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As a yoga instructor who aspires to teach from a place of authenticity, I constantly remind myself: how can I inspire my students to truly yoke the essence of yoga? How can I encourage that shift away from thinking it's simply about sweating or sculpting sexy looking arms or a svelte figure?
Yoga, when it comes down to it, and even it's most literal translation of the word from Sanskrit, is about harmonizing the body, mind and breath so that we can eventually awaken one day into more conscious, liberated and beneficial human beings. So that when we are off of the mat, we can make a positive difference in the community and world at large.
What better way, I thought, to put my aspiration and teaching into effect and lead by example than by hosting a 350.org event at Brooklyn-based Bodhisattva Yoga, the yoga studio I manage and teach at. After all, in my mind, 350.org, Bill Mckibben's campaign against climate change has everything to do about being conscious, beneficial and positive. Then I thought, how better, if I could inspire others in a similar position such as myself--who have access to a community space, a public park, or living room--to do the same. That's right, with one week away, you've still got time to organize and host a 350.org event if you follow my lead!
Here is an outline of the steps I took to organize the event that also just so happened to aid in me staying a well-prepared, organized, eco-efficient and stress-free yogini:
1. Carve out the logistics: day, time, a maximum cap on attendees, can attendees bring guests? Etc. Knowing that I'd have a larger attendance since our yoga space can accommodate it, I decided to implement an RSVP deadline three days prior to the event. This way I'd have an accurate head count to provide sufficient food and drink.
2. Create a vision or mission statement for the event. This helps keep the "big picture" in mind. Who is your audience? What message do you hope to send? With my 350 event catered around my studio's yoga students, likely a mix of folks very informed and some less informed about the environment, here's what I came up with:
An evening of good conversation, food, drink, and digestible, non-didactic information about climate change and the importance of the number 350.
3. Add some carrot to that stick! A little incentive to do some good can never hurt so I decided to offer the first 10 students who RSVP-ed a free yoga class with me or the studio's director. Sure, it means that we won't get paid but what's a few less dollars when it comes to helping save the world?
4. Promote! As soon, as you've squared away your event details, get the word out to ensure the highest turn out. I printed out and taped up 350's pre-prepared, fill-able .pdf flier on our studio's front door, shot out an e-mail blast, and blogged about it. I also asked the teachers to make an announcement about the party after each class. With only a week or so of promotion we already have over 20 attendees.
5. Create an agenda. I wish to keep our event a mix of fun, leisure, information and activism. Since it will run from 8-11PM, we plan on dedicating the first half hour to hour for mingling and arrivals. Once everyone has settled in, I'll make an introduction explaining the purpose of the event and invite them to listen in on a brief (5-10 minute) but poignant powerpoint (provided by 350.org). After which, we'll take a group photo to later on, upload to 350. The point is to hopefully keep things moving enough that the party feels fun and meaningful and minimal in the way of dead, silent space.
6. Create a budget for an eco-themed shopping list. With the event's focus on climate change it just seems natural to offer as many local, low-carbon goodies as possible. On my shopping list is a local cheese spread with crackers, NY state apples, a crudités platter showcasing locally grown veggies with dip, a wine selection from Long Island vineyards, Brooklyn Brewery beer, and fresh apple cider. Guests are also encouraged to bring other homemade, vegetarian, low-carbon treats--though anything is welcome and appreciated!
7. Think minimal waste. In promoting the event, a student generously offered to let us borrow glasses and silverware that she had purchased for a recent party she threw. We gratefully took up her offer knowing that it would cut back on paper and plastic utensil waste. It was an excellent reminder of what coming together as a community can offer!
8. Decorate the space. As a yoga studio, we have, at the risk of sounding cheesy, a leg up. There's ample floor space and blankets to sit on and a lot of white, empty walls to take advantage of. Thanks to the wealth of information, fliers, and banners that 350 has available, it will only require some quick print-outs and tape to hang some informative nuggets on the wall that can serve as some good conversation starters.
9. Before the big day mentally prepare, set an intention and remember why it is your hosting a 350 event in the first place. With all of the planning and preparations, your motivation to directly inspire and inform and indirectly help reverse what could be catastrophic effects of climate change can easily get lost in the clutter.
10. Remind yourself that you're doing something great, feel proud of it and last but certainly not least--don't forget to breathe!
More on 350:
350: The Number That Will Save the Planet
Your Rock Star is Physics, Your Heartthrob is Chemisty, Your Destination is Climate Action Day with Bill McKibben
How to Go Green: In the Community
Don't Host a Lame Rally: 5 Ways to Organize for a Meaningful International Day of Climate Action on October 24
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