Know Your Audience

   This morning before breakfast, I jumped into my son’s world entering his bedroom, while he was playing racing video games, and we discussed cars. We discussed our favorite models, years, and designs. It was fun to compare notes on our personal tastes and choices if we were to perhaps purchase our fantasy racing car.

   You see, cars are not my favorite topic, yoga is. Should I have gone into my son’s room and discussed the benefits of headstand and backbends. That would be somewhat inappropriate, because my son could care less about yoga. This morning, I met my son where he was at. I spoke to my audience.

   If we meet people where they are at, we are opening doors to connecting on a deeper level. Finding common threads in conversation helps create a deeper bond between one another. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you go on and on about some passion of yours, and they are absolutely uninterested and they could basically care less. It is important to pick up social clues when sharing topics. If the listener seems distant or is doing an internal yawn, it is time to change the subject.

   On a daily basis, I need to know my audience. I teach yoga to all ages and levels and respecting their needs and wants is mandatory. Power yoga to someone suffering chronic back pain is down right crazy. Chanting sanskrit to my born again client could leave my her running for the hills, never to return again. It is a necessity in my work to meet the client where they are at, instead of where I am at. Otherwise, I am walking through life both selfish and clueless.

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