Facilitating connection can take just one sentence
How a daring yoga teacher created a $100k+ business opportunity for her student
A lot of people are scared to get on the mic and connect people. They blow up the idea of leading a simple activity like a hot air balloon full of nervous energy.
I’m not much of a public speaker…
I don’t want to bother them…
I can describe the activity, but what if they don’t participate??
OK — they might want to connect, but what if this isn’t the right context??
But what if connecting people was easy?
What if just one sentence could lead to so many deliciously uplifting conversations that you’d be a criminal to say nothing?
My friend Troy Dayton had an experience a few years ago that demonstrates the massive power facilitators, teachers, and even fitness instructors can unlock with a desire to connect people and five seconds to communicate it.
Troy’s Story:
“Just had a unique experience at an exercise class in Vegas.
It was a hot mat strength and tone class in an actual Bikram studio. So it was really hot and really humid. And it was SOOO intense.
At the end, the teacher asked everyone to give their neighbors a congratulations for finishing the class.
Afterward, I mentioned to the woman in front of me, whom I find super attractive, that I had never seen anyone amuse themselves so much during a class because she kept smiling at herself in amazement during the whole class.
She proceeded to explain that she just had a hip replacement and this was her first time back in class and that she was so amazed that she could do it.
Then the guy next to me, who looks like he should be on the cover of Men’s Health, strikes up a convo with me to say he thought he was literally going to die a few times during class, and that I had inspired him by stopping to take care of myself.
He said it reminded him that he could do the same and paradoxically made him work harder. Then we talked more in the locker room and discovered he is looking to put a few hundred thousand into the cannabis sector so I probably just picked up a new client.
Then when he left I thought I was alone in the locker room and started to sing a song. A few mins later a guy comes out of the bathroom to say that I should keep singing because it makes the world smile.
What’s remarkable about these interactions is that they are soooo rare in fitness/yoga classes. Not to mention they were vulnerable and touching things people were sharing. I can count on one hand the number of satisfying conversations I’ve had after a fitness class in my whole life — much less with seemingly straight men in a locker room.
What was it that made today different?
1. The class was super hard and people were drenched. When people go through something super challenging together they are more likely to bond. If you are interested in learning more about this phenomenon read Tribe by Sebastian Unger.
2. The instructor encouraged people to interact with each other. She gave everyone permission to bond over #1. It was just one sentence.
I’m fascinated by the subtle things that wake me and others up to our connection to ourselves and each other.”
– Troy Dayton,
P.S. Troy is an amazing coach and facilitator. Learn more.
1. I’m preparing my crowdfunding campaign
I’ve hit 80,000 words on the first draft of Conscious Clubbing (working title). This shit really is a marathon. I’ve honestly been feeling very nervous to launch my Indiegogo campaign. It’s just like.. WHAT IF NO ONE CARES??? Ok, shut up inner critic (respectfully).
2. This podcast will inspire you
aka “Words Are Vibrations” (Instagram) is not just a meme poet. He’s a damn inspiring storyteller. If you love his cheeky and inspiring content, you’ll love this 45-minute talk that spans the birth of agriculture and why sharing your creativity will save the planet. (Listen)3. We’ve got a lot of work to do
It’s astonishing how quickly smartphones have changed our social habits.
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