Opposing business side of yoga is old school thinking. Do you agree that “yoga is not a business” will one day be a thing of the past?
The debate about yoga is not a business has raged with the growing popularity of yoga in the West in particular. I remember having a meeting with British Wheel of Yoga – national governing body of yoga – back in 2009, and been politely opposed to the idea of business side of yoga, “primarily yoga is not a business” it was said.
I have enormous respect for BWY, other governing bodies and for all wonderful teachers and rarely disagree with anything they offer in relations to yoga, however, on this occasion I disagree completely. Many yoga teachers who run yoga as a business are extremely professional, hard-working, do what they can to help community, and touch as many lives as possible in a positive way. And to encourage delusional beliefs to not look at yoga as a business is old school thinking.
This old thinking deprives new and experienced yoga teachers with an opportunity to create a better life work balance, leads to empty yoga rooms that need to be paid for and in general does not support ones chosen lifestyle.
In another decade to come, as more and more new yoga teachers emerge in the yoga market, creating more competition within yoga industry, will force truly creative business leaders to emerge within yoga. Yoga industry will look back and wonder why business side of yoga was ever neglected. Do you agree that “yoga is not a business” will one day be a thing of the past? If you’ve been successful in your career, share with us your yoga career success and what can be improved in yoga industry.
Tamara Machavariani
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