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the class so you have a better understanding of the purpose and approach. Offer to trade a massage for a one-on-one yoga session so they can experience your work. Get Acquainted with Studio Owners Schedule informational interviews with studio owners to learn more about the styles of yoga they offer. Often, yoga studios will have community nights where they provide a free class to thank their regular students and market to new prospects. In many cases, they invite vendors, such as health- food providers, jewelry artists, musicians, and massage therapists. I've seen schools market their massage and bodywork programs at studio events like these. Building relationships with local yoga studios is a simple and effective way to create community and build your network. Add Massage Space in Yoga Studios I have yet to practice in a yoga studio that offers massage, but it would make a lot of sense. I practice yoga at home before every massage I receive so that my body is warm and ready for the work, and the therapist can more easily feel restrictions and patterns. How wonderful would it be to go straight from yoga class, to shower, to massage table? This would require a studio with showers and a space that is dedicated to massage, but I have seen studios where it would be possible. It's an idea worth investigating. Get Involved in Community Events The world of yoga is rich in community. It's one of the many things this industry does well. Spring and summer bring a regular schedule of outdoor yoga classes in nearly all parts of the country. Music festivals geared toward a new-age-minded population incorporate vendors similarly mentioned above. Local kirtans do the same any time of year. Community events are a 72 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 7 My Experience Using Yoga and Massage to Heal When I experienced a traumatic injury in 2008, I was only a month shy of completing my training to become a restorative yoga instructor. For five months postinjury, I couldn't bear weight on either of my feet and was unable to move my spine for six weeks while in a back brace. I was able to receive weekly, modified massages during the time I was mostly immobile, which provided a sense of circulation and mobility. Massages were soothing and spirit- lifting! When my surgeon approved the removal of the brace, restorative yoga offered me an option to move my body without bearing weight on my feet and gently introduced healthy movement back to my immobilized spine. Being an active woman, I had experienced grief after the injury. The inspiring messages interwoven with the gentle, restorative movement helped to heal my body, mind, and spirit, and I remain grateful to this day that massage and gentle yoga combined assisted me through a very difficult experience.