How to Write an Email
Part of the MichaelFilter
Members read the whole piece — the writeup, the pull-lines, and the full transcript. Unlock access for $5.50.
Unlock the full reading · $5.50 →A guide to writing fast, clear, functional emails that prioritize speed and decision-making over warmth or narrative. The author argues emails should start with the point, separate facts from judgment, make next steps obvious, and be short enough to forward without explanation.
Teaching:
• Apply the 'start with the point' rule to verbal cueing: name the action or alignment first, then add detail only if needed—don't build suspense in a vinyasa
• Use 'be literal' when correcting students: say exactly what you see and what to change, avoid coded language like 'find your edge' when you mean 'bend your knee less'
• Adopt 'one email does one job' for class themes: each class should have one clear through-line (breath, bandha, gaze) rather than three unrelated concepts
• Practice 'respect time' in adjustments: give the minimum effective cue, don't over-explain while someone is holding a pose
Writing seeds:
• Essay: 'The First Sentence of Practice'—how starting with the point (breath, bandha, or intention) mirrors efficient communication and systems thinking
• Post: 'Why Yoga Teachers Should Write Like Engineers'—applying email clarity rules to class sequencing, theming, and student feedback
• Essay: 'Separate Facts, Judgment, and Recommendation in Your Practice'—how to observe sensations (facts), interpret them (judgment), and adjust (recommendation) without conflating the three
• Post: 'Default Structure for a Yoga Class'—subject line (theme), first sentence (breath cue), body (sequence), next step (savasana or homework)
Idea map:
• Systems literacy as communication efficiency: both require identifying signal from noise, making dependencies explicit, and optimizing for downstream action
• Embodiment as 'be literal': the body doesn't do metaphor—cueing must name the physical action, not hint at it
• Attention as triage: just as subject lines help readers decide fast, breath and drishti help practitioners prioritize sensory input in real time
• Practice as method mirrors 'write for forwarding': a good practice is portable and self-explanatory, requiring no extra context to repeat tomorrow
Source: https://blog.dannycastonguay.com/how-to-write-an-email/
Teaching:
• Apply the 'start with the point' rule to verbal cueing: name the action or alignment first, then add detail only if needed—don't build suspense in a vinyasa
• Use 'be literal' when correcting students: say exactly what you see and what to change, avoid coded language like 'find your edge' when you mean 'bend your knee less'
• Adopt 'one email does one job' for class themes: each class should have one clear through-line (breath, bandha, gaze) rather than three unrelated concepts
• Practice 'respect time' in adjustments: give the minimum effective cue, don't over-explain while someone is holding a pose
Writing seeds:
• Essay: 'The First Sentence of Practice'—how starting with the point (breath, bandha, or intention) mirrors efficient communication and systems thinking
• Post: 'Why Yoga Teachers Should Write Like Engineers'—applying email clarity rules to class sequencing, theming, and student feedback
• Essay: 'Separate Facts, Judgment, and Recommendation in Your Practice'—how to observe sensations (facts), interpret them (judgment), and adjust (recommendation) without conflating the three
• Post: 'Default Structure for a Yoga Class'—subject line (theme), first sentence (breath cue), body (sequence), next step (savasana or homework)
Idea map:
• Systems literacy as communication efficiency: both require identifying signal from noise, making dependencies explicit, and optimizing for downstream action
• Embodiment as 'be literal': the body doesn't do metaphor—cueing must name the physical action, not hint at it
• Attention as triage: just as subject lines help readers decide fast, breath and drishti help practitioners prioritize sensory input in real time
• Practice as method mirrors 'write for forwarding': a good practice is portable and self-explanatory, requiring no extra context to repeat tomorrow
Source: https://blog.dannycastonguay.com/how-to-write-an-email/
Notes from the field
No notes yet · members & customers welcome
- No notes yet. Be the first to leave one.
Join MichaelFilter
Michael Joel Hall’s daily reading — the field journal, critical-thinking cards, and synthesis — as a membership.
$5.50/month · cancel anytime
Join — $5.50/mo →Secure checkout on theyoga.club. A yearly option ($55) is available there too.