There’s been a lot of talk lately about this new, supposed “yoga talent agency”–the Yoga Artist Management Agency. Some critics voiced off about the “sickening” nature of yogis “seeking fame.” Others called it the “dumbing down of America yoga.”
I call it brilliant. And I’m thrilled I got to talk with Ava Taylor, founder of the whole shebang. She gave me the inside scoop on what the agency will do: book retreats, conferences, festivals, and even corporate yoga gigs, plus massage teacher’s brand so they can get the word out easier.
Here’s why I’m a fan, of the YAMA and Ava:
1. It’s called YAMA for a reason: a constant, non-stop reminder of the company’s authentic, integral roots in yogic philosophy
2. Yes, Ava needs to make money, too–but she’s not doing it by using her background in advertising, marketing, or PR, to hype a bunch of useless stuff. She’s doing it using her skills to help teachers pay their bills, and keep on spreading the love. She really does believe “the world would be a better place if all people practiced yoga.”
3. Ava practices what she preaches, referencing plenty o’ different yoga styles and classes she continues to take, and to yogic philosophy
4. The goal is not, as one critic said, to promote “Young, white, and skinny with perky boobies in the latest chakra bra”, but to expand the image of yoga to include people from all ages, races, you name it, they wanna rep it. And who are they repping? The list hasn’t been released yet, but word has it it will include Sadie Nardini and Kia Miller.
5. The moral of the story is, as Ava says, to enable teachers to teach.
We live in a PR-driven world; what’s wrong with using the tools of our dominant culture to share the love and make the world a better place?
I call it brilliant. And I’m thrilled I got to talk with Ava Taylor, founder of the whole shebang. She gave me the inside scoop on what the agency will do: book retreats, conferences, festivals, and even corporate yoga gigs, plus massage teacher’s brand so they can get the word out easier.
Here’s why I’m a fan, of the YAMA and Ava:
1. It’s called YAMA for a reason: a constant, non-stop reminder of the company’s authentic, integral roots in yogic philosophy
2. Yes, Ava needs to make money, too–but she’s not doing it by using her background in advertising, marketing, or PR, to hype a bunch of useless stuff. She’s doing it using her skills to help teachers pay their bills, and keep on spreading the love. She really does believe “the world would be a better place if all people practiced yoga.”
3. Ava practices what she preaches, referencing plenty o’ different yoga styles and classes she continues to take, and to yogic philosophy
4. The goal is not, as one critic said, to promote “Young, white, and skinny with perky boobies in the latest chakra bra”, but to expand the image of yoga to include people from all ages, races, you name it, they wanna rep it. And who are they repping? The list hasn’t been released yet, but word has it it will include Sadie Nardini and Kia Miller.
5. The moral of the story is, as Ava says, to enable teachers to teach.
We live in a PR-driven world; what’s wrong with using the tools of our dominant culture to share the love and make the world a better place?
October 20, 2009 at 8:49 am
Great post. Nice information has been shared. Thanks for sharing this useful information. I learned more about yoga from the below site. They are yoga dedicators. They provide good tips and the useful information about the different type of yoga.
September 29, 2014 at 2:59 am
Obviously there’s been a lot of talk about this topic in the yoga world, but I only ever hear of YAMA as an agency – do you know: are there others? Smaller perhaps?
4 Comments
Your sources are correct, Lindsey, I have signed with YAMA.And in the true spirit of yoga, we have been able to take a concept like PR" or "management", and turn it into a constructive, positive and loving form that benefits us all–the teacher and the teachees. I'm all for it, and I'm happy to see your well-rounded perspective on what could have remained an old-school topic. We have to trust that people with powerfully abundant intentions can also manage, or be managed, and with the income we generate through our teaching, we will all have that many more resources to offer support to the world. Glad to read your post…keep em coming!Namaste.Sadie Nardini
Hello, Lindsay, Sadie, Ava, Yogis, Non-Yogi's and Yogi Bear!"Yoga teachers could use an advocate, as could most all teachers!" That's what I've come to believe with 24 years of experience teaching dance, fitness and yoga. Its about time that someone with scrupulous ethics, prosperity consciousness and a kick-booty creative idea came forward to lead the bilssed-out yoga teachers to their great big kulas with attention directly set upon the intention of overflowing success! Let the "nay-sayers" try to get enlightened (or not) in their dank apartments. I will be contemplating the truth, in one of Ava's clients' classes. Or I'll be leading other Divine Beings to their own truth while I teach class.Spread LOVE.~ Gillian ClarkSWERVE