Creating Inspired Work and Community Outreach Big to Small

What are you inspired to do?

We all dream of doing work that means something; work that contributes to the greater good. If we didn’t it’s not likely that we’d be teaching. But the hard question is how do we do that? No matter if we already know what cause we want to support or whether or not we want to make a big impact or give back in small ways having the idea to do so is very different than actually doing it.

When I started teaching I truly felt that teaching itself was a gift not only one that was given to me but one that I was giving back to all of those people who I worked with. As my business grew and I spent more time teaching the desire to do more crept in and I started to wonder how I could make a bigger impact. After I opened my second studio the desire turned into a need and I knew it was time to add something to my current work life that really made an impact on my community and on me.

Sometimes it’s like that. Sometimes you know there is an element missing in your work and you can pinpoint what it is pretty easily. Sometimes you are inspired and absolutely compelled to use your work for a specific purpose or cause as did Bay Area teacher Amy Lynch.

Amy Lynch is the founder of the non-profit ARM of Care, an organization that uses movement, art and recreational therapy to work with victims of human trafficking. *Listen to Amy’s awesome interview and learn more about her program and her journey to creating ARM of Care.* For Amy it was one of those things that she just knew she had to do. Through her own experience with body trauma and her studies in recreational therapy and somatics she talks about being absolutely compelled to get involved. And that’s just what she did.

Another teacher I know and admire, Shelley Ballestrazze, did the same thing after she was diagnosed, and survived, breast cancer. She started a non-profit that provided low to no cost Pilates for women dealing with breast cancer. Shelley gathered her resources, recruited teachers and community members and made a significant impact on many students throughout the Bay Area.

So, it is possible. And it also might not look like the complex creation of a whole new organization. It might be simple and meaningful.

To give you a taste of what I mean here are two examples that we’ve implemented that are both simple and meaningful:

1. Seva or “service” sessions: At our studio I wanted to have a way for those people who most needed movement in their lives but could least afford it to get it. I simply pitched the idea to my teachers and asked for volunteers to donate up to 10 sessions per quarter to a student in need at no cost. Once I knew who was willing I could then establish how many spots I had available.I wanted our students to be the ones to recommend or refer others they thought were in need. To do so we put out an announcement, built a page on our website telling about the program, and made some fliers for the studio and the practitioners we worked with. We gave a simple list of criteria, but kept it pretty loose. Once the word was out we were able to help students who could not otherwise afford the work get much needed movement back in their lives or at least start on the right track.
2. Community Day: Twice a year we do a day of classes that are all donation based. Typically we highlight at least one of every class we offer or new classes we are thinking of offering so new students get a taste of what we do and existing students get to try new classes they’ve never taken.Each time we host a Community Day we’ve added different little perks. We’ve had free chair massage, snacks, music and raffles to make the day fun. But here’s the really fun part: every Community Day we pick a different local charity to donate the proceeds too.This is a great way to reach out to your community and to build your business. It’s fun, it shows your support of the organizations that are doing good things in your city or town, and it gives you a chance to showcase your business and generate new leads.

Creating inspired work and building in ways to reach out to your community can be big or small, simple or complex what’s most important is that you are “compelled” to do it. Therefore the most pertinent question becomes What are you compelled to do?

• What do you love?
• Who do you think needs the work that you do but can’t access it or afford it?
• What lines up with your vision and core values as a teacher or business owner?
• Is there a special population that is in need in your community and do you have something to offer them?

Give this some real thought before you decide to implement any program or develop a project because the likelihood is that it’s only going to be a success if you believe in it.

Here are some ideas for how to get started:

• Borrow from others: Talk to other teachers or studio owners, visit their websites, search around and see what other teachers are up to in the way of outreach. If there is something that resonates with you think of how you might implement a similar idea into your own teaching practice or studio.
• Partner with others: Joining forces with other teachers, studios or with existing non-profit organizations can help you cut down on the work of implementing a new idea and brining in other people can spur creativity. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Don’t be afraid to build on something that’s already there. Think about these possibilities:
  • Senior center
  • Homeless shelter
  • Battered woman’s shelter
  • Disabled kids or group homes
  • Veterans organizations
  • Food banks
  • Youth organizations
  • Rotaries
  • Literacy groups
• Keep it simple: Starting small can make a big impact and will give you a chance to test the waters. Creating small half-day or one-day events or donating your time or money can be a way to see how it feels to be engaged in your community and give you a chance to get to know some of the organizations in your town or city.
• If you go big, ask for help: If you want to take on a bigger project or create something entirely new be sure to talk to people who have done similar things and know what you are getting into. Just like every successful business starts from a clear vision and plan so does creating community-based programming. Do your research and take your time to put together the details. Rally your troops and make sure you have the support you need before diving in. And once you do, dive in fully! It’s totally worth it!