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The Tao of Connection
Moving with the times into the electronic world of the internet and email
By Don Kent
Part 2 - Joining the Connected Community with Your Own Web Site
Surfing the web is one thing, but having your own web site is quite different - you somehow become part of this extended, diverse global community. And it need not be that difficult.
But why on earth should you have a web site? If nothing else you are free to publish (world-wide!) whatever you want - there are no rules, publishers, censors or whatever, so whatever your personal teachings or soap box issues are, you can just go right ahead and make it available to all. If that doesn't particularly grab you right now, having a web site enables you to produce a posh multi-page brochure without the heavy costs associated with printing a paper version, nor the costs of distribution - in fact you will get your web site seen by people that you would never have got a paper brochure in front of. So it is your shop front - open 24 hours a day. Most of my new students find me on the web and enrol on-line! (even people around the corner from the venue that have missed the poster in the newsagent for years!) And using email to connect with your prospective or enrolled students is completely free and so easy to do. I send out reminders that term is ending (there's always someone who missed a class then turns up at half-term), new classes starting and much more.
Not convinced?
Perhaps you already have full classes so what's the point in attracting more students? Or maybe you are just employed as a yoga teacher - typically by a local education authority - so what benefit could there be to you? My thoughts and experience suggest there is a huge untapped demand for the yoga experience but not necessarily for the 'standard' yoga class. So there may be opportunities to expand your teaching scope, reaching new students in new locations and times. You may be able to re-locate your class to a larger venue to increase the number of students you can help on the yogic path. Whilst 25 is typically regarded as the maximum safe class size there is rarely a class (that I know of) where every single person shows up. Some classes average 33% absences. What I do is offer guaranteed places for students who pre-pay for the term up to 25 or the maximum that venue takes, then offer non-guaranteed places on a Pay-As-You-Go basis (at a higher price). Whatever your yoga style is, I'm sure you will have the breadth of knowledge and skill through years of training, book studying and seminar attendance to offer different approaches. Perhaps there is a viable class for men only, or for couples only, or a higher energy class for younger people (it doesn't have to be astanga vinyasa! - and according to my tutor you don't necessarily have to be able to do exactly what the class is doing to teach it!). Or maybe a class at the time people are leaving work aimed at relaxing, stretching and de-stressing, or personal one-on-one tuition - very rewarding. Finding out what people want and providing that is better, in my opinion, than providing a set recipe that we THINK should be offered to students. Some students love philosophy or mantra or pranayama, others hate it (at least for now) and can be alienated. And if you are an employed teacher, whilst that is quite cosy, many teachers I know do find it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of rate of pay, control over who comes to the class, the venue and the paperwork involved. Doing your own thing will, of course, involve effort in accounts, and finding venues and students, but you will feel much more in control. Why not try just one private class to see how it goes? You may find that are more valuable than you think!
Haven't got the time or don't have the computer skills to create a web site?
Well that is a common problem, but it need not take much time or skill if you approach the task appropriately. You can take a lot of time to learn all about computers and the web and design and HTML and FTP then put it all together. It may not cost much money, but it will take a lot of time. You wouldn't take that approach with any other need - like your car or your television. You can employ web designers to create your web for you. In fact why not young Tom around the corner - he's really into all that stuff - he could do it. Before you make your choice, however, consider what you want out of the exercise. I would suggest a limited budget (it really ought to pay for itself - perhaps the value of one extra student?), limited time (you want to use your time for yoga, family, etc.!), the ability to draft the text you need on your web site yourself, and the knowledge that when you want your web site updating it will be done (even if Tom has now gone to University and has got other interests). Some web designers can do a superb job but at an unacceptable price. Others develop a generic product with automated processes to minimise the costs. So you CAN have your own good quality web site at a low price that is maintained up to date (non-maintained web sites are the scourge of the Internet!) provided you have basic computer skills like using a word processor. You don't have to produce great works of arts - just a few well-chosen words and pictures is usually more than sufficient.
Don't have a computer or can't afford one?
There are many really good computers available new at low prices (avoid the temptation of buying a package of many things that you don't really need at too high a price!). Many computer owners like to regularly upgrade their computers and the 'old' ones are often quite new and perfectly OK - so seek out the second-hand market, but try to borrow an 'expert' to ensure it is up to the job with the right software. Or why not share a computer between a group of teachers or neighbours? And, of course, there are workplaces, libraries and Internet cafes where you can use a computer with Internet access for an hour or so (keeping your files on a floppy disk).
So if you are feeling that you could extend out a little more, expand your teaching and grow into the new e-World, your own web site may be just the answer to publish your work and attract interest. It may cost you
less than you think and you may well find you have all the skills you need to achieve it. The only constant in this world is change! But whatever you do, do keep up your own yoga practice! Om Shanti.
By Don Kent
, a British Wheel of Yoga Teacher living in Wiltshire.
Don is a professional engineer who is hooked on yoga. Don provides low cost professional web sites and has a special package available for yoga teachers - the Yoga Web. You can contact Don on info@yoga-classes.info or 01793 740303. Don would be more than happy to answer any queries you may have. Part 1 of this article covered the basics of using the Internet and email. If you missed it - just surf along to www.yoga-classes.info!
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