The 5 C’s of Creating Community

"THROUGH PROMOTING THE PRACTICE OF YOGA, WE ELEVATE THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGH COMMUNITY WE ELEVATE THE WORLD."

One of the most gratifying parts of teaching yoga for over 20 years is the sense of connection among my students and the community that has developed. Creating Community, like yoga, is simple but not easy. With dedication and generosity you can have a thriving community in which those around you can grow along with you. I am so grateful for the people in my community that share the same core values and for my team of teachers and staff that reflect these values every day in everything that they do.

I presented a workshop two years ago at the Yoga Journal Conference on the 5 C’s of Creating Community in the Business of Yoga and these are the same principles I apply every day to continue to create and sustain a strong and vibrant community here is South Florida. A few of the concepts sound like common sense, but implementing them in an effective and intelligent way will elevate you and your community. The five main components are Cheers, Create, Connection, Cooperation and Common interests.

The “CHEERS” effect is pretty easy: It starts with the concept “where everybody knows your name”. People need to know they matter; they need to know they have been seen. We live in a world where we are obsessed with our technology, put down the phone, look each other in the eye and talk. We miss so many opportunities in the day to just smile or turn to the person next to you and say hello. You create a ripple effect of kindness that cannot be duplicated and an environment that will encourage others to follow your friendly example.

“CREATE” opportunities to give back!!! Time can be one of the most precious gifts we give and something that we can give generously. If you have been following me for a while you know about some of the free community yoga events I offer; Yoga in the Park on Saturday mornings, roof top yoga at Raw Juce once a month and the annual event Something BIG. But, you don’t have to incorporate yoga to bring the community together – you can make a difference in your community by simply donating your time to a cause or project that matters to you. Coming up on July 5th we will be doing our 4th Annual Beach Clean Up in Deerfield at the pier after the fireworks display for Independence Day. There are so many ways that we can create opportunities to GIVE BACK to the city and to the people of your community – be creative!

“CONNECTION” One of the ways I create connection is to hold events were you can "break bread" together. In every culture, the ritual of sharing a meal generates a connection. We call these gatherings Kula’s which means “Community”. Our Kula is the combination of yoga, food and gathering together; friendships are developed and everyone feels a sense of belonging to something bigger. It's incredibly fulfilling.

“COOPERATION” Align with local charities and support them in whatever ways you can, collect items - school supplies; toiletries; non-perishable food items etc… There are many ways to bring awareness to a cause. I have built relationships with a few local organizations that I hold dear to my heart; Connection Coalition, Samaritans 365

and Best Foot Forward. Find an organization you love and continue to support them over and over again so they become familiar to your community.

“COMMON” interests are easy to identify once you begin to connect with people. Those interests can lead to amazing collaborations and bring the community together. At Yoga Journey we offer a "lunch and learn" where we delve into the philosophy of yoga, meditation and so much more. There are so many possibilities you can start or join; a book club, cooking class, movie screenings or speaker series to name a few. And think outside the box, maybe join an activity you wouldn’t normally think about – it could lead to new found friendships and hobbies you didn’t know you loved.

Creating Community is so incredibly rewarding and one of the things I enjoy most about my yoga, is that it has created an opportunity for me to bring people together in ways I never imagined. If you would like to donate your time and participate in our community give back on July 5th please join us on the beach bright and early… we will clean up our Community beach together with the City of Deerfield Beach, I will lead a meditation and then we can enjoy a light breakfast at Ocean’s 234 to finish the morning.

What a great way to give back to the community – Sign up to join us - https://bit.ly/2JPbxRF

What does community mean to you?