Feeling accomplished re: community advocacy

but very mindfully.
with my cha chas out.

Raw thoughts on the yoga ecosystem— or the yoga industrial complex, depending on how you frame it. Unfiltered. Unedited. This is how I wrote my book, talking, sharing. Dictation.

thinking of my teacher and my wonderful commmnity

At the start of 2022, I almost quit teaching full time. I was devastated. I had made the 30k from my online TTC last 1.5 year, and I went through a large chunk of my savings. As an employee for only one organization, I was cheated by the PPP fiasco. I had other studios use me to scam more mokey out of the government- they got tens of thousands. I got $30, weekly.

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 wages—it’s about creating sustainable business models that can withstand future disruptions.

In my work, I have become passionate about addressing this issue, with the hope of helping yoga teachers learn how to create financial stability for themselves. As I’ve expressed before, “I want to help yoga teachers to learn how to create a business model that’s sustainable and learn how to save money so they can survive the next pandemic.” This is not just about surviving the current crisis but preparing teachers to thrive in a world where uncertainty is the norm.

After having traveled the world and received education from some of the most respected yoga teachers is in the world, having received almost the highest accreditation I can inside of my lineage— if I can’t make it, who can?

I want us to bring honor to our teachers and be if service to our communities— and it’s very hard to do that when you’re starving.

I’ve been saying this for a long time now, but in order to truly see the bigger picture, we must embrace systems thinking. Holistic change in the yoga isn’t about isolated fixes; it’s about viewing the entire community as an interconnected ecosystem. Every element within yoga, and i mean every—teachers, students, landlords, and the economy—is interconnected. Challenges like low wages, high rents, and the devaluing of vocational education aren’t isolated; they’re symptoms of larger, interconnected issues— systemic issues. As owners, operators and professioanls, we have a chance to innovate and strengthen the entire ecosystem by addressing root causes, creating multiple streams of value, and fostering deeper community engagement, Let’s move beyond fragmented fixes to lasting change.

Read more:
The Importance of Systems Thinking in Yoga
https://michaeljoelhall.com/the-importance-of-systems-thinking-in-yoga-seeing-the-bigger-picture/

Potpourri holder… hippopurri.

Meanwhile, back at the office.

@mikematspace just keeps evolving and wow this a blessing to get to be a part of.

The commodification of yoga doesn’t just dilute its spiritual and personal dimensions—it also leads to exploitative behaviors within studios. I’ve seen studio owners adopt practices that undermine both the integrity of yoga and the well-being of their teachers.

I’ve been lucky enough to watch my newsletter get unfollowed by two local studio owners, and I’ve had three other others reach out directly about how they can help change the dynamics inside of their studio.

Its telling who get offended. It tells me they aren’t accidentally ignorant, which means they’re purposefully malignant. Willful ignorance in this instance is malice.

This career doesn’t have to be a dead end, nor does it need ti be exploitative.

Yoga teachers, you have the power. Take it back.

Yoga studio owner/operators— is your rent too high to pay a livable wage? Feel trapped? Youre not the first one to end up in this position.

Question 1: are you practicing?

Feel free to reach out if want to chat.

If youre new here, some quick receipts: I was the director of operations for local six-location chain, ran a six figure yoga business as owner-operator, was a #board member for a yoga nonprofit, and my mysore program has been running for over 10 years consistently… aaaaand I have had the fortune to have more than five of my students go into business for themselves as studio owners, mysore teachers, and corporate wellness pros.

Like my daddy says “if doing the right thing was always profitable, everyone would do it. But it doesn’t mean it can’t be.”

This, friends, is where the rubber hits the pavement.

thank you @jochetroche — youre always so supportive ❤️

I feel seen.

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.

Read the rest at michaeljoelhall.com

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 from their spry, allowing 30-something teachers to enter full time teaching, inside their own four walls. It was a time before the big boxes, the local chains, and venture capital from Wall Street. Yes, at one time, independent yoga studios were owned by people who had made exotic journeys and devoted insane amounts of time to their spiritual quests amd studies.

So what happened? Head to michaeljoelhall.com to read more.

H Street Festival. Annual traditions with @no_lies_b @melrockas @chaio_bella

when your people are turned into art.

“I watched her sculpt the nurse’s legs into art, just as I had sculpted myself“

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep flaws in the yoga industry, from unsustainable business models to the growing commercialization of the practice. This collection of essays explores the rise, collapse, and potential rebirth of the industry, offering solutions focused on sustainability, equity, and community. By addressing long-standing challenges, we have the chance to rebuild an industry that honors yoga’s spiritual roots while supporting teachers, students, and shalas alike.

Head to michaeljoelhall.com/blog to read more!!

❤️❤️❤️ paul’s commitment to these eastern traditions inspires me… and has helped heal me over the years.

My first yoga business turns 15 years into, and we sis it without screwing over anyone, ever. Find another business that can say that.

It’s clear to me that the traditional models of running yoga studios are not working, at least not for the long haul. There’s got to be a way to preserve yoga’s core teachings while creating a sustainable career path for teachers. Maybe that means smaller, teacher-owned studios, or perhaps a guild or union that protects the rights of yoga professionals. We can’t keep ignoring the structural issues that exploit teachers and dilute the practice.

I know there’s no easy fix. But as practitioners and teachers, we have a responsibility to stay true to the heart of yoga, even if that means making hard choices in a world increasingly driven by profit. Yoga has always been about balance—balancing strength with flexibility, effort with ease. Maybe the same can be said for navigating the modern yoga industry—finding that middle path between commerce and authenticity.

Reach out if you want to talk.