This week on the podcast I have the founder of the Original Hot Yoga Association, Val Sklar Robinson on the podcast.

As a lot of you know, I love organizers, and I love people who hold ethics and standards for a community—so Val checks a lot of boxes for me. She shares how she started her own trade organization, OHYA (oh-yeah), and we talk about professionalism, organizing, Bikram, grief, corporate yoga studios, bust down some myths, and chat about boundaries.

That’s our new word for 2024, friends. Boundaries.

Take a listen and be inspired.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

*What do you think about regulation within our industry?  Val talks about how in the 90s there was a lot of talk about the yoga industry regulating itself before the government stepped in to regulate us.  Thus the rise of the Yoga Alliance.  What are your thoughts on this? 

*We absolutely can organize in our own communities.  Val started OHYA with a website and a logo, and now runs retreats, organizes gatherings and trainings, and holds a standard for her community.  If that is your passion, consider finding out how to do that too.

*Grief for loss is ongoing.  Especially in a community like hot yoga where Bikram is still out there teaching and doing potential harm, the rest of yoga should be looking at how we can support and lift up those who have been hurt by his actions.  

*Corporate yoga has absolutely gone after hot yoga studios first.  But there is a fever pitch for people to support our local studios and teachers since COVID, so now is the time to make sure that everyone in your local community knows who you are and what you are about.  Take advantage of this time of “local” support.

*Bikram Yoga was never a franchise.  I know–I thought it was too, so if you did I get it.  I am glad to be educated to know what it was really like. 

*OHYA has no affiliation with Bikram yoga or the new organization KPC Life.  So if you are looking for a non-Bikram affiliated hot yoga teacher for your studio, go to their website www.ohyassociation.com

*Imagine being a part of an organization that stands for ethical business practices, like Val and OHYA.  I am going to be honest, my key takeaway from that is that this attitude is refreshing as hell.

*Finally–BOUNDARIES!  Can we spend 2024 talking about how to make better boundaries with our students, in our lives, and in our businesses?  Val is right, we need a huge dose of this medicine.

RESOURCES

Working In Yoga Website

Working In Yoga Newsletter

Val’s Info:

Original Hot Yoga Association Website

Hot Yoga Pasadena

SPONSOR

Sunlight Streams Blog