profit: is it a bad word?

I spent the day in the heart of the yoga business world, at the Yoga Journal San Francisco Conference. I was there volunteering for a non-profit yoga group. Honestly, I was uncomfortable all day. I was uncomfortable with the unabashed commercialism of the main conference, but I was also (to my surprise) uncomfortable with what I saw as a bit of martyrdom on the part of the non-profit group.

It cost several hundred dollars to attend the three day Yoga Journal conference. I couldn't afford to go, which is part of the reason I volunteered. They offered a few free classes for the community, but the classes were short (one hour, while the regular events were all at least two) and they had corporate sponsors. I was excluded from the majority of the conference because I couldn't pay. It was an exclusive event, and that fact made me feel, well, excluded. It was uncomfortable and reminded me a bit of not being able to sit at the cool table in middle school.

The problem of people being priced out of yoga altogether is a bigger issue, and one that the both I (in my for-profit business) and the founder of the nonprofit are trying to address.

The founder of the nonprofit was being interviewed for a book at the table we were working, and I got to listen in on the conversation. She talked about always having a second job, in addition to running three nonprofit yoga centers and a separate nonprofit outreach group. She seemed to take pride in that and mentioned that working the second job kept her teaching real. She knew what it meant for wrists to hurt from typing, what it felt like to be on her feet all day.

I get that, but isn't yoga about getting quiet and still and finding time for our selves? It is incredibly difficult to be centered and focused and clear when I am working 100 hours a week. I know; I've done it plenty! But I would never, ever advise my students to try it, and I know it's inadvisable for me too.

My business has a mission statement, and in the mission statement is the word viable. If the business is not supporting the people who work hard to keep it running, it is not viable.

The founder of the nonprofit asked me why I wasn't a nonprofit yet. I think she assumed that I just hadn't dealt with the paperwork or hired an attorney, but the real reason is that I don't want to be a nonprofit. I run a for-profit business, and I feel pretty good about that.

I believe we can have the best of both worlds, for-profit enterprises that are inclusive and mission-driven. Square One is a for-profit social enterprise and there are many more of them popping up. To me, it's the ideal business model. Stating that I am a for-profit enterprise is honest and real. Searching for ways my organization can bring more health and wellness and happiness to my community and the world is the mission, the right thing to do, and good business sense. Making money and doing good are not mutually exclusive.

I'm not a altruist. I'm not a saint. I need to be supported financially for the work I do. I'm not going to pretend that isn't true or feel guilty about it. But I'm also going to keep looking for ways to include more people, ways for the studio to be friendlier and more accessible and ways to make sure that the classes are consistently good. That's it.

I'm glad I went to the conference. There were a lot of sessions that looked really interesting. Maybe next year I'm plunk down the cash and go. Maybe I'll apply for a scholarship if money is still tight. To their credit, they do offer some scholarships. Or maybe next year, I'll find a really great teacher to offer a fun workshop that weekend at my studio. He doesn't have to be famous or have expensive shorts. He just has to be good. I think that's my plan. Maybe we'll make a little money.