Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Think Outside the Box: Yoga Teaching Position Beyond the Studio

For most of us, the inspiration to teach was born of a love for our practice and a desire to share the healing potential of yoga with others. As our practice progressed, we often dreamed of attaining the mastery that would allow us to lead the classes that had come to mean so much in our lives. When we finally gained the confidence to sign up for teacher training, our hearts were full of joy, and our heads were filled with images of the amazing career we would surely build.

Yet, amidst all of our hopeful visions, there was probably little if any thought given to precisely where we'd work. Most of us have one or two studios we're fond of, and may have presumed that we would work there. However, there are only so many yoga studio positions available at a given time. The secret most successful teachers know is that the majority of yoga teaching positions are outside of the studio. Harness this secret, and watch your career soar!

Think Of Studio Classes As Live Infomercials

Unless you are a yoga rock star like Shiva Rea, chances are that your pay per class is rather modest. If you are lucky enough to teach at a studio that can accommodate larger, 40 plus person classes, you may even make more than usual. The fact remains, that to make a career of teaching yoga, you will have to do more than teach these groups. Instead, think of your class as a captive audience. This is your chance to impress prospective private clients.

Private Clients: The Backbone of Your Business

As a teacher, you may feel that money is a touchy subject to broach. It can help to remember that being successful is not synonymous with greed. The more financially secure you are, the more at peace you will feel. Those feelings enhance the quality of your practice and allow you to devote better energy to teaching. Private instruction offers a premier opportunity for creating prosperity while providing a deeper level of learning and opening for your client. Don't be afraid to make your availability known when teaching groups. Students with special needs, or those who wish to progress at an accelerated rate will be grateful to have you as a resource.

Corporate Wellness

Teaching at a studio is, to some extent, teaching to the already converted. Meanwhile, many of the people who stand to benefit most from yoga either do not know about it, or don't have adequate access to it. Creating a corporate yoga program solves that and creates exciting, extremely lucrative career opportunities for you. Many businesses receive incentives for providing fitness programs for their employees, so the money is already waiting. Designing a program that addresses common workplace concerns like low back strain, neck pain, and countering repetitive stress injuries will make you extra-enticing when you submit proposals to human resource directors. Offering classes immediately before and after office hours, or at lunch times will ensure that your corporate wellness program is popular.

Conclusion

If these ideas are new to you, you might want to consider learning more about yoga marketing and business. Unfortunately, many yoga teacher training courses don't prepare you for business. That's good for the school, because they don't create new competition, but it's not good for yoga teachers.