Yoginis Who Lead — Three Examples of Yoga Leadership

Janine Gustafson, owner of Yoga Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Iowa
Supportive!  Listened to Candy’s and my initial vision over meals she treated us to.  Invited us to do Introductory Session at her studio.  Recommended us to her 200hr Yoga Alliance teacher training graduates.   Did the majority of presenting at our first retreat – participated in the entire program.  Drove two other teachers from Iowa.  She helped us hold our vision; her clarity in communications and honest feedback was invaluable.  She upped our social marketing game and helped others struggling with technology.  Janine offered everything she had to support EVERYONE asfellow yoga teachers.  This, and in myriad other ways, she exemplifies yoga leadership.

Mary Margaret Anderson Fay of Yogamn
She’s strong, and willing to share her strength.  Generous, she gifted us tees on our hot yoga class visit.   Open-hearted,  she introduced us in class, welcomed us into her home;  cooked  for us in her pizza oven she made herself (pizza brunch)!   Mary is our Meditation teacher, and traveled to Mankato to provide two days of quality training.  She’s an excellent presenter, but what makes her an inspiring leader is that she did not stop there.  She supported us in major ways just to help us grow something that would help other yoga teachers develop their gifts.   Mary has deep roots in the regional yoga community (opened first hot studio in Minneapolis).   She didn’t need our fledgling program gig as much as we needed her positive strength and support for our first run.  She was full-on for OUR success!   Mary’s authentic, real, genuinely supportive leadership is solid gold.

Co-Director Candy Bell
Open your home?  Open your heart!  Co-Director Candy Bell welcomed us into her home for our last week-end together.   What a treat!  Activities included a visit to Salt Caves (in Nicollet, MN), Yin Yoga (Yoga 4 You in Prior Lake); Thai Massage and her husband Tim’s lasagna.  Upon our leave she had linens for eight to wash, yet she waived us off smiling. High standards for educational materials, sensitivity to people’s feelings, meeting expectations for excellence are all categories Candy has inspired and motivated in me. Candy was, and still is, my first support for leadership of our program.  She would not describe herself in yoga leadership terms, but her yoga-mom energy and support was crucial at the founding of Sun Moon Yoga  twenty years ago.  She returns us to breath throughout – her leadership is like ground water and flows to where it is most needed.