Academy – Michael Joel Hall

Creating a Yoga Guild: The Case for Unionizing Yoga Teachers

I wanna start this essay by saying that I have come to this essay as the inevitable conclusion of the work that I have been doing in my market analysis of the yoga industrial complex (system). Like many things that I spent months researching inside tgis system, the conclusions were clear: because Yoga is inherently steeped in values like compassion, social responsibility, and friendliness, the production of yoga requires so many intangible stocks that the industry is a nonlinear system. This means we have to use behavior analysis to forecast…

The Employee vs. Contractor Debate in the Yoga Industry

In the United States, the debate over whether yoga teachers should be classified as employees or independent contractors is complex and fraught with challenges. The truth is, the role of a yoga teacher often aligns more closely with the responsibilities and characteristics of a contractor rather than an employee. Flexibility and Autonomy One of the main reasons why being a contractor is a more accurate classification is the nature of the work itself. Yoga teachers generally enjoy a significant degree of flexibility and autonomy in how they operate. As independent…

Financial Equity for Yoga Teachers: Building Sustainable Business Models

The financial challenges that many yoga teachers face have been an enduring issue within the industry. For years, teachers have struggled to earn livable wages, often working long hours with little job security, no benefits, and limited opportunities for growth. The COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the yoga industry and shuttered studios worldwide, exposed just how precarious this financial situation was. Many teachers were left without income, unprepared to weather such a crisis. It has become increasingly clear that financial equity for yoga teachers is not just a matter of fair…

The Importance of Systems Thinking in Yoga: Seeing the Bigger Picture

Yoga, at its essence, is about the union of mind, body, and spirit—a holistic practice that reminds us that everything is interconnected. This principle of interconnectedness extends beyond the practice itself, applying equally to the broader yoga industry. By adopting a systems thinking approach, we can better understand the complex relationships that exist within the yoga world—from teachers and students to studios and the economic landscape. By viewing the yoga industry as an integrated system, we open the door to innovative solutions that can address the unique challenges faced by…

The Commercialization of Yoga: Challenges, Ethics, and Competition

As yoga continues to grow in popularity, it has transformed from a deeply personal and spiritual practice into a commercialized industry. This shift has introduced a series of ethical dilemmas for teachers, students, and studio owners alike. At the same time, the rise of competition within the yoga community—among both teachers and studios—has further complicated the landscape, pushing some to prioritize profit over authenticity, and even engaging in unethical practices to maintain market share. From Tradition to Transaction: The Commercialization of Yoga When I first began practicing yoga, it was…

The Role of Learning in Yoga: Education vs. Exploitation and the Broken Teacher Training System

The modern yoga industry has shifted away from teaching a practice that once ecnouraged and even required ongoing learning, self-reflection, and personal growth. Instead, the commercial interests have been prioritized over genuine education. This shift has left both students and teachers navigating a system that often exploits their desire to learn and grow. Nowhere is this tension more evident than in the yoga teacher training system, which, while serving as a lifeline for the industry, has become deeply flawed. The Importance of Lifelong Learning in Yoga The essence of yoga…

The Decline of Community-Based Yoga Studios: What Went Wrong

When I started practicing in 2002, there wasnt a yoga studio on every corner. Yoga hadn’t quite hit the granola standard yet (when its not just for hippies anymore). Practice in general was still counterculture, with lineage-based yoga studios having been established for a decade or two. It wasnt yet seen from a consumerist athleisure lens. This was at a time when traditional yoga studios had begun to propagate naturally into smaller studios— organic growth that allowed up-and-coming teachers to enter full time teaching, inside their own four walls. It…

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Yoga Industry: Opportunities and Setbacks

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to nearly every industry, and the yoga world was no exception. Almost overnight, yoga studios were forced to close their doors, and teachers and students alike had to adapt to new ways of practicing. The pandemic accelerated changes in how yoga is taught and consumed, from the rapid rise of online classes to the reimagining of yoga spaces and teaching models. While the setbacks were significant—particularly for independent teachers and studios—the post-pandemic landscape also presents opportunities for transformation and growth.

What Yoga Teachers Can Learn About Business from Strippers

The first time I realized that I had something to learn from pole dancers was when I was teaching contortion at a pole dancing studio in exchange for private lessons on the Lyra (aerial hoop– it went fine). Some students I knew were nursing sore wrists, but the pole fitness enthusiasts who were also exotic dancers professionally seemed to be able to do twice the amount of stuff with half the prep. I guess if your money depends on you being able to hold on to a pole, you’re gonna…

Prana and the Bathtub: Systems Thinking for the Ashtanga Practitioner

In our practice, we’re not just trying to keep the tub full. We’re learning to live in balance, where the ebb and flow of prana supports us as much as we support it. It’s not about avoiding leaks but recognizing that the small, subtle drains often compound our stress more than a single big crisis. The practice guides us in patching those leaks with awareness, restoring a harmonious flow where life feels less like a constant emergency and more like a nurturing partnership
In our practice, we’re not just trying to keep the tub full. We’re learning to live in balance, where the ebb and flow of prana supports us as much as we support it. It’s not about avoiding leaks but recognizing that the small, subtle drains often compound our stress more than a single big crisis. The practice guides us in patching those leaks with awareness, restoring a harmonious flow where life feels less like a constant emergency and more like a nurturing partnership.

The goal isn’t to always be on alert, like the little Dutch boy at the dam. Instead, we want to be more like the Indigenous stewards of land and water—understanding that the flow is only a problem when it’s out of balance. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful exchange, where prana nourishes us as much as we nourish it. This isn’t crisis management; it’s living in relationship.

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