Community Supported Yoga: A Mission OF SERVICE, Accessibility & inclusivity 

The practice of Yoga is a philosophy and framework of living life that contributes generosity, community, equanimity, justice, equality, shared connection, and social responsibility. It is a practice that guides your sacred inner self to align with the balance of the universe, connected to the miracle of existing in each moment. There is peace and wisdom that lives inside you. Your true nature. Your true self. Your whole self. Through regular practice of breathwork, movement and postures, and meditation, you support your body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Who you are matters. What you need is important.

I am a white cis-gendered, heterosexual male, from a middle class background. I have a larger body, but I am able bodied. In 2022 I began my path of sobriety that helped me uncover a diagnosis of depression that has been a large part of my life. My study of yoga and on-going practice continues to carry me down a long winding road of healing that I didn’t know I needed.

I highlight this because our individual backgrounds and experiences are what shape our identities and how we interact with the world. I have a mission to support and honor individuals with all ranges of backgrounds, life experiences, identities, and abilities. I also acknowledge that my own life experience is limited to my own background.

From the outset of my teaching, my mission was to focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and community. To welcome anyone who felt like they couldn’t participate, were priced out, or maybe were intimidated by group classes because they didn’t “look like that” or “my body can’t do that” or “I don’t belong”.

If you are looking for a yoga teacher that offers a specific type of class, or is from a different background than me - please let me know. I am connected to a wide network of yoga teachers from all sorts of different backgrounds, life experiences, identities, and abilities. I would be more than happy to facilitate a connection to someone you feel will better support you.

inclusive & ACCESSIBLE PRACTICES

In the United States the practice of yoga is often thought of as a solely physical practice or exercise. A quick internet or social media search will highlight pictures and videos from mountain tops, secluded beaches, and exotic locales. The people depicted appear as thin, able-bodied, athletically fit, white people performing poses and movement that can appear complex and challenging.

I can’t count how often I’ve heard “I can’t do yoga.” or “I don’t belong there, you have to be strong and fit.” or “I’m not flexible at all.” or “I’m not capable.” or any number of other expressions of “I have issue X that won’t let me do yoga”.

I not only know those individuals. I am also that person. If my first yoga teacher was not welcoming, supportive, and caring for me - a person in poor physical health, in poor emotional health, who was nervous, confused, and felt very entirely out of place - I would never have returned.

The practice of yoga is far more than just physical postures and movement. It is the integration of breathwork, mindfulness, reflection, meditation, in addition to the physical postures and movement. The physical practice is just one way to connect to the practice.

My intention is for classes to be accessible, safe, and welcoming for any amount of experience. Populations I usually work with are those who are brand new to yoga, older community members, folks with mobility challenges, those coming back to yoga after a long break, individuals in larger bodies, and long time students who appreciate a slower, gentler physical practice that invites a deeper internal practice. I’ve also worked with adults and youth who are in recovery from substance use disorder, are incarcerated, and healing from trauma.

I will always offer different ideas and suggestions. But they are just that - suggestions. Props, experimentation, options and variations are all offered as ways to experience postures differently. There is no right or wrong way to go through a practice.

The most important and sacred thing of all is when you take a class - you honor what feels most appropriate for your body, your mind, your heart, and your spirit in the moment. If you feel like something doesn’t work - then together we can find something that will.

This is your practice. I am here to support you.

FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY

My Intention:

No one will ever be turned away from a yoga class due to the cost. When you sign up for a class, you’ll find a base price for each class. These are also a series of discount codes to make the cost flexible. Choose which one works best for you now.

No qualifiers, no applications, no justifications. Self select to make the best choice for you.

When you offer to pay more, you are paying it forward to the community and opening opportunity up for those who may not be able to afford to attend yoga classes regularly.

If things are tight, then don’t even hesitate for a second. Select the option that works the best for you today. Money will not be a barrier to your ability to practice with me.

I also do not offer memberships or class packages because I do not want make people feel like they are forced into a long-term commitment for only my class offerings.

Join when you want. Join me when you can. You are always welcome.

The more people that practice yoga will only help to support creating a future for our little corner of the world that is more kind, compassionate, empathetic, and loving.

Additional Background:

In Southern Maine, the cost of drop-in classes for yoga can exceed $20 per class. Memberships and class passes can range from $100 to $200+ per month and often require long-term commitments.

These standard practices can create a real barrier to experiencing a consistent yoga practice. It also contributes to the perception that yoga is an exclusive experience only for those who can afford it (in addition to all the other perceptions of inclusivity).

Running a business and leaning into the practices of yoga can be uncomfortable. In our western capitalistic culture, it is a significant investment to operate a yoga business. Most models for yoga businesses put the focus on outdoing, outpacing, and striving for exclusivity and superiority over other teachers and studios. Just basic “beating the competition” stuff. That in turn brings decisions made from the perceptions of scarcity, fear, territorialism, and consumerism - you know, late-stage capitalism things!

That is the antithesis of yoga. And it is also exhausting and ends up causing all sorts of harm and exclusionary practices.

And it is not who I am.

CODE OF CONDUCT

As a teacher and facilitator, it is my utmost sacred responsibility to ensure a welcoming and supported environment for everyone. I follow the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct that informs the ethical commitment and scope of practice that all yoga teachers should follow.

You can read about it by clicking here

Code Principle 1 — Adhere to Applicable Law

Code Principle 1 requires adherence to applicable law. Members MUST abide by all local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations applicable in their location(s).

Code Principle 2 — Follow the Yoga Alliance™ Scope of Practice

Under Code Principle 2, Members MUST follow the Yoga Alliance Scope of Practice (SOP). Members MUST attest that they have read, understand, and agree to the SOP. The SOP sets out acceptable, recommended, required, and prohibited practices by which Members agree to conduct themselves while teaching yoga.

Code Principle 3 — Follow the Yoga Alliance Anti-Harassment Policy

Under Code Principle 3, Members MUST follow the Yoga Alliance Anti-Harassment Policy. Members MUST NOT harass Students, Trainees, employees, peers, other Members, other Teachers, Registered Yoga Schools (RYS™s), other schools, studios, or members of the public, in person or through online activities, now known or unknown, such as trolling, stalking, using hate speech, threatening, intimidating, reporting of false grievances, manipulating, or otherwise harassing in any form or manner.

Code Principle 4 — Follow the Yoga Alliance Sexual Misconduct Policy

Under Code Principle 4, Members MUST follow the Yoga Alliance Sexual Misconduct Policy. Members MUST NOT intentionally or negligently cause sexual harm—verbally, physically, or otherwise—to Students, Trainees, employees, peers, other Members, other teachers, or members of the public through any action, including but not limited to: actions proscribed by local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.

Code Principle 5 — Do No Harm

Under Code Principle 5, Members MUST do no harm. Members MUST attest that they will take reasonable steps to do no harm and will not intentionally or negligently cause harm to Students, Trainees, employees, peers, other Members, other teachers, or members of the public through any action or inaction, including but not limited to actions proscribed by local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.

Code Principle 5 also prohibits, for the purposes of safety, the Member from teaching yoga while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, except for those drugs that have been prescribed to the Member for medical purposes by a licensed medical or mental health professional. This teaching prohibition is irrespective of jurisdiction within certain yogic practices and lineages, styles, and methodologies.

Code Principle 6 — Actively Include All Individuals

Under Code Principle 6, Members MUST NOT discriminate against and SHOULD actively include all individuals. Members are expected to go beyond basic legal prohibitions against discrimination and, within their scope of practice, actively include, accommodate, and welcome all who wish to be included in the practice of yoga.

Code Principle 6 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Avoid Discrimination: Members MUST NOT discriminate against Students, Trainees, employees, staff, peers, or any other Members on the basis of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, body type, personal appearance, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status, marital status, political activities, or affiliation or any other basis proscribed by local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.

b. Seek Active Inclusion: Members SHOULD seek to actively include, accommodate, and welcome persons who are typically excluded on the basis named above in ‘Avoid Discrimination’ as a committed practice towards creating equity.

c. Provide Reasonable Accommodations: Members SHOULD understand and facilitate to the best of their ability reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Members are responsible for complying with disability laws and regulations applicable in their jurisdictions, including the Americans with Disabilities Act for U.S.-based Members. For reference, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides a resource to Disability Laws and Acts by Country/Area which may be applicable in particular jurisdictions.

d. Establish Reasonable Physical Location: Members SHOULD carefully consider the safety and accessibility of the physical location(s) of their yoga classes and workshops.

Code Principle 7 — Respect Student-Teacher Relationships

Under Code Principle 7, Members MUST respect Student-Teacher relationships. Code Principle 7 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Consent-Based Touch: As it pertains to the act of physically assisting, the Member MUST obtain Explicit and Informed Consent before physically adjusting Students and Trainees in yoga practices. Explicit and Informed Consent can be given verbally, in writing, by an unambiguous gesture, or via a consent indicator. Silence or lack of resistance, in and of itself, does not demonstrate consent

Further, Members understand and agree that Explicit and Informed Consent is an ongoing process of communication and agency and that previous consent does not imply future permission or allow for future physical adjustment or contact of any type.

b. Romantic and/or Sexual Relationships: The Member SHOULD NOT enter into a new romantic and/or sexual relationship with a Student or Trainee during the course of an RYS™, other school, conference, workshop, retreat, class, or other such events at which the Member is perceived to be the Teacher. If feelings do develop, or if the parties mutually agree to move forward with a romantic and/or sexual relationship during the course of the aforementioned events, the Member SHOULD suggest that the Student or Trainee find an alternate Teacher.

c. Work Status: Members MUST abide by all local governing agencies, including but not limited to: local, state, provincial, national, and/or federal laws and regulations when hiring, working with, or engaging Students, Trainees, employees, or other Members. In cases of non-monetary work exchanges, Members MUST commit the details of those agreements to writing to decrease possible tensions and misunderstandings.

d. Consent to Record: Members MUST NOT photograph, record video, or capture any other imagery in any other medium, nor use such imagery or such person’s likeness, without the express consent of the Students, Trainees, or members of the public who are included in such photography, video, and imagery.

Code Principle 8 — Maintain Honesty in Communications

Under Code Principle 8, Members MUST maintain honesty in communications. This principle includes a duty to both refrain from certain activities and to proactively and affirmatively make certain disclosures including, but not limited to, the following:

a. Honesty in Communication: Members MUST NOT falsely represent their professional yoga history, including but not limited to: education, training, experience, and credentials. Members MUST NOT plagiarize any copyrighted material and MUST accurately disclose the source of any teaching, writing, or resource that is not their own. Members SHOULD acknowledge their Teachers or mentors when sharing a teaching related to that relationship. Members MUST NOT make unsupported or exaggerated claims regarding the effects of yoga.

b. Local Resources: Members MUST NOT provide advice or services in locations where they are not currently and properly licensed during or resulting from any program, including residential or immersion. In terms of disclosures, Members SHOULD create and provide referral lists of locally available resources for Students, including but not limited to: medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement, suicide prevention hotline, sexual abuse hotline, and Yoga Alliance.

c. Cultural Responsibility: Members SHOULD educate and inform themselves about the history and genesis of yoga and proactively inform Students and Trainees of the origin and practices from the lineage, style, or methodology being taught. Members SHOULD seek to responsibly adapt yoga teachings and practices for Students of various cultural backgrounds while also understanding the existence of appropriation and commodification in contemporary yoga and its effects on Indian and other cultures and traditions.

d. Individual Responsibility: Members SHOULD, in addition to utilizing Yoga Alliance resources, establish an individual and personalized structure for periodic and ongoing peer mentorship, support, and advice as well as self-reflection, especially around yoga and yoga teaching issues they find challenging.