Maybe I'm weird, but I loved trolls in folklore and literature. They were not so good looking, they didn't smell good, lived in caves or under a bridge, and sometimes, they ate the local farmer's goats. Snoopy used to laugh about rabbits while reading in the library, and as a kid, I laughed about trolls. Now, the Internet has the 21st century troll who antagonizes everyone. Suddenly, it has become popular to be a public troll on commuter trains, during traffic jams, and places around town.
How would you know a troll?
He might try to hide in your closets without signing up for a class. He'll definitely refuse to sign your waiver form and he might say things like: "Believe me! Political correctness is killing this studio!"
When most people enter a yoga studio, they long to experience a zen-like feeling and uplift their spirits. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for everyone. There are some people who like to stir up drama and contention. Just like there are trolls that invade the Internet and the government, trolls can roam anywhere. This includes a yoga studio. When you, yoga practitioners and yoga students are trying to be on one accord and have a great session, trolls will do their best to make sure this doesn't happen. However, there are ways to handle the situation.
1. Be introspective.
You don't want to be in this space for too long. However, you do want to go inward for a second to consider the other person. You need to have a momentary dialogue with yourself to communicate and translate what's happening on the deepest level. At the core, when you're dealing with a troll, you're dealing with someone who's carrying a significant amount of hurt. Their behavior is just a manifestation of what's happening on the inside. When a person has peace, they have no desire to cause a scene and disturb others.
2. Control your emotions.
This is a perfect time to think and meditate on your feet. As you approach the situation, take some time to do some deep breathing exercises. As you breathe in and out, the body will have a better opportunity to get rid of any negative emotion and toxic energy. You don't want to absorb the other party's aura. Intentionally control your emotions, with breathing techniques and a thoughtful perspective on what's happening in front of you.
3. Calmly communicate.
When you're dealing with a person who's snappy and intentionally causing problems, they probably aren't communicating rationally. They might be really rude, confrontational and disrespectful. Don't return evil for evil. You need to respond in a calm manner. When you remain calm, you'll have a better chance of diffusing the situation. It also does a great job of disempowering the person. If the other person's voice rises in volume, don't try to match it. Stay at a consistent tone of voice as you communicate. Many people communicate soft-spoken language with weakness, but it can be the most powerful tone in a conversation.
4. Refuse to emotionally engage.
When a person is giving off toxic energy, it tends to throw other people off. When a person is screaming and carrying on with a bad attitude, to most people, it feels natural to go to that same emotional space as well. However, that is exactly what a troll wants. Since trolls are dealing with such emotional turmoil, they get pleasure from their ability to control the emotions of others. Don't engage on an emotional level. Don't try to reason with them. You should communicate, but understand that they might try to engage in conversation in order to completely waste your time. You could catch him red-handed taking photos of students in your class and he'll respond: "I have tremendous respect for yoga." You're thinking: "Seriously!"
5. Think of solutions.
It's important to be solution-driven. Most parents with small children understand the need for a contingency plan. While many days may go as planned, this isn't the case for every single day. When you have irate students and troublemakers, it's wise to think of solutions to handle their temper tantrums. If it's disrupting the class, it's good to have someone in place to handle their complaints, such as an administrator or customer service representative.
6. Call in reinforcements.
Unfortunately, there might be a time or two when a person becomes so disruptive that it threatens the safety and integrity of the people in the studio. In that case, it's best to call for reinforcements. Reinforcements might include security and the police. You never want to be in a position where your safety is at risk. Always have a way to manage the situation so that it can be quickly handled. Be prepared for him to give one last parting shot, such as: "I would like to extend my best wishes to all, even the haters and losers."
As you are closing the door on him for the last time, he says your school is really boring. Don't say a word, close the door now and take a deep breath - the troll is gone.
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