Kula Yoga's Policy on using a 'Sliding Scale Fee'

Kula Yoga understands the practice of inquiry and questioning as the corner-stone instruction for ending suffering and directly experiencing and recognizing one's unqualified true nature. We therefore attempt to translate this practice of questioning into all areas of our lives.

The overall intention of using a sliding scale is to directly address the class society in which we live in. Paying according to one's available resources creates a more equitable, diverse and sustainable community we all benefit from. An inevitable consequence to this process is an increase in one's awareness of their inherent significance to the community from which one is able to affect real change on a grass roots level.

Margaret Meade said:

"........good becomes possible when a small group of thoughtful citizens commit themselves to it - this is the only thing that ever really does add up to change......it's always a workable economy."

The scale is intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of our financial resources to then begin to question our beliefs; not necessarily to let any belief go, but to be willing to.

The sliding scale practice, like all other spiritual practices, is a process that occurs from the realm of the heart not from the confines of the mind's conditioning. Therefore we use Patanjali's body-based teaching in Sutra II.46 to help inform the process:

Sthira Sukham Asanam:

Steadiness and Ease in a pose (experience)......

rather than straining or collapsing in a pose (experience)....

 

Instructions for determining the fee for a Kula Class or Workshop:

 

1. Find your household income: Assess your gross (before taxes) annual income from your entire household. Divide that amount by the number of adults sharing this income. This is your income share.

For example if your annual household income totals $50,000 and there are 2 adults in the house, your income share = $25,000

2. Find your base fee: Find your income share amount on the sliding fee table below, and note the base fee that corresponds to it.

Income Share:	Base Fee Rate
Young person (under 21), full time students or unemployed	$9/class or $6/hr
$0 -20,000	$10/class or $7/hr	<- Minimum Base Fee
$21,000 -30,000	$11 -$12/hour
$31,000 -40,000	$13 -$14/hour
$41,000- 50,000	$15 -$16/hour
$51,000 -60,000	$17 -$18/hour
$61,000- 70,000	$19- $20/hour	<- Break Even fee
$71,000- 75,000	$21 -$22/hour
$76,000-80,000	$23- $24/hour
$81,000-85,000	$25- $26/hour
$86,000-90,000	$27- $28/hour
$91,000-95,000	$29 -$30/hour
$96,000 -$100,000	$31- $32/hour

 

3. Make adjustments to the base fee: Subtract $3 from the base fee for each child in your home.

4. Make adjustments to the base fee for assets: Take into account the household's assets as a portion of your income.
For each $100,000 in investments or savings over $100,000 add $5 to the base fee.

For example if you have $500,000 in savings you would add $20 to the base fee
(500,000 -100,000 = 400,000 - $5 x 4= $20)

The equity of your home that you reside in is not to be considered a household asset. If you rent a portion of it, the rent income would be considered a household asset.

Investments can be a confusing topic which may trigger feelings for nearly all of us. No single rule can cover every situation. Get time with feeling your feelings, allow flexible thinking to emerge from this process, and follow your integrity on improving your judgments in this teaching.)

5. Evaluate your Assigned Base Fee: The result of the calculations above will be your assigned base fee. Unless your situation changes, this is the hourly fee that you will pay for your classes and workshops at Kula Yoga.

If your calculations arrive at a lower amount than the 'minimum base fee' or you have questions or concerns about this teaching, please discuss with Katherine directly.

Note - for the two base fees (the unemployed / student rate and the minimum rate) the fee is per class rather than per hour. Classes are typically 1.5hr in length

6. Calculate Your Workshop or Class Fee: Multiply your Assigned Base Fee by the hours of the class or workshop.

Example 1: for an 8 week night class that meets for 1.5 hours, and your Assigned Base Fee is $21.
8 weeks times 1.5 hours equals 12 total hours
12 hours times your Assigned Base Fee of $21 equals a $252 class fee. Whereas if your base rate is at the minimum of $9 or $10 this would be your fee for a class X the # of classes in a series. Discuss with Katherine if paying for a series presents a hardship for you.

Example 2: for a 3 hour workshop, and your Assigned Base Fee is $21.
3 hours times your Assigned Base Fee of $21 equals a $63 workshop fee.