Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sharon Moon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Sharon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.
Most of my yoga teaching career has taken place in studios around the world with more affluent clientele. In 2012 I was given the opportunity to live for a year in Nairobi, Kenya and teach and train young people from the slum settlements. At the time there was an 85% unemployment rate in Kenya. My job was to select ten hearing and four deaf people from among 55 who showed up. Everyone wanted; needed a job. The non profit that sent me hired the 14 to be trained as yoga teachers and then return to teach in schools, orphanages, and youth detention centers they selected. My job at this point was to observe, guide and make any needed changes. I spent most of my time in these slum settlements. I saw first hand that what we in the United States take for granted is unimaginable to these people. Running water, electricity, toilets, air conditioning, enough food and adequate clothing and for some children, education. The salary my team made allowed them to make changes in their lives and those of their family right in front of my eyes. It was without a doubt, the most most fulfilling experience I have ever had.
Sharon, 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?
I entered the world of Eastern philosophy and yoga in my twenties after experiencing some difficult traumas in my life. When I became a yoga teacher in my 40’s I feel that these traumas and other experiences positively aided me in my teaching. My goal was and still is, is to offer students an avenue through yoga to become all that they are possible of becoming. Hatha yoga…the physical postures…can stretch the body but I like to offer ways in which to stretch the heart and mind. Ways in which to understand that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Ways in which to expand awareness beyond our own small world and instead of just seeing “me and mine” but to see “us”. To live a full, meaningful, happy, successful, and prosperous life with a heart that remains open and loving no matter what takes place in our world. My teaching currently is not done in studios but with individual or group private students. This allows me to work more closely and attentively with the student and create a program tailored specifically to their needs and desires.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When I became a yoga teacher there was no social media. Cell phones were these huge pieces of equipment and not everyone owned one. I lived in Austin , Texas at the time and there was one yoga studio. You could not purchase a yoga mat in town. I had to self promote and market myself. I had to be assertive in staying resilient and relevant. And I suppose assertive is an off word for a yoga teacher. For a couple of years I rented space in physical therapists, chiropractor offices and others in order to teach the few people who showed up. Always paying to teach because I didn’t take in enough to cover the rent. I believed in the yoga, I believed in myself and was persistent. Eventually a studio opened and hired me to teach full time as well as other doors starting to open as yoga became more and more mainstream and popular.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think I was able to build my reputation as a teacher by taking risks, not holding back even if I was unsure I was saying or doing the right things. Just trusting what seemed to be an internal guide. Often asking myself: “you want me to do what?”
Contact Info:
- Website: www. Moonyoga.com
Image Credits
Photos by Sharon Moon and Bishop Brock