So I opened a yoga school. Or is it a studio?
This question has come up A LOT in the past few weeks. When I’m asked, the pitta-predominant side of me wants to launch full-throttle into the tradition of Hatha Yoga, the emphasis on teacher-student transmission, the importance of a progressive curriculum. I resist delivering such a lecture, and shorten the process in my mind: teacher teaches, students practice, learning happens. That’s a school, right? But when I use the term school, it sounds like I’m training teachers, which I’m not. So I've been a little stilted lately, up against that rare pocket of pressure where no words come out of my mouth.
Perhaps a better term is shala, a Sanskrit word that means school but also space, covered pavilion or enclosure. Lots of schools and places of worship in India are open-air, so shala definitely captures the feeling I’m after. But it’s unfamiliar and difficult to pronounce, and might be hard to read on a sign. And if I were to use the term shala in casual conversation, I'm pretty sure people’s eyes would glaze over. So that idea didn’t make it off the ground.
The term studio, I think, reflects the modern approach to yoga, where a menu of classes is taught by a variety of teachers, not one teacher in a specific lineage. Students can pick and choose the time and style that suits their schedule, and they might work with several teachers. So with one teacher and a course-based, through-line curriculum, that's probably not right in this case, either. Plus, if we want to nerd out even more on the matter, Oxford defines studio as “a place where performers, especially dancers, practice and exercise” and that's not our jam. Shadow Yoga definitely involves training and conditioning, but Continuum is neither a fitness class nor a performance. We have no mirrors and no disco balls, and we have gone to great lengths to help students turn inward.
So I’ve been cycling between those terms, studio and school, adjusting my responses clumsily, wondering if it makes a difference. But it matters to me, like every other decision in this process. Turns out there’s not a lot of glam in running your own business, especially at the beginning. Yes, as the sole proprietor you have the freedom to plan curriculum, teach courses, decide what to spend on marketing and connect with students. You design flyers, mop floors, upload classes and clean toilets. And you explain your craft as clearly as possible, hoping to strike a note of recognition or curiosity. Our sign says school, and that's what you'll see in our logo, our ads, and on the new hoodies I've ordered for the grand opening.
Every new endeavor involves a learning curve, so I'm sticking with school and the awkward explanation that follows. And in the meantime, we're kicking off the Fall course schedule in a major way. I'm grateful to the many friends, artisans, craftspeople and creatives who have helped make this dream a reality, and I couldn't be more excited to share the vision. As my mom used to say, let's get this show on the road! Hope to see you there!
Friday, September 9 | 5:00 - 7:30 pm > Free Community Open house with food, raffle prizes, demo and networking
Saturday, September 10 | 9:30 - 11:00 am >Free Public Class (all levels)
Sunday, September 11 | 3:30 - 5:30 pm > Introduction to Shadow Yoga Workshop ($35)
