Setting up your own Yoga Class

Stepping out as a new yoga teacher can feel daunting finding your first students and, the only way to grow your experience is to teach.

Now is the time to bring your passion to fruition!

There are many ways to be a yoga teacher and where you offer your services. A usual choice is to teach at a studio or gym and set up your own yoga class.

It's not the only way to be a yoga teacher but it's a great way to get started.One step is getting added to cover lists at local studios and gyms, there's a benefit in that you don't need to market as much and you join an established yoga community.

The downside is most centres won't allow you to market your events outside of their venue or ask for student emails which personally, seems a little unfair to imagine you have the power to 'steal' all their members.

Step two to consider is setting up your own yoga class in a venue. It can be great to run your own class with full control over what you do and how.

I've put together all the tips and knowledge I've learnt from running my own classes since 2005 and the typical questions I get on the business of yoga.

Let's get started:

Find the Venue. Chief concerns to consider are how many people can fit in, heating, clean floors, and will there be any other activities happening at the same time. Teaching next door to a karate class or band practice is not fun!

Save the date. In my experience, allowing 4 to 6 weeks to market and prepare for your first class gives you time to promote.Wait.

Market?! I'm afraid so, just opening the doors and they'll come is not the case. If you feel uncomfortable about marketing that it feels pushy or salesy flip the thought, there are people searching for a yoga teacher just like you and so, you are helping them find you.

Clear call to action. Include on all your marketing clear details on the where and how to book.

Differentiate yourself. Consider what you love to teach and the aspects of yoga you feel passionately about teaching. This helps to shape who is your dream student and how to reach them through your marketing.

Know your numbers. So many times teachers come to me in a panic that they don't have enough students and yet when I ask how many students are they financially available for they don't know. It's important to know your figures to know what will cover your hire costs and give you an income.

Know your value. Choosing a price for your yoga class might feel tricky but, you have spent time and money to develop your new career and have a lot to share with your students.

I would love you to take away from this is, to avoid offering a drop in only class. It's unreliable and you can find yourself paying for an empty room.

Patience is a virtue. Establishing a regular class takes time and can take from 6 to 18 months to feel solid. It's also ok to trust your gut and decide to close a class sometimes the timing was wrong. It's not the end of the world, you'll move on to something better.

Do your practice. It's fine if you can only manage a few minutes on a busy day but yoga is invaluable for self-care and recharging.

Keep reaching out to people telling them about your class.

Follow these steps and give yourself time to hone your teaching skills and master the business of yoga.

Ask for help if you feel that you're struggling. If you'd like a mentor to help you discover your dream student and creative solutions for growing a sustainable income then, get in touch for a free discovery call.Finally, don't forget to celebrate your wins and successes!