We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Plasha a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

I was at a crossroads in my life. My background was in freelance writing, public relations, advertising and marketing. I live in Savannah, GA. I had fulfilled a marketing goal at a retirement center six months ahead of schedule. As a “thank you”, they laid me off. I was looking for work in similar fields but my passion was teaching yoga and meditation. This was 1996 and yoga was not popular in Erie, Pa. There were few teachers and no one was certified. I wanted to go to a residential training but didn’t have the resources. I landed an interview for the position of marketing director with the president of a new community college. An hour into the interview, he asked, “You are qualified to be my director but are you passionate about it? If not, what are you passionate about?”

After we talked about my love of yoga and meditation and the best place to be trained at the time, he wrote me a check to cover the entire cost! He asked when I returned to create an outline for a yoga and meditation based stress management video program for blue collar workers they could use on site at work. I returned and established the program and worked for him part time for a year to support getting started as a yoga teacher. This opportunity changed the trajectory of my life! He had the gift of seeing the potential in people and supporting their dreams. It was the kindest professional action anyone has done for me.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After a lifetime of study and practice starting in 1971, I have aspired to offer an authentic yoga and meditation experience that centers around the mind-body-breath connection, enabling high-performance leaders, teachers, employees, individuals in recovery for addiction or a chronic disease, parents, teens and children to undergo transformative growth and a life of resilience. I understand the profound desire we all share to be truly seen and heard, to be acknowledged and appreciated. It is in this space of genuine connection that the seeds of personal growth and transformation can flourish.

When you step into my classes, private sessions, or trainings, you enter a sacred sanctuary where comfort and connection are paramount. I have a natural ability to intuitively connect with each student, allowing me to craft personalized consultations, private lessons, and classes that cater to your unique needs. By attentively assessing your individual energy and state of being, I create an environment that nurtures your well-being and guides you towards your highest potential.

My approach is informed by teaching over 14,000 classes and over 1,000 private lessons. I am certified in Ayurveda and Yoga, Yoga for heart disease and cancer, and Prenatal Yoga. I have received over 1,000 hours of training from the Integral Yoga Institute, the American Institute of Vedic Studies; and the Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kripalu, and Viniyoga schools.

The result are practices that are accessible and inclusive to all types of bodies and minds.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

In the professional fields of yoga and meditation there are now standardized “assembly line” trainings. These can be solid and a way to start. The usual requirement for a 200 hour approved Yoga Alliance (a non-profit that set national minimum requirements) training is six months prior experience in yoga. I’m probably an exception to the norm in that I had practiced and studied yoga and meditation for 25 years before taking my first 200 training. We all need to start somewhere but for me years of practice and study have been very beneficial for me and my students. There’s a depth that comes from a lifetime of immersion. In addition, being open minded and curious about ourselves, philosophies, religions and life; and learning from other disciplines like neuroscience and the natural sciences has given me a more holistic and ecumenical approach to teaching. I feel the goal of yoga and meditation is to awaken to our intuitive wisdom free from the chatter of the mind and the influences of society and our families of origin. For me therapy in the past supported this process.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

First and foremost is customer relations. I’ve always returned calls and e mails the day I have received them. I listen to the needs of the students and suggest what might be most transformative. And if I don’t have the skill set, I will refer them to someone I know who does. Being transparent, humble and authentic goes a long way in developing loyalty and trust with students. This leads to relatability. The average time students attended my studio in Erie was 10 to 20 years! Even though the teachings in Yoga and meditation can be deep, humor and compassion can make them accessible. I try to make esoteric teachings practical and universal. If I can do that in a light and witty way without trying, they land even better. Reading the field and intuitively responding to the energy and needs of the individual or group grows clientele. Everyone wants to be seen and heard. The “cookie cutter” approach to sequencing limits this connection. Being flexible and intuitive in the moment by observing allows me to adapt, adjust and accommodate students more effectively. The result is integrity. Integrity goes a long way!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michaelplasha.com
• Instagram: Michael Plasha
• Facebook: Michael Plasha and Plasha Yoga Studio
• Linkedin: Michael Plasha
• Youtube: Michael Plasha
• Other: [email protected]