We have a lot of decisions to make every day. Some may be small and somewhat unconsciously made, like which coffee cup to use, and some may be more significant and require more thought. I know for myself I don’t always give the most time to the most impactful decisions and I can spend lots of time on small things like what to make for dinner. When we moved to Sedona four years ago it didn't feel like a decision, it kind of just happened with ease. Buying Village Yoga 3 years ago was a big decision, but it all happened in a week, it was more like an outcome that chose me than me making a decision. Running the business of Village Yoga also involves lots of decisions. What classes to offer, what time of day is best for which style class, who to have on our team, what products to sell, what mat cleaning spray to buy, what should the flyer for the new workshop say, what music to include on a playlist… you get the idea.  I have spent a lot of time exploring decision making. My graduate degree was based on decision science principles and involved lots of mathematical models to evaluate and optimize outcomes. For decades I helped clients develop and apply models in their communities and organizations to find the "best" solution. At that point in my life yoga was a form of exercise, not my way of living. As I have evolved and matured (and maybe gotten wiser?) I realize how different my decision-making style is. The words "decision science" are actually a bit humorous to me now. Decision making is really an art, and like most art is highly subjective and based on personal preferences. I know I am most satisfied with outcomes when I let my instincts guide my choices and going with my gut as they say. If a decision is not clear I will delay the choice until I have a chance to sleep on it and clear my mind until I know the answer.  Consider choice making as an art, and imagine you get to select one tile for a mosaic, not having any idea what others will select. When we gather all of the selections and pull them together across a large group of people its impossible to imagine what the resulting mosaic might look like. That is why the phone call I received in July from the Verde Independent Newspaper was such a wonderful surprise. When they told me that Village Yoga was selected as the Reader's Choice for Best Yoga Studio in the Verde Valley I was speechless. I did not even realize that this honor existed, and the jaded side of me thought that most "best of" lists involved buying advertising or self-sponsoring a campaign. It is so nice to know that the choices we make at Village Yoga are meeting the needs of our community and it feels great to be recognized. I know all of our teachers take pride in the classes they offer, and teach because they love yoga and they love our community. We all know the mental and physical benefits of practicing yoga and making it part of our lifestyle, and we love sharing that with all of you.  My guiding intention is best captured by the Toni Morrison quote, "At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel." It is important to me that we help make people feel good, or at least that we can help them feel a little better. I get excited when people come to the studio for the first time to take a class, and when people regularly travel from far-away places like Canada, Fountain Hills and West Sedona because they enjoy what we offer. It is my goal to offer as many classes and as much variety as the community desires, and I know that while we will relish a little in our award, we will also not stop looking for ways to demonstrate to you that your presence in our classes, workshops and events is not something we take for granted. It is the collection of each of your mosaic tiles that creates the art that makes us special. Thank you. |
Comments