and I would like to offer some insight to our fee structure.
When you visit the Shanta Yoga website, you’ll find references to class fees, the first one located on the front page. You can also find it listed on the website under Class Fees, again on our Facebook page, and we also clearly list it on each flyer we post. If we have made every effort to make this information available, why then is there a blog post about it? Simple really, the information states: Classes by Donation.
After the initial astonishment of discovering our classes are donation-based, we are often asked, “How much do I donate?” It is understandable why someone would feel it necessary to ask this. Most often we are told the cost of an item leaving us with the decision to make that purchase, whatever the situation. We are not often faced with having to determine price on our own. Taking this into consideration, allow me to offer some assistance: Instead of determining the price of a yoga class, may I suggest you determine its value? Value, simply defined, is the worth of any specified thing. So, what is a class worth to you?
I invite you to look beyond monetary worth and truly feel what a yoga class teaches you and recognize the tools it gives you enabling you to live with ease. This applies to each and every class, whether it is a traditional posture sequence or Yoga Nidra. Any class we offer in the studio during class times is not only offered by donation, but also sustained by your donation.
Like any business, we have expenses and your donations are how we cover those expenditures. Also, the more frequent and generous the donation, the more classes we can offer students. We want to offer as many classes as we are able, keeping with our intention to share yoga with as many people as possible, and your donations make yoga classes available to the entire community. Across the nation yoga studios are charging exorbitant fees, pushing regular yoga classes out of reach for most people making it a thing of luxury. Stillness, peace, and ease are for every person, from every background, and from any income. Only you can determine the value of a class while knowing what your budget will support.
We invite you to attend our classes. Allow us to introduce ourselves to you; get to know us so you can discover for yourself just how great the value of yoga is for us, and in turn, discover this value in your own life.
Read MoreConstruction Update
A quick update this morning to inform that framing of the studio is just about complete. There are a few pieces of lumber left to nail into place. The picture here shows the space between the studio and bathroom, a hallway of sorts.
It’s a lot work, building walls. I was amazed at the detail required. One wall was off by just one quarter of an inch, but the wall had to be moved to make it perfectly square. I marveled at the pride of the framer, who wanted his work to be exact. I wonder how many of us stare at our daily walls; house walls, work walls, church walls. Do we pause to consider those who helped build that space we currently occupy? I encourage you to look beyond the walls, and feel a sense of gratitude for those who aid in building our lives.
Jai Bhagwan
Read MoreHigh Pressure Moments
The primary focus of yoga is to quiet the mind and to do so for a specific reason. Anything else that is accomplished through one’s practice is merely a side-effect or symptom of that practice. I want to focus on these side-effects,
these symptoms, for a moment. What are they? Improved health, stronger bodies, increased balance, lower stress, greater sense of ease and the list continues. Wouldn’t it just be horrible to have to deal with all these side-effects? Horrible? Am I crazy? Everyone wants improved health, stronger bodies, increased balance, lower stress and a sense of ease! The real question is whether yoga, or the practice of it, can actually deliver all these things. Let me tell you a quick story.
Last summer a dear friend of mine told me that during his last health check the nurse informed him that his blood pressure was high. Initially he brushed this off as his blood pressure has always been slightly high (135/90 being the highest) when he has it checked but when he checks it himself at the store or gas station it has always been closer to normal (123/84). He told the nurse this and promised to continue checking his pressure because his family has a history of early heart disease. The nurse then told him, in no uncertain terms, that his pressure was high (143/95) and that he was to buy a pressure cuff on his way home—they cost about $35—and he was to check his pressure every day for the next week. If he continued to show signs of high blood pressure, he should meet with his doctor right away to bring it back to normal. Doing as he was told, my friend found that his pressure was averaging 130/87 which is above normal (120/80) but not above 140/90 which signals high blood pressure.
This friend of mine had practiced yoga for years but about six months before this event, he had started a very dedicated daily practice. He was initially upset that his blood pressure was so high despite his daily practice and then realized that it might have been even higher before he began his daily practice. It has been a little over a year since the nurse said buy a pressure cuff and my friend tells me his pressure now averages 112/67. I’m fairly sure his numbers are accurate as my pressure this morning was 110/68 and last night is was 116/65 just like usually is. Oh! Did I forget to mention that the dear friend in this story is me? 
What symptoms of practicing yoga have you experienced in your daily life? Leave your story in the comments below or feel free to email Tyran and share your story!
Jai Bhagwan!
Read MoreMoving Right Along
Construction is moving along! The rough-in for the plumbing will be completed this morning, and then later this afternoon the lumber will arrive. We will have framed walls up by the time the weekend closes. Personally, I have experienced a lot of joy waving my arms around telling others where the walls will be, but it’s time for the walls to make an appearance. Enjoying humor as I do, I must write that I cannot help but liken the walls unto a yoga posture, both are designed to box us in!
Keep in mind that yoga classes continue to be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8 pm inside Agility Physical Therapy. Check the website for detailed information. We’d love to see you there.
Jai Bhagwan!
Read MoreHammers, Nails, and Sawdust
What do these have to do with yoga? Well, quite a lot if you’re building a yoga studio! Some of you may already know, some may not, that Tyran and I are partners in Shanta Yoga and have just started creating a space dedicated to teaching yoga; a place for you to learn, to study, and practice. We are both excited to have our own studio where we can teach classes, but more importantly, where we can share our love and commitment for yoga.
Our studio will be located in my house, right here in Pleasant Grove. There is a perfect space available with a private entry, so there will never need to be a concern for disturbing anyone as you attend classes. We will start out small, as there is already a close feeling of unity in current classes and it is our hope to maintain this feeling when we begin in this new space. Of course, growth is wonderful and we encourage it, for this means we’re sharing yoga with more and more students.
As for the progress of studio, a wall has been knocked down to make space for a bathroom, construction for which is already underway. This space has never been finished making it possible to build this studio specifically for yoga instead of having to remodel an existing space. Later this week, weather permitting, we’ll have a new door that will serve as our entryway.
It is our intention to post regular updates of how construction is progressing and provide pictures so you can share in our excitement. There will be reminders on the website as well as our Facebook page, so check back often to be the first to see the progress!
Jai Bhagwan!
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