As of Wednesday February 18th I am no longer be teaching at Inner Fire Yoga. I would have been leaving in a month, but was suddenly terminated in order to be kept quiet. I believe the direction of this studio, which I have loved for many years, has become one which is not a good direction for students or teachers. I am currently working hard to find my next space to teach.
The reason for my termination goes back a ways. Marit, the owner of the studio, has issued all of her teachers a new contract. This contract, which is necessary to sign in order to teach there, states (among other things), that No Teacher shall teach Yoga with any other studio within five miles of Inner Fire Yoga. If I were to sign this contract, I would be immediately in violation of it on two counts, and that doesn't even include prominent studios such as Jewel in the Lotus and Bliss Flow Yoga - both of which I have done some teaching in the past - and each falls into that same five mile radius.
This is a basic non-compete, which is new to yoga, but a standard in other industries. I signed such contracts when I was an engineer and had no problem with it. What makes this different is the mutuality. This type of contract, a guarantee that I will limit my services in order to make Inner Fire Yoga stronger is at its essence a proposal of commitment. Marit is essentially asking me if I will throw my lot in with Inner Fire Yoga. That As goes Inner Fire Yoga, so goes my life as a yoga teacher.
I would love to do that. I love putting everything I have into a class, a space, and a studio without having to worry about anything but my teaching. That is a perfect situation for me. This is the yoga studio that I started at, its where my friends are, and its where I've been touched by many students like you. I would like nothing more than to enter a type of Marriage with an institution I have such a history with. Commitment can be a wonderful symbol of Love & Respect.
If it is equal.
Marit has also stated that the future for teachers at Inner Fire Yoga is to be teaching no more than four classes per week. For most of us this will be scaling back. This is fine for non-full time teachers. Its also fine for full time teachers _if_ they are teaching at other studios. But put the two together: a non-compete with the scaling back of teaching hours, it doesn't balance.
So, this contract is not going to work for me personally. I cannot have 78 square miles / 50 square land miles of blackout space AND make it on four classes per week. Its impossible. It is my opinion that asking a teacher to commit to your studio by asking for a large blackout range like this one, should, like other non-compete agreements, be reciprocated by an equal commitment, such as full time work if the teachers performance warrants it.
To put it in English.
4 Classes Per Week
commitment of the studio to the teacher vs.
Huge Blackout Range
commitment of the teacher to the studio
Not an equal commitment. At All.
So I'd decided not to sign the contract.
I'd made it clear to Marit exactly why. I've told her that in my opinion, this contract will lead to a degradation in teaching quality because at any yoga studio, the new teachers get better by having exposure to the full time teachers. Those of us fortunate enough to have the time to perfect our craft can share and help those who don't. I'm not saying that most of the teachers at Inner Fire Yoga aren't wonderful, but discouraging full time teachers from being in that environment can never lead to growth or an A+ learning experience for those of you paying the bills.
I'd expected that I would be able to teach until the signing deadline on February 28th; however, once it has been clear to Marit that I would definitely not be signing this, she decided to terminate my teaching there immediately. She did not want any chance where I might be telling long time students who particularly like me that I would be teaching my last in two weeks and might soon be somewhere else. As she said "Its not good for my business."
I would have been telling many of you when my last two weeks were up, out of courtesy. So, I am very sorry that we didn't get to say good bye to each other.
My next move is to find a full time space to teach yoga. On the westside because that is where many of you are. So if you have any resources you can share with me . My plan is to move quickly and be teaching again on the west side very soon.
For the record, I wish Inner Fire Yoga the best. If you decide not to follow me to my next location, thank you for being such a big part of my life. A yoga teacher - student relationship is really an unique and unmatched thing. I don't take it lightly and I thank you. For those of you interested in what I'm doing next ...
Stay Tuned Because it could happen at any moment. If you are interested or know anyone who is interested in where I'll be teaching next, DO NOT HESITATE to tell them, and direct them here, to my blog. Please let them know. Direct them here, tell them they can get on my mailing list.
If you aren't signed up on my mailing list - over there - Get signed up. Not only will you get the scoop first, but you'll get extra discounts on things like the CD's I've been working on, just for being on the list.
Thank You. Its been an honor to be your yoga teacher.
-- Alex --
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