a beautiful thing happened the other day. my husband came in from the post office with a package — “this is for you”. and he handed it to me. i read the return address — it was from steven pressfield, the author of turning pro (the book i recently did a video review of for you all).
what did he send me? 9 (yes, 9!) copies of two of his books, all signed by him. he even wrote a personal note in two of them just for me :-) he asked that i pass them along to “worthy” recipients, and i plan to do just that!
though i have a few recipients in mind already, i wanted to share the wealth with you, too! if you’re interested in a copy of turning pro or the war of art, leave a comment below, on facebook, or tweet me, and introduce yourself — share your name, the style of yoga you teach, your website, your goals and dreams, or whatever else you feel like! then, i’ll select two people to receive signed copies of steve’s books. i’ll announce the winner in my march 13th CALM biz newsletter :-)
Mary K.
Mar 6, 2013 -
I’m starting my own yoga practice and would really like to get it going strong. I’m passionate about teaching yoga and just love it myself!! I feel like I can help a lot of people get healthier and more flexible thru yoga and just help them feel good about themselves. I think this book will empower me in my business. I enjoy your helpful tips on your website and have used all of them.
thank you so much!
I ‘m anxious to read the book and to get my business going. since I’m new at this business type stuff , I could use the information. tho I’m not new at yoga. I’ve been practicing for about a dozen years and teaching at the Y for 6 years.
Thank you,
Mary K
Cailen
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Mary K,
That’s awesome that you’re starting your own yoga practice — I wish you much luck! And, I’m so happy to hear that you’re finding my CALM biz tips helpful and putting them to work for your yoga biz. That’s awesome!
Cheers,
Cailen
Myriam Webb
Mar 6, 2013 -
Talk about serendipity! I’m reading the War of Art right now, trying to work through my writer’s block. My yoga practice and teaching keeps me inspired, but I can’t seem to get it in writing, yet. I teach mostly restorative and gentle yoga in the San Francisco Bay Area. Your blog has been a great fuel to my fire in trying to reach more people and keep writing. I had started a mailing list, but never followed it through, but you inspired me to pull it back out and set it up properly. My list grows everyday. It’s surprising how many of our students actually want to keep in touch! Keep up the good work Cailen. Thanks!
Cailen
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Myriam,
I am so happy that you’re building your email list. Having a strong list is a great platform for expanding your yoga biz, and a wonderful way to add value to your students’ lives off-the-mat.
Keep up the good work, and let me know if there are any questions you have about yoga biz building that I can address in upcoming blog posts!
Cheers,
Cailen
Katherine L Wright
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Cailen, I’m Katherine. I have been in the world of yoga for 15 years, and started teaching shortly after i began practicing. At the time, it was Iyengar style and I taught in a few gyms in the Seattle area part time, along with being an architect and an artists ( website is still just for art.. getting there!!) I had done a fair number of trainings, but mostly that was with the view to teaching in clubs.
In 2005 we moved to southern Italy, where I gave up my profession as an architect and found myself in the amazing situation of being striped naked of my trappings; i was free to explore who i was with all the labels taken away. I began focusing on Art full time ( along with getting myself, husband and 2 school age boys through our cultural transition) ,
We went back again to Seattle in 2008, then returned to Italy 2010 and now we are returning summer 2013! Whew!
But an interesting thing happened after the first repatriation. I once again found myself totally uncomfortable in my old country. It was a difficult soul wrenching experience: one could say I learned a lot about my dark side, and had to practice much self compassion.
Our return to Italy was a wonderful moment, but I realized that having my sense of self tied to a country to feel “free” was not the most convenient way to live a “free” life. I was by then teaching yoga in Italian at a local studio, and heard of a school in Florence that teaches Tantric and Integral Yoga. I have dedicated the last 2.5 years to studying, practicing and teaching. (all in Italian, another whew!)
Of course a 500 hr International qualification is wonderful, but more so, it has opened my eyes to the incredible depth and width of yoga, and I have started my journey of my goal of being free to know my true self independent of location or situation.
As I am turning 60 this year, i decided to face my fears head on and become aware of how one can not only change countries, but age without fear. My thesis was on Aging Gracefully with Yoga. I am looking forward to taking my practice back to the states and focusing on working with the active aging population.
I have been so please to have found your site, and enjoy your commitment to helping others with your talents in business and marketing, with a mindfulness aproach. Not everyone is a business person, and your words of wisdom are decidedly something I am making use of.
I am very curious of the books “turning pro” and “the are of art”! As an artists and yoga teacher i understand that the world can be pretty crazy for making a living .
thanks so much for sharing and listening!
Nameste, Katherine
Cailen
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Katherine,
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story! It’s amazing how by teaching yoga we end up learning so much about ourselves. Your thesis, Aging Gracefully with Yoga, sounds fascinating — and it’s definitely a topic that I think many people (especially women) will benefit from. It’s so lovely to hear that you’re living a life of purpose, dedicated to bettering yourself and others by following your passion!
Keep up the great work!
If you have any questions for me that I could address in upcoming blog posts, let me know.
Cheers,
Cailen
Anita
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Cailen,
I would love a copy of Turning Pro. I teach gentle yoga to two groups: a very dedicated group of active older women and beginner yoga to a group of 8-12 year olds girls. My dream is to 1) finish my book on yoga and 2) open my own yoga studio. Love your tips!
Cailen
Mar 6, 2013 -
Hi Anita,
How cool that you teach both older women and young girls! I recently taught a workshop for girls ages 11-15 and it was a trip — they giggled the whole time! It was a great experience, though, and it reminded me that yoga is supposed to be FUN, too :-)
What is your book on yoga about?
Cheers,
Cailen