Why Saying “All Bodies Welcome” Isn’t Enough: The Curvy Scoop with Michelle Marlahan (Part One)

I am so thrilled today to be sharing an interview with Michelle Marlahan, Proprietress of the It’s All Yoga studio in Sacramento, CA.  The incredible curvy yogis I interviewed recently practice here, so you know it’s fabulous!  This is Part One of a two-part interview on creating welcoming space for yogis of all shapes and sizes: today, Michelle spills some of the ingredients of her secret sauce.  You won’t want to miss it!

Welcome, Michelle!  I’ve heard so many fabulous things about It’s All Yoga.  Please give us a feel for your studio and students.

Describing the feel of the studio is kind of like describing the feel of your own house — it’s hard to do! What people say walking in is that it’s calming, beautiful, grounding, light, peaceful. People have told me that they are more comfortable there than anywhere else; one woman told me that room is her favorite place to be. 

Our students are very much “everybodys.” I think we attract regular ‘ole folks who may come in for different surface reasons, but down deep just want a place where they can be themselves — grumpy mood, tired, wind-blown, still carrying that 20 pounds they think they should lose… whatever.

From your lovely yogis, I hear that you’re the queen of creating an inclusive and welcoming community at your studio.  What’s your secret sauce?

There are a lot of ingredients in that sauce!

From the art and how you decorate to the language teachers use — it all plays a part.

Here are some random specifics:

• Advertising that makes it clear that people who don’t think they can do yoga are welcome: recovering from an injury or surgery? have limited range of motion? are you 70+? trouble getting up and down off the floor?  It’s ok — you can do yoga, come and we will show you how.Talk directly to the people you want to include.
• Genuine friendliness. A smiling face to greet people. Simple, but boy is it somewhat rare.
• Talk to individuals before class: “Oh, you just had a baby? Awesome! Be easy on yourself, plan on doing 70% or so.”   Make it personal. 

One example with language is building pose options from the most accessible to the more challenging. Let’s say a lunge - start with hands on blocks, option of hands to thigh, check in… see how that feels… etc., and option for arms overhead. Rather than starting with the most challenging and offering “modifications” of that if a person can’t do it. With the first way, of course there will be people who go further than perhaps appropriate; but I think giving them that choice is better than saying, “Oh, and if you can’t do this cool version, then you’ll have to take your hands to the blocks… loser” which is how I think the second option can be received.  This is a really simple teaching rule, yet I most often see teachers doing the harder version first.

• Putting yourself in other people’s shoes. Once in a while — still — I will give an instruction and realize someone in the room doesn’t have access to that motion due to shape or weight and I’ll think, Dang, I don’t want that person to feel singled out or left out. It’s not all on me and I can’t predict every situation — students take care of themselves and I make it clear up front that they are responsible for their bodies. But especially if they’re new, I don’t want to dissuade them or have them thinking yoga isn’t for their body. This is again where language is so important.
• Remembering that everybody has a story, everyone is suffering in some way. Even if I don’t know what it feels like to have just had a hysterectomy or to be curvy, I know what what it feels like to hurt, to feel excluded, to have heartache. And then I can relate to them on that level.
• It’s more than just putting “all levels or body types welcome” on your website. I’ve been to places where that is stated, yet not followed through. If you invite people in and then make them feel like crap for not being able to do a pose, or not fitting the mold… obviously that’s a conflicting message and gives yoga a bad rap.

I could go on… but I’ll stop!

What is the biggest challenge to getting a broad range of yoga students in the door?

The biggest challenge to getting students in the door is their preconceived ideas about yoga and all the reasons they can’t do it. Or they’ve taken one class and they think all yoga is like that one experience.

Of course, once we get them in the door, the challenge becomes getting them to come back!

I know it can sometimes be difficult to translate a studio owner’s vision to the studio teachers.  How do you work with your teachers to create a welcoming environment for students?

The teachers are an important ingredient in that “inclusive sauce” — I think it starts on the front end by hiring people who approach the practice and teaching with the same passion for inclusiveness that I do, which makes the back end quite easy.  Of course, this means I have to be really clear what the practice and teaching mean to me, who I believe yoga is for (everyone), and who I want to serve through the studio (everyoneand their dogs — no really, we did a “Yoga at the park with your dog” benefit class). When that vibe is strong, you end up attracting people who are in line with it (even though I think that sounds a little cheesy, it really happens).

Many thanks to Michelle for her candor and insight!  Connect with Michelle on Twitter and It’s All Yoga on Facebook and Twitter.

Stay tuned for Part Two where Michelle dishes it straight up about what keeps teachers and studio owners from creating a welcoming class environment —and what they, and students, can do about it.

And—good news: it’s your turn to spill it.  What do y’all think goes into the secret sauce of creating a welcoming class/studio?