The Master Plan

I have an idea to ensure that Jing’s Yoga Family spirit will live on. Over the past two years, Jing was no longer just a yoga teacher. She worked hard to extend her vision to the concept of a “Bay Area Women’s Growth Center.” For this vision, she spent much time in Palo Alto, building alliances with more teachers—including those in yoga, flower arrangement, calligraphy, music, dance, meditation, and women’s seminars. According to Jing, anything related to beauty was welcome. Thanks to her efforts, a group of people who embodied truth, goodness, and beauty slowly came together.

Now that Jing has left us earlier than expected, Yoga Family still remains, because all of Jing loves students and friends are still united. With everyone’s help, I want to continue Yoga Family. My initial idea is to follow Jing’s weekend workshop model: inviting teachers once or twice a month to hold activities, whether it’s flower arranging, makeup, painting, or something else. Since everyone is usually very busy, it’s hard to attend regular daily classes. But once a month, making time for a workshop should be possible.

When I discussed this idea with some classmates and friends, I realized it could be expanded even further. After all, most of us are first-generation immigrants. Back in our home countries, many of us had strong skills and talents, but after moving to Silicon Valley—the “big rural village of technology”—for the sake of family and spouses, many went through tough career transitions. Along the way, those original sparks of brilliance were often buried deep inside. Slowly, many began to share their thoughts with me. We don’t have to limit ourselves to traditional classes. For example, someone who has long studied crystals and gemstones could hold a lecture series; someone who has spent years as a full-time mom caring for both young children and elderly parents has developed impressive cooking skills and could offer weekday morning cooking classes. Every Yoga Family friend could sometimes step on stage to share their talents, and at other times sit in the audience to applaud and support others.

Perhaps Jing has already gone ahead to the next beautiful world, but through our joint efforts, maybe we can continue her vision in another way and help her fulfill her dream of the Bay Area Women’s Growth Center.

### Concrete Implementation Plan:

1. I am willing to provide the Yoga Family venue free of charge for at least two years to all participating teachers and organizers. After two years, we can discuss how to proceed further. If teachers or organizers wish to contribute financially to Yoga Family, all funds will be deposited into the Yoga Family account as a community fund. Whether Yoga Family remains in this small garden or moves to a larger space to become an NPO, I keep an open mind.

2. Each participating teacher or organizer is encouraged to hold at least one event every month. Teachers and organizers may use the two Yoga Family WeChat groups and the Yoga Family website to announce their events. Each teacher or organizer will independently recruit students, arrange schedules, collect fees, and manage coordination.

3. A shared Google Calendar will be set up so that teachers, organizers, and students can conveniently plan their schedules.

Here, I want to emphasize one concept: appropriate fees are necessary. Over the past 10 years, Jing also began as a volunteer yoga teacher, gradually building her community. By chance, at the gym, she warmly helped an 80-year-old gentleman relieve his back pain with yoga. He insisted on paying her as a private lesson. I could feel Jing’s joy and deep sense of recognition at that moment. That acknowledgment fueled her growth from a small volunteer class teacher to the versatile Teacher Jing that everyone knew. There are many stories in between, but to put it simply: passion alone does not pay the bills. Every participating teacher also needs recognition and fair compensation. This cycle of teaching and learning motivates teachers to grow further. Who knows? Perhaps one day, Yoga Family will nurture countless future Jings.

We hope to launch this plan soon. Some teachers have already expressed their willingness to join. Dear friends and classmates please think back to your own passions from the past—do you also have the chance to step forward and shine again in this Yoga Family garden? Or if you support this vision, could you spare some time to offer your applause to those who step onto the stage? Please contact us, and let’s shower Jing with our love one last time.