Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Plasha.
Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Michael Plasha, and I currently live in Erie, Pa. I became interested in meditation and yoga in college as a stress management practice. I explored several approaches on my own then visited centers in the US to deepen my knowledge. The practices reduced my stress and connected me with a clearer understanding of my core values.
One of these values is knowing my purpose and being passionate about my work. I had been working in social services, public relations, marketing, advertising, and freelance writing and could do them well – I won awards from a PR organization- but it wasn’t my passion.
My passion was wanting to teach meditation and yoga. At the time, it wasn’t fully accepted, and no one here was trained or certified. I followed my heart and became certified by the Integral Yoga Institute. I returned and taught in many community centers and eventually opened a small studio.
A few months later, a local hospital hired me full-time for their pioneering program in Complementary Care. Three years later a change in administration closed the center, and I’ve continued with my own studio, more trainings, and business ever since.
I feel I’ve had a lot of impact in our community for over 20 years, and I’m ready for more creative challenges and opportunities available in Savannah as well as warmer weather!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel when we do what we’re born to do- our Dharma – we will be supported in mysterious and compelling ways. We may still have challenges though, especially as entrepreneurs. I didn’t know how I was going to afford my first training. I was in between jobs, and I applied for a marketing position at a new Community College. During the interview, the president said, “You are qualified, but what do you really want to do?” I said teach meditation and yoga. He asked me what it cost. He gave me a check for the full amount with the condition I develop a stress management program they could tape and provide in companies and factories. That’s Dharma!
Afterwards I started teaching all over town and opened a small studio, and continued with freelance writing. I published an article in a regional magazine on alternative and holistic therapies. A VP of Marketing at a local hospital called me and asked if she could talk with me at my studio. I said I don’t have any chairs; we sit on the floor. She brought me a peace Lilly and sat on some folded blankets. She hired me as a consultant to help them hire staff for a startup Complementary Care Center. Eventually, they hired me full-time as a Yoga and Meditation teacher and paid off my lease, and paid for more trainings. That’s Dharma!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been blessed with many trainers and teachers. Many years of practicing and teaching have taught me how to adapt postural yoga and meditation in a trauma-sensitive way to individual bodies, minds, and needs.
I love to craft specific techniques for private lessons and private group classes for anxiety, depression, stress, ADD, back pain, and many chronic diseases.
I’ve been trained in Yoga for Heart Disease and Cancer, Prenatal Yoga, Ayurveda, Hatha, Vinyasa, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Zen, and Vipassana Meditation, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Vedanta, and Classical Yoga. I have a fairly large toolbox to I draw from.
My focus now is Mindfulness Consulting, Teaching and Training, and private yoga and meditation individual and group lessons or classes. We will meet at your place or a public space.
My new website is privateyogaandmeditationsavannah.com
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be clear this is what you love. Many of us enter the Yoga and Meditation profession because we want to alleviate suffering in others. This is a noble aspiration, but we want to balance this with self-compassion. If you quit your day job and jump in teaching 16 classes a week all over town, it can lead to burnout, and your own practice will suffer! I had two part-time jobs plus teaching yoga for several years to develop a following before opening a studio. Back then, rent was much less than today. We’ll know teachers have closed studios in big cities. Keep it simple. Word of mouth is the most effective advertising. I’ve kept my overhead as low as possible to maintain a profit margin. That’s why when I live in Savannah soon, I will not have a physical studio. Think of me as your mobile Yogi caterer or personal trainer providing a moveable feast of timeless techniques to support your optimum health.
Contact Info:
- Website: privateyogaandmeditationsavannah.com
- Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/Michael-plasha-6807ab6b
