The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
383: Gift Certificate Policies & Questions with Shannon Crow
What are the policies in your yoga business around gift certificates? If you don’t have them in place, this episode is the perfect starting point to get started thinking about creating some policies about gift certificates and more in your yoga business.
Shannon shares a question that was asked in the Connected Yoga Teacher Group on Facebook about gift certificates. A member asked about whether they should honor an expired gift certificate given out during a silent auction or offer an alternative that shows compassion for the buyer’s circumstances. Shannon shares the feedback on the post and what the original poster decided to do. She also invites us to consider the policies we have in place in our yoga business, not just about gift certificates but in other areas as well.
Shannon then shares a response she received on speaking up for social justice causes and other injustices. What can we do when it feels like our actions can’t make a difference? Tune in to be inspired by Shannon’s response.
[0:10] This episode touches on two topics - the importance of community and support, and gift certificate policies.
[3:46] Shannon gives a shout-out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and two of Shannon's trainings focused on yoga for pelvic health.
[6:17] Have you joined the Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group yet? It is a wonderful and supportive community of over 12,000 members and yoga teachers from around the world!
[7:13] Recently, a yoga teacher asked a question about policies around gift certificates and vouchers - holding a boundary around an expired voucher vs. offering a more compassionate alternative that benefits both parties.
[11:24] Did you know that you can create gift cards and discount codes through OfferingTree?
[13:23] It would be a great idea to review your policies about gift certificates before giving them out at a silent auction. Shannon shares what the original poster decided to do based on feedback from the community.
[15:35] Some countries may have laws about expiration dates on gift certificates. It can be a good idea to consider some of the policies you have in place in your yoga business regarding gift certificates, as well as other areas.
[18:15] Shannon shares a little about a response and a question that she received from a yoga teacher in a small rural community in the US about speaking up on social justice issues.
[25:38] Keen to work with Shannon? Sign up for her email list to stay in the loop about her latest coaching offerings.
Question About Non-expiring Gift Certificates Facebook Group
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 254: Must-Have Legal Agreements with Erika Kullberg
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian
Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga (Podcasts & Articles) Resource
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.
"It would be so great to really review policies about gift certificates before giving them out."
"We can't think of every policy that we'll have for everything in our business, but we might want to consider some of the policies."
"What is the work that you're doing and is it helping the community in some way?"
"As a collective, just like the aster flowers, we can make a tremendous difference together."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian
Many yoga teachers are trying to navigate having tough conversations with their colleagues, friends, and families about many issues going on in the world today - from the genocide in Palestine to racism, from misogyny to cultural appropriation, and much more. These conversations are difficult but so important. Rebecca Sebastian joins Shannon Crow in this episode to discuss having tough conversations.
Rebecca Sebastian is a long-time yoga teacher and 11-year yoga therapist. She owns an accessible and inclusivity-focused yoga studio and apothecary in Davenport, Iowa, called Sunlight Yoga + Apothecary, and is the host of the Working In Yoga Podcast. Rebecca is a passionate writer on yoga topics and she participates and loves all things yoga and the yoga industry. She believes that through writing and communication, we can all lift each other up and share what lights us up with the world.
This episode came about because of a hard conversation between Rebecca and Shannon as friends when they realized that they were on the same journey but not on the same page about some things. They decided to share what it’s like to have difficult conversations with people you care about and are in relationship with, and how they have been navigating these chats. If you have been struggling with having tough conversations with people around you, you are not alone.
[3:00] Shannon gives a shout out to the sponsors - OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.
[4:56] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rebecca Sebastian. This episode is more of a conversation between friends talking about what it's like to have hard conversations with each other than a typical podcast episode.
[16:25] Rebecca invites us to give ourselves (and our former selves) and each other grace when having difficult conversations.
[18:29] There are many different issues that yoga teachers could be having tough conversations about these days. Does this belong in yoga?
[25:53] What are Rebecca's thoughts on yoga teachers who don't want to talk about "politics" in their classes? Shannon and Rebecca discuss the importance of consent in having hard conversations.
[30:19] How should/can yoga teachers respond when yoga students bring tough conversations into yoga spaces?
[36:38] Rebecca and Shannon discuss holding space for tough conversations and how they react when there are differences in fundamental beliefs or their moral compasses.
[40:20] Shannon reflects on how she is reacting to witnessing the genocide in Palestine, which can feel like "too much" for some people. Rebecca shares her perspective.
[46:08] It can be difficult to know how to respond when people who care about you give you unhelpful "advice".
[48:58] Shannon pops in to share a message about OfferingTree.
[51:27] Shannon and Rebecca diverge in their opinions about how they show up for the issues that matter on social media.
[56:20] What has Shannon's experience on social media been like since October 7th?
[61:20] Rebecca and Shannon discuss the shaming and "infighting" that tends to occur in social justice spaces.
[64:53] What are some actions that are effective in supporting the causes we care about, like Palestine?
[68:26] Rebecca talks about protesting as a strategy to effect change.
[72:13 - 72:17] "I feel like we can struggle and care at the same time."
[74:06] Shannon and Rebecca talk about the fact that many people are simply unaware of what is happening in Gaza and Palestine, but also that some people choose not to see it.
[77:15] When it comes to difficult conversations, there are a lot of things to consider. What is Rebecca's advice to people who want to do the hard work but don't know where to start?
[83:24] Shannon reflects on her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Rebecca.
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 304: How Are We Still here? with Rebecca Sebastian
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 297: Yoga Philosophy & Business with Rebecca Sebastian
Do Politics Belong in Yoga? by Naomi Gottlieb-Miller on Substack
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 361: Connect to Nature & Your Roots with Tracee Stanley
Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga (Podcasts & Articles) Resource
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.
"I think we learn a lot from private conversations through friends about tough things." - Shannon
"After those [tough] conversations you're like, wow, our friendship is way stronger, but on the flip side of it, when it starts to go sideways, it also can mean the end of a friendship." - Shannon
"One of the best things about being able to have hard conversations with friends is that if you truly have respect [and a] friendship connection, the stakes feel a little bit lower because you ... can practice having hard conversations with people who are gonna be still in relationship with you at the end of those hard conversations." - Rebecca
"To have conversations that are difficult, all parties should consent to that conversation." - Rebecca
"How do we hold space for difficult conversations if we don't want to be in them?" - Rebecca
"Every change is a long game. It is always a long game." - Rebecca
"I also know that I show up for the work in my own community and that's my priority." - Rebecca
"I can't care about everything, I can't. Otherwise I'm not gonna show up for the things that matter to me." - Rebecca