We’ve all seen it:
“Doors close in 24 hours!”
“Only 3 spots left!”
“Sign up now or miss out forever!”
These kinds of scarcity tactics are everywhere in the online business world. They grab attention, spike urgency, and can certainly push someone into making a quick decision. But here’s the truth: they don’t sit well with me.
I don’t use scarcity tactics because they feel dishonest, manipulative, and ultimately out of alignment with yoga philosophy – which isn’t just something I teach on the mat, but something I try to live by every day.
Scarcity vs. Yoga Ethics
Yoga invites us to embody principles that extend far beyond physical postures. When I look at scarcity marketing through the lens of yoga, three values stand out:
- Satya (truthfulness): being honest in our words and actions
- Ahimsā (non-harming): reducing harm, both to ourselves and others
- Aparigraha (non-grasping): loosening our attachment and need to cling
Scarcity-based marketing works in the opposite way: it distorts truth by exaggerating urgency, it harms by heightening stress and fear, and it encourages grasping by suggesting that something essential will be lost if we don’t act now.
That doesn’t feel like yoga to me. It feels like the opposite.
A Personal Story
A few years ago, I worked with a coach who leaned heavily on scarcity. I’d reached a point where I could feel their approach wasn’t working for me – the strategies they suggested weren’t aligned with my values, and the results simply weren’t there.
But instead of helping me step back and make a clear choice, they used pressure. “If you don’t continue for another six months,” they said, “you’ll lose all the progress you’ve made. You’ll fall behind.” There were countdowns, limited-time offers, and an undercurrent of “if you stop now, you’re failing”.
And here’s the thing: in that pressured state, I ignored my own intuition, and I signed on for longer even though a part of me already knew it wasn’t right.
The result? I felt stuck, resentful, and financially stretched – and it took me months to rebuild trust in myself again.
That experience left a deep impression. It showed me first-hand how scarcity can override inner knowing, and how easy it is to regret decisions made in a rush of fear. I promised myself that whenever I found myself on the other side of the equation – inviting others into my work – I would never make anyone feel the way I felt then.
The Nervous System Cost
Beyond philosophy, scarcity has very real effects on the body and mind. When we see countdowns, flashing deadlines, or language designed to provoke FOMO, our nervous system reads it as threat.
For some, that rush of adrenaline creates a quick burst of action; for others, especially many neurodivergent folks, it leads to overwhelm: shutdown, decision fatigue, or freezing altogether. Instead of clarity, there’s fog. Instead of choice, there’s regret.
I don’t want my work to contribute to that. My classes, courses, and memberships are designed to regulate the nervous system, not dysregulate it. It would feel contradictory to build calm and clarity inside the practice, while creating panic and pressure outside of it.
What I Choose Instead
Just because I don’t use scarcity doesn’t mean I don’t communicate clearly or invite people to join. I absolutely do, but in ways that feel aligned with yoga and supportive of the people I serve.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Clear, transparent information: I tell you what’s on offer, what’s included, and what to expect. No smoke and mirrors.
- Gentle reminders: I’ll nudge, but I won’t shout. My aim is to help you remember your options, not to alarm you.
- Room for questions: I make space for conversation. If you’re unsure, you can ask – without feeling rushed.
- Flexible payment options (where possible): because accessibility matters more than squeezing every penny
- Consent-led invitations: I extend an offer, and you choose. A “yes” that comes from steadiness means far more to me than one dragged out of fear.
A Business as Practice
For me, business is not separate from yoga, it’s part of the same practice. If I aim to embody satya, ahimsā, and aparigraha in how I live, teach, and move, then it only makes sense that my business choices mirror those same values.
This is why you won’t see countdown timers on my offers. You won’t get panic-driven emails about how this is your “last chance” to join me. You won’t be pressured into choosing faster than feels right for you.
What you will see is spaciousness, honesty, respect, and a steady reminder that you are capable of choosing from your own centre, at your own pace.
What This Really Creates
Choosing not to use scarcity isn’t just about avoiding harm – it’s also about creating something better.
- It creates trust, you know I won’t manipulate you to make a sale
- It creates safety, you can explore an offer without fear of being cornered
- It creates long-term relationships, when someone says yes to my work, it’s from genuine desire and readiness – not from being pressured into an impulsive choice they later regret.
And this trust ripples outward. When you experience marketing that honours your pace, it sets a standard: this is how business could be. We don’t have to choose fear when clarity and care are possible.
An Ongoing Conversation
This isn’t a perfect system, I’m still learning, experimenting, and refining how I share my work; but what I know for sure is that I’d rather grow slowly, sustainably, and with integrity than grow quickly by using fear.
So, I’ll keep choosing clarity over pressure; consent over coercion; grounded “yeses” and guilt-free “no’s”.
And I’d love to hear from you:
* What helps you make decisions at your own pace?
* What kind of reminders feel supportive instead of stressful?
Your answers genuinely help me to shape the way I create and offer my work.
Because yoga isn’t just what happens on the mat, it’s how we show up in every choice we make, including how we run our businesses.
samdyllon.com 