Today I’m delighted to share with you an interview with my dear Alexander Technique colleague Imogen Ragone on how and why she built a membership community as a part of her business, BodyIntelligence.
Membership community is one way holistic practitioners can increase income and “scale up” our businesses. Unfortunately, it can be a big energy suck that doesn’t bring the results you want unless it really serves both you and your clients.
In the therapeutic arts, scaling up membership groups is more difficult because ours tend to be more participatory.
That requires intimacy and strong facilitation skills that are not needed in larger, personality driven communities.
If you are a therapeutic professional who wants to expand your business model, This article does a great job of describing the difference between the larger, thought leadership/guru driven model, as opposed to the communal practice and learning model that Imogen and I discuss.
Imogen’s community has grown organically from her work, which involves learning and practicing simple co-regulation skills in a group.
Yes, community is all the rage…and there is a good reason for that. Practicing what we preach is not for the faint of heart. We all need support and encouragement! Please watch the interview if this is resonating with you. And, if you don’t have the time to watch;
5 key takeaways from my interview with Imogen:
1) The Alexander Technique provides effective relief from chronic tension; but more importantly it creates an experience of self-empowerment and self-agency.
Imogen’s story is all about finding tension and stress relief through the Alexander Technique – and surprisingly becoming empowered to care for herself in all aspects of her life.
2) Groundbreaking applications to trauma grew Imogen’s business naturally through dialogue with her clients.
Imogen’s way of teaching is inspired by “the cycle,” a practice of noticing bodily ease developed by Mio Morales that departs from traditional Alexander Technique pedagogy. Imogen discovered that this way of communicating Alexander Technique principles can support people living with complex PTSD through working with one of her clients, Shay Seaborne, CPTSD. Together they created a new Foundations of Regulation course combining Shay’s understanding of the neurobiology of trauma with Imogen’s innovative methods of teaching.
3) Building a learning community is slow but profoundly effective if you are practicing co-regulation skills.
Creating and sustaining a supportive learning community may organically serve your clients in ways that 1:1 work doesn’t quite do. Imogen’s personal wellbeing as a businessperson and her professional success have both been enhanced by her community.
4) There are important differences between 1:1 and group dynamics.
Group members accelerate their learning and their ability to integrate it into daily life by tapping into the power of the group. However, there are challenges you should be prepared for, and Imogen names a few she encountered.
5) Introverts can be great leaders and effective community builders. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Be inspired by hearing how Imogen’s natural community-building skills helped her create a business that is much less stressful for her. This challenges the myth that introverts can’t excel in leadership roles or build successful business. Nonsense!
Looking for a mentor and business coach that understands the work that you do in the therapeutic arts? Book a free strategy session HERE to see if we might be a good fit.