Why a Mentor?
Whether you are on the yoga therapy path, interested in improving your teaching skills, or committed to living the life of a yogi, a mentor is a vital part of your journey. In the tradition of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), we believe that being of service to our community is a prana/life force exchange. If we fail to refill our vessel, we will be without the energy to truly be able to give to others. We believe that we tend to do what keeps us out of balance, because we are drawn to that type of energy. Sometimes you may not even know that you are out of balance, and it takes a trained professional to show you. An outside perspective is always a good idea.
Mentors can help you accomplish a variety of goals. You might be needing help to get into balance yourself. Or, you might be looking for a mentor to offer their wisdom when you have questions on learning materials. They can also offer suggestions when you are teaching or guiding other students. A mentor is happy to meet with you to describe their own personal yoga journey, and what techniques of yoga they committed to in order to accomplish their dharma, or purpose in life. A mentor’s goal is to gently guide you in the right direction.
How Do I Choose A Mentor?
You may choose a mentor who is of the same Ayurvedic constitution as you, or someone in the same field as you. Choose who you have a heart-to-heart connection with, who has the credentials that match what you want to learn, and who is doing the work that you want to do. Select the mentor that is achieving what you hope to realize in your future.
Your Mentor Can Assist You In At Least 3 Ways:
1) They can help you find a personal practice/daily lifestyle.
A personal yoga practice designed by your mentor is to help you stay in balance, transform, grow, and feel comfortable in your skin. I like to have my mentees work with me as often as they feel the need to. This could vary from once a month to a few times a year. Mentees might want to check in with their mentor more often about their yoga practice, if they are not noticing positive changes. A daily practice does need time to take effect, but it is important to communicate concerns with your mentor. A 15-minute phone call or email to answer questions is always complimentary and encouraged.
2) They can help you understand yogic teachings and pedagogical material.
Mentors have been teaching and learning for a long time and understand the diverse aspects of yoga due to their education and experience. If you are in a yoga therapy program, yoga teacher training program, or if you are focused on continuing your yoga education, your mentor can help you digest the material, and offer insight where you feel unclear. If you are working on creating new workshops or trainings, a mentor can offer their wisdom to support you in the development of your projects.
3) They can help you with your private clients.
When you start seeing clients professionally, you can bring your cases to your mentor, and ask questions about your sessions. The mentor will help you set the direction for the case, check the practices you wrote and see if they are in alignment with our tradition, and answer any questions that you might have to ensure future successful sessions. (Mentee will abide by HIPAA guidelines and keep all personal client information confidential).
Cost: A one-hour mentorship session with Ashley McKeachie starts at $100/hour. The cost may increase depending on the location. Sessions are $100/hour if they are on Skype or Zoom, if the meetings are at Ashley McKeachie’s home in Huntington Beach, or if the session is less than 5 miles from Ashley McKeachie’s home. Sessions will increase in price to $150 if the meeting needs to be done in private at the mentees house, and if the home is more than 5 miles away. Please contact Ashley McKeachie at ashley@ashleymckeachieyoga.com to schedule an appointment.