A step into the stream of Karma. Teacher donates time, studio might donate space. No fees are charged and students are asked instead leave a donation that will give back to the greater community or studio, teacher or another cause. Donations are not always material or monetary, a list of suggestions is below.
Here are some ways Karma Donation Yoga Classes might be structured:
When I started teaching outdoors, we held class on the lawn outside of Turn of River Middle School, donations were collected for PETA. Students were invited to donate any amount $1 and up. 100% of proceeds were donated at the last minute, not to PETA but to the Stamford Animal Care and Control Center who had a more urgent need for funds.
Dew Yoga offers a weekly Karma Class called Yoga Stimulus, class time and teacher rotate each month. Material, monetary and service are distributed to community organizations, cover studio overhead and to provide classes to others, or shared with community members in need. More about how that works here.
Initiated by Kimberly Smith, a Branford, CT Yoga Teacher, Yoga for Food runs a nationwide annual food drive by offering Yoga in exchange for food for the Food Bank.
Dew Yoga also offers Yoga Nidra once per month by donation to raise funds each quarter year for causes such as Stamford Animal Care & Control Center, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Brian Kest in LA runs his whole studio on Karma Donations. From his site,
“Class fees on donation basis. Definition of “donation” – act of giving”.
Here is a link to a Yogi Times article about his decision to run his classes on donation. (It’s a .pdf download).
Ask your Yoga teacher to hold a Karma Donation class, maybe in exchange for the students doing a park clean up or tree planting, or simply to make Yoga accessible to everyone in tight financial times.
Of course honor the suggestion or request of the teacher or studio hosting the class but here are some ideas:
Your presence is already a positive contribution, there is no requirement to give more
Good intentions and wishes
Write a testimonial we can share with others new to Yoga
Books or music you love and would like to share with us.
HUGS
Dollars are always welcome to help feed the teachers and musicians
Help spread the joy of Yoga by telling your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers
A Service you can provide to the studio or teacher
Canned food items
If in doubt, ask what to bring!
