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teaching off-site classes?

(15 posts) (12 voices)

Started 3 years ago by anne
Latest reply from Parell

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anne
Member

Dear yogis,

I have been asked to teach a yoga class at a friend's workplace for her colleagues. So far this has been an adventure in miscommunication and erroneous assumption, to the point where I am 6 hours away from a scheduled class that I'm not sure anyone actually expects me to show up for. (I will go anyway, of course.) Does anyone have advice on how to approach teaching off-site yoga classes in an organized way? I should mention that this is my first "official" yoga teaching job, so I'm really starting from square one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks to all!

Namaste,

Anne

Posted 3 years ago #
Gator
Member

Hi Anne,

Wow! Talk about crunch time. Practice pranayama on the way to your first yoga class.

I guess you don't need a lecture about planning.

Here's an idea to group your class into segments.

1. Centering: This gives everyone time to catch their breathe. Seated or standing is fine. Ask them to set an intention and leve baggage at the door. Try to appear calm.

2. Warm ups or Sun Salutations

3. Standing poses (Warrior 1, Warrior 2, Triangle etc.).

4. Kneeling (Camel, Gate, Cat, Cow, Cat series).

5. Seated Asanas

6. Seated Pranayama

7. Prone Poses (on the stomach)

8. Lying Poses (supine)

9. Relaxation in Supine Posture (Shavasana), seated meditation, or both.

10. Closing / Namaste

Hope this gets to you in time. Next time, give yourself a little time to plan your yoga classes.

Peace,

Gator

Posted 3 years ago #
anne
Member

Thanks, Gator! That's definitely helpful, and I'm definitely going to use it... for the next class!

What I actually meant by my question (which I see now was quite unclear) was, How do you work out the details with a client to organize and schedule off-site classes (meaning not in a studio, but in a location convenient to the client like a workplace)?

My situation here has been that a friend posted a sign-up sheet in their workplace, ostensibly on my behalf, which I have never seen. I did however give dates for a six-week session of one class each week, based on the friend's assessment of her workmates availability. The co-workers decided amongst themselves that the first two dates didn't work, but this was not communicated to me until 2 hours before the now-cancelled class... etc etc.

So now I'm thinking, require a 5-person minimum, paid in advance by one week before the start date, for one thing. But I do hate that it might discourage those who are unsure or scared to try yoga.

Does anyone have a tried-and-true method for off-site classes? And/or handling yoga favors for friends?

Thanks to all -
Anne

Posted 3 years ago #
gurpal
Member

Namaskar Anne,

Advanced payment for teaching yoga class packages is acceptable within your studio. I'm sure it will work when you teach off-site. The only objection will come from "walk-ins." If you choose to have packages only and forget the walk-ins, you will groom more serious students. The walk-ins could be allowed for a premium price, while your packages would reflect a discount.

Here's an example:5 classes for $60

Walk-ins: $17 per class

Your prices should reflect those in your yoga studio. I don't really like walk-ins because they always have one foot out the door. They are rarely focused on what's happening in class and remind me of grasshoppers going from one studio to the next or from one fad to the next. Yoga isn't a fad and I don't like wasting my time with people who don't know what they want.

Om Shanti

Posted 3 years ago #
lea
Member

Hi Anne,

You should have a flyer or brochure with general guidelines for teaching off site yoga classes. Gurpal is right, but if you insist on prepayment you might not reach your five student minimum. You may want to do a little research and place firm policies on your flyer.

Here's an example you can add to Gurpal's ideas.

My off-site Yoga classes are developed in partnership with students in order to meet your goals. There are a variety of ways to introduce yoga into your workplace before work, during lunch, or after work hours. Consider the following options:

· Weekly yoga classes at your site

· Twice weekly yoga classes at your site

· Introductory Yoga classes

· “Yoga to Go” lunch hour Yoga and stress management class

· Yoga presentations

You can add this to Gurpal's ideas and create your own unique pricing structure that reflects local demographics. Build on the ideas that show up on this thread and create your own flyer or brochure.

Peace,
Lea

Posted 3 years ago #
MSook
User

This is an interesting subject because there are many variables to put in your brochure. You also need a proposal - for example the factors below should be taken into account.

To receive an accurate proposal, off-site yoga students or their companies need to provide you with the following information:

Frequency

Yoga students gain the greatest benefits when they practice frequently. Two or three yoga classes in a week are advisable.

If you are scheduling yoga classes for more than one group within the same facility, consecutive classes on the same day will cost them less than classes on different days of the week.

Length of class

This should be factored into your pricing. More time - more money!

Time of Day

Pricing may be different depending on your schedule. Lunchtime is prime time for classes in many companies, because employees can practice yoga on their own time.

Equipment

Who supplies yoga mats, bolsters, blocks, pillows, straps, blankets, or eye pillows for your class? You don't want to carry all those Yoga props every week. But you can recommend what yoga students should buy or rent from you.

Location

How much extra mileage and travel time is involved? More distance and time equals more compensation.

Group Size

The space you will want to hold your yoga classes in will need to be big enough to accommodate group size.

Posted 3 years ago #
libendia
Member

This is all well and good, that you teachers are kind enough to help Anne create her brochure, but this thread should be in the marketing and business section. I don't see why the new yoga teacher questions area should also be turned into another business section.

Posted 3 years ago #
HAMED
Member

Namaskar!

Relax Libendia. There is nothing wrong with this thread being placed here. Anne said:

Quote:
I should mention that this is my first "official" teaching job, so I'm really starting from square one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Everyone starts somewhere and she needed help. Teachers who help her are performing Karma Yoga. There is no problem, unless you have a problem with accepting compensation for teaching Yoga classes. If so, please perform Karma Yoga by teaching classes for free. You can teach a few more free Yoga classes for me too.

One point to mention for Anne: Some form of advanced payment is good because it is a sign of good faith on the part of your students. If you travel to locations, you should be compensated. Who wants to schedule a Yoga class and show up to a location with no students? You waste time, gasoline, wear on your car, and receive nothing. Tell them to make a down payment and encourage them to sign up for Yoga class packages. Walk-ins: $20 for the insincere.

Peace,

Hamed

Posted 3 years ago #
Stapleton
Member

Yoga to Go or Brown Bag Yoga have become popular names for teaching off-site classes to groups or companies.

Draw up a brochure with pictures. Name the benefits of Yoga, your policies, and what students, organization or a company can expect from your classes.

For example:

Creating a safe Yoga experience

Healing and improving health

Building inner strength

Increase well-being

Improve productivity

Enhance performance

Quickly reduce tension

Lower stress levels

Energize the mind

These are just a few ideas, but expect most people to look at Yoga as a blank piece of paper. You have to connect the dots and create an accurate picture. Most people have still not taken a Yoga class and some who did may have met a good or bad teacher.

One student expected me to turn the room up to 105 degrees and torture her for 90 minutes. Her last teacher was Bikram style Yoga. When I told her my Yoga class was nothing like that, she signed up for the maximum class package.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gator
Member

Hi Anne,

Glad to see you are in good hands. One other point to mention is some yoga teachers have a flat rate for classes and let the students split the payment. As an example - you quote them $80 per class because of time, distance, preparation, etc. The students split the cost among each other. For 10 yoga students this is only $8 per student. For five students this is $16 each. This is just a rough idea and I wouldn't give a quote until I knew where I was driving to. Some commutes are through terrible traffic and in horrible locations.

Best of luck, but all of this information above mine can make a nice brochure or flyer. A few Yoga photos, a little soft color and artistic borders can add a nice touch too.

Peace,

Gator

Posted 3 years ago #
XonixMann
Member

Here's some sample FaQs for your corporate brochure Anne.

Q. Why should our employees practice yoga in our office rather than at your yoga studio?

A. Yoga in the work place makes it easy for your employees to join up. Yoga in the office encourages self-care and gives your employees stress management techniques during work hours.

Q. How do we reserve a pilot yoga class or series of classes?

A. E-mail or call me to set up a meeting at your facility. Together we can review the space that will be used for yoga in your workplace. We can also discuss your goals for the yoga class. All yoga classes are designed and customized to create balance in the particular environment.

Q. What if our office has limited space for yoga but we still want to participate?

A. I can offer a specialized chair yoga class just for your employees, or we can schedule a private off-site class in my yoga studio.

Q. What does a series of yoga classes or a single workshop cost?

A. Prices vary depending on the distance from my studio and the number of people participating in your program. Please contact me to discuss your exact needs.

Posted 3 years ago #
ashmin
User

Namaskar!

Many thanks to all Yoga teachers involved in giving this advice for teaching classes in outside facilities. There is always confusion once we are asked to teach outside of our Yoga school. I feel that Anne's question was excellent because I felt the same, but with the materials and advice given, I can now visulize what my off-site teaching brochure should look like.

I see the following points for Yoga teachers to mention on their off-site brochures.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga student information (what they should expect)

Policies

Safety Guidelines

FAQs

Contact Information

Posted 3 years ago #
anne
Member

Thank you so much, everyone, for all your help. I now have a much clearer idea on how to proceed, and wonderful ideas for making the classes useful and productive for my students as they start on their yoga journeys. As a new teacher, I am also so comforted by your kind words and willingness to advise me!

namaste
anne

Posted 3 years ago #
Tomako
User

Namaskar Anne,

Best of luck with designing your brochure or flyer.

Om Shanti,
Tomako

Posted 3 years ago #
Parell
Member

All of this information will help any yoga teacher design an informative handout.

Posted 3 years ago #

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