Five Ways To Livestream An Online Yoga Class

Live Streaming Video

Can’t meet face to face?

If you’ve never used tech to go online before, it can seem intimidating. Here are some tips and my favorite tools to get you started easily. In this post, we’re looking at “live” aka “streaming” options, which put you online in the moment. Also, for more info on how to shoot well, check out my tools and tips for “How To Teach Online Yoga Classes.”

1. Facebook Live

Facebook live is great for a quick check in, or live streaming a class or conversation in real time. Because the time limit is so generous (8 hours), FB is a great option for longer streams.

You can save the video to your profile to people can see asynchronously, and you can also save it to your camera roll to preserve for posterity. One note: Facebook is not an archive; people see your posts basically the day you post it and that’s it. So if it’s a good video, you will want to save it and post it elsewhere for posterity (I tell you how, below).

Now, you can post publicly, or you can post privately to a group. So if you want to use FB to livestream, but manages who sees it (for example, you’re streaming to a group of students who have paid to have access to your online classes), you can easily manage those permissions.

The Summary

  • Time Limit: 4 seconds – 8 hours
  • Orientation: Landscape (horizontal – recommended) or portrait
  • Good for: Short or longer one-way videos that you want to livecast and save
  • Access: From computer or phone

How To:

  • Go to facebook.
  • Start a new
  • Click, “Live”
  • Turn your phone into the orientation you want (I recommend landscape – horizontal, rather than portrait – vertical). It looks better in your post if it’s landscape.
  • Click “Start Live Video.”
  • In bottom right corner, click “Finish” when you’re done. Try not to be awkward.
  • Publish:
    • To save to your own camera roll, click the download button.
    • Make sure that “Post video to your timeline” is checked.
    • Then click “Share”

Ta da!

Easy. It will take while to process. Facebook will let you know when it’s done. You can click the three little buttons in the upper right hand corner of the post to edit.

2. Instagram Live – Stories

With Instagram, you can post live via your Stories. However, because IG Stories shoot in 15 second chunks, this platform is better for shorter conversations (I like a minute or two). Theoretically, you could have a really long video in there, but I don’t think it’s the right platform for that kind of duration.

Like Facebook, Instagram story lives are not an archive; people see your posts basically the day you post it and that’s it unless they scroll. So if it’s a good video, you will want to save it and post it elsewhere for posterity (I tell you how, below).

The Summary:

  • Time Limit: 1-15 second blocks, but you can have as many blocks as you like
  • Shooting Orientation: Portrait (vertical)
  • Good for shorter one-way videos, under a couple of minutes
  • Access: from phone

How To:

  • Open Instagram Profile page
  • Click on your profile picture to open “Stories”
  • At bottom of page, slide left to “Live”
  • Before you do anything, click the settings button in upper left corner to make sure “Save To Camera Roll” is checked (I recommend also “Saving to Archive” so you add them to highlights later if you wish)
  • Click the big circle button at the bottom of your screen to start recording.
  • Click “End” in upper right hand corner to stop.
  • Click “Share to Story” at bottom (or delete)

A note on the recording time: Instagram Stories are broken into 15 second clips. When someone watches your story, they will run together sequentially as if there is no break. So you can talk for as long as you like, but if you want to do any editing of your clips (color correcting or adding hashtags), you will have to edit each segment separately. It’s easy to do, but may be tedious if you decided to chat for 3 minutes (you’d have 12 clips to edit).

3. Zoom

My fave “third party” for streaming is Zoom. Tried and true, and used by organizations everywhere. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, you would use Zoom to stream to a specific group of invited individuals. However, you could still post the video later onto your social media streams if you wished.

With the free version of Zoom, you can 100 participants for up to 40 minutes. For longer (or more people), you’d have to pay if you want access for more than 40 continuous minutes. Prices are reasonable.

Some Zoom perks:

  • You can record the sessions and post them later.
  • You can record the whole group if you’re doing a discussion (the video will record whoever is talking) or you can “pin” your video to just you (which I would recommend if you’re streaming a class or don’t want to record participants).
  • You can also screen share with Zoom. While this feature is not so important if you’re streaming a class, it is perhaps important for webinars, etc..

Another perk of Zoom: unlike Facebook, Instagram, or Skype, you don’t have join Zoom to attend a Zoom meeting.

The Summary:

  • Time Limit: 40 minutes with free (for $15/month, you can have 24 hour duration)
  • Shooting Orientation: Landscape
  • Good for longer videos that you want to save, or live streaming to a select group
  • Access: from computer or phone (I recommend computer, feels a little easier to manage)

Go to zoom, and download for your desktop. You can create and schedule meetings, invite others to your meeting, and record your live cast for posterity. A rough guide “how to” is below.

How To:

  • Go to zoom.com, then download and install to your computer.
  • Open Zoom.
  • Ensure your audio and video are working from your computer through your preferences and settings.
  • Create a meeting and invite folks to attend.
  • At the time of your meeting, you can either livestream with everyone visible and audible; if you are running a session that is one-way (ie: you’re teaching a class) where you want your audience invisible or muted, then you may choose to “pin” your own video so it’s the only one visible, turn off everyone else’s video, and mute other participants. They will still be able to participate in the chat.
  • You can pause the recording as you go.
  • Click “Stop” to stop recording.
  • Click “End meeting” to stop the meeting.
  • Zoom will process and save the meeting recording to your computer.

4 & 5. Skype and Google Hangouts

These apps are free, and relatively easy to use. I’m grouping Skype and Google Hangouts together as – at least to me – they seem similarly limited in scope. They’re free, and both of them are good for conference calling and screensharing. However, participants need to be a member of these respective host sites to join a meeting on them.

With Skype, you have up to 50 people on a call, you can record the call and you can mute participants. However, I did not find an intuitive way to edit how the video was recorded so that you capture only the host. While this is okay for an educational broadcast, it’s awkward if you want to record and replay a live class stream.

On Google Hangouts, you can have up to 25 people on a video call. However, you can only record your calls if you have the Enterprise edition of a Google Suite. Also, when you record, it will record visible active participants (“pinning” a participant won’t impact how it’s recorded).

While Skype and Google Hangouts are useful for small group or 1-1 meetings, they fall short if you want to record your meeting for posterity.

A caveat: while you can screen record anything that you play on your computer with a third party app, this isn’t a great idea for two reasons: 1. it’s illegal in many places to record people without their knowledge, and 2. screen capturing can deliver bad audio. If you want to record a session, I think it’s generally better to use a service like Zoom that is more geared to conferencing and recording.

Final Word

Options out there for screencasting, livecasting, and recording are always developing. These are several common tools that are familiar to many people and your participants. If you have any faves that you want to share, please list them below.

Yoga Business Tips: Demystifying Marketing

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If you’re like me, the idea of marketing gives me an anxiety attack. Facebook Ads, Instagram posts, Webinars, SEO, and email marketing…it all starts to feel overwhelming and, well, inauthentic. But at the same time, we must navigate this jungle of self-promotion in order to thrive in our yoga businesses.

Yogis, it’s time to demystify marketing and get back to the basics. Here’s how I define marketing:

Marketing: how you find and connect with your people.

It’s that simple. Let’s look at the two steps that will help you get to the heart of the marketing matter.

1. Identify your people.

When asked, “Who do you want to teach?” we invariably say, “Everyone!” While this is big hearted, you will never thrive (as a person, let alone as a business!) by becoming a watered down milquetoast version of yourself. I don’t want you to appeal to everyone; I want you to appeal ONLY to your tribe. Becoming specific about your “target audience” will set you on a path of finding the folks who are singing the song that’s in your heart. These the people who will truly benefit from your offerings, and appreciate your offering. (And if you need some help identifying your true, personalized yoga mission, check out my post “Business Tips For Yogis: Know Thyself,” which helps you clarify your yoga path.)

What this means:

  • you may lose followers before you gain them
  • some people will actively dislike what you’re doing
  • you may no longer fit into your current studio situation or culture
  • you may need to change your branding, etc in order to more authentically come into who you are
  • you will be playing the long game.

When you get clear about your tribe, you are playing the long game. This means that you’re not picking up followers just to get likes or seem popular in the short term; you are dedicated to walking a path and creating long-term community based on your deepest truth. It won’t happen fast; but when you are really living your values, it will happen sustainably.

You don’t need to woo the world; you only need (as some brilliant marketer said) 100 true fans. If you have 100 people in your tribe who are willing to pay $500/year for what you do, you’re halfway to earning a six figure salary. All while being authentic to yourself and providing true value. It’s that straight forward.

2. Find & Connect With Your People

Now that you know who your people are, it’s time to figure out where they are. Generally speaking…

  • Are they under 20? Snapchat.
  • Are they under 40? Instagram.
  • Are they over 40? Facebook.

But friends, it’s not all about social media. Think about where your people like to connect:

  • Local haunts (coffee shops, wellness practitioners)
  • Yoga studios (the students in front of you are your best marketing friends!)
  • Cafes
  • Reading blogs
  • Listening to podcasts
  • Watching webinars
  • Journals, magazines, newspapers, periodicals
  • Retreat centers
  • Organizations and memberships
  • Online groups, communities
  • Etc.

How can you share what you are doing in these contexts in order to connect with the folks that will benefit from what you are offering? Look for win-win relationships where you can share what you do with the people who really need it.

And here’s the thing: marketing starts with you telling people what you’re up to. I can’t tell you how many times I see teachers fail to announce retreats or workshops in their classes (or fail to tell their friends) because they feel self-conscious. In order for people to find you, they have to first hear about you. Which means – I know it’s scary! – opening your mouth and letting people know. If you are feeling shy about self-promotion, get out of your own way by connecting to the value of what you are offering and sharing from a true attitude of service.

Your task: determine two marketing channels that you can use where you can find your people. And identify two people in your current network where you could create a win-win situation and develop some mutual support.

Also! Check out these additional resources:

Business Tips for Yogis: Know Thyself

Here’s the news, yoga teachers: your career doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

We often think that our yoga career must look a certain way in order to be “successful.” Shouldn’t we be like Rachel Brathen or Shiva Rea, and have 100,000 followers, be labelled an influencer, produce online classes, and jetset the world?

Yogis, no. Please let me take that burden off your shoulders.

Here’s the thing: your yoga career should serve your life, not be your life.

Your yoga career should serve your life, not be your life.

All too often, the pleasure and joy that we take in the actual practice of yoga is thwarted by the business itself. We think that we have to fit into a one sized fits all mold and teach 25+ classes a week, become a Lululemon ambassador, and teach workshops in order to live the yoga dream. In our zeal to make it happen, we may neglect our own practice, scrambling to make ends meet, and burn out.

It’s time to step back and do something differently.

Break The Mold

As a way of illustration, I want to share with you a few stories about some friends of mine who have made yoga a part of their lives, but each in a different way.

Case #1: Gretchen

My friend Gretchen is an incredibly popular yoga teacher. She teaches group classes and is faculty in teacher trainings because she likes the person to person contact. Although she has been asked to run a studio, she is not at all interested in moving up to ownership, because her joy comes from connecting directly with her students. To make her life sustainable, she has kept a part time consulting job so that yoga can be a source of joy rather than stress.

Case #2: Andres

Andres works full time as the social media arm of a yoga studio. Although he has taken his teacher training, he doesn’t teach, but instead practices yoga a lot and uses his considerable marketing skills to support a studio that he loves.

Case #3: Maggie

Maggie loves to travel. Her exclusive focus has become facilitating and teaching yoga retreats. Not only does she run her own retreats, but she collaborates with retreat companies to offer exceptional experiences around the world.

Case #4: Amanda

Amanda is your classic full time yoga teacher. She teaches full time (over 25 classes/week), is an ambassador for several yoga brands, and runs workshops. She thrives on the hustle.

Case #5: Marco

Marco created an online yoga site and is now living out his mission to provide free yoga to the world. While he had to put in a lot of time and effort to get his business off the ground, now his work is paying off.

Case #6: Me

Except for a two month stint, I have never taught yoga “full-time.” My sweet spot is about 6 classes per week. I teach teacher trainings, write books and articles, and help studios and teachers around the world develop their business and their teacher trainings. I thrive teaching and helping others to grow.

Case #7: Fatima

Fatima is a studio owner and yoga teacher. She loves building systems, community, and managing people to be their best. Although she put in a lot of time for the first five years, she’s finally in a place where she can begin to delegate more of the day to day.

Time To Thrive

What do all these folks have in common?

Yoga is serving their lives.

We each get our “happy” in different ways. “Thriving” in our yoga business is not simply about making money, it’s about finding the way in which yoga can serve the expression of your core values and your personal mission. For some, yoga serves a core values through building community. For others, it’s promoting wellness. For others, it’s travel.

So here are your questions to ponder:

  • How does your yoga practice serve your life?
  • How does your yoga teaching serve your life?
  • In what contexts do you thrive?
  • What do you need to change so that your yoga business can fulfill you more?

If you need to get back to your core values, check out this excellent Mission Worksheet.

Mission WorksheetDownload

More on business here.

How To Find Your Voice and Niche as a Yoga Teacher

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When I opened up my yoga studio many years ago, I expected the people to come to my classes in masses because there was no other yoga studio around. However much to my surprise, there were only a few people who came. Wow, how disappointing! It seemed like the others were skeptical about this new thing and had no idea what yoga was.

In the beginning there were quite a few classes where I only had one or two students show up. I questioned myself and had lots of doubts about my idea of opening up a yoga studio. At that point I was offering all kinds of classes: Yoga for kids, Yoga for seniors, Yoga for pregnancy, Yoga for beginners, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga and so on… and still only few people came.

Starting a yoga studio required lots of time and I was working hard, doing all I could to find a way to bring the community yoga classes because I knew that they were very helpful in many ways. I would prepare for several classes and saw pretty quickly that it was not worth all the effort, which was disheartening to say the least! Instead of closing down and abandoning my vision for a yoga studio, I decided to narrow my classes to just a few different styles, reduced the amount of classes and stayed patient. After about six months, the classes slowly started to fill. Two years later all of my classes were packed, and I’m very thankful to say that those early students stayed and practiced with me for many years.

I was so glad that I did not give up early because one never knows when success is going to come, it might be just around the corner. I felt grateful for this experience because in this way I could slowly grow as a yoga teacher and had many important experiences because I was working very closely with the people who came to my classes.

Once I specialized on one topic, which was Yin Yoga in my case, people came from all over the country to my teacher trainings. Of course, it was helpful that I wrote several books about it and produced DVDs at a time when there was no Yin Yoga in Germany. Eventually I knew without any doubts that I had found my niche.

It takes courage to stick with our dreams and visions when we don’t see an immediate response—and that’s hard—because we do not know if there will be enough people who like what we are doing—but again, how will you know if you don’t give your dreams a try?

What was most important to me was to be authentic. I realized that I did not feel authentic with some of the styles of yoga I had been offering, but once I focused on Yin Yoga—which I felt absolutely comfortable with—the waiting lists for my trainings got longer and longer.

Therefore I recommend that you ask yourself what feels right to you: what can you really feel in the depth of your heart? And once you find that, stay authentic and bring it out to the world. Surely there will be enough people who were waiting exactly for this!

8 Ways to Build A Community for Your Yoga Studio

Yoga studio photo with students

Lessons from a Studio Owner

I took up yoga whilst at university studying economics and management. If you’d told 18-year-old me that six months after graduation I’d have my own yoga studio, I certainly wouldn’t have believed you. 

It’s been a tough journey to where we are now. From delays with planning permissions (causing us to nearly lose our space) to problems with the heaters (for hot yoga) being delivered, we had to continually innovate solutions to overcome obstacles. Like fitting our new heaters into the studio at 10 pm the night before our opening day. 

As a result of delays, we had to push back our opening to November, which is not the best time to be starting in the fitness industry. When we started, attendance was very quiet. I was filled with doubts and worried that I’d made a big mistake.

After opening, we were still on a steep learning curve. I had to learn a lot of new things, like creating my own website, marketing to get people through the doors, electrical wiring, just to name a few! We also weathered some literal storms as well, like storm Emma (AKA The Beast from the East!).

At first, I took it to heart when students didn’t come back. The financial questions were always running in my head, and self-doubt was creeping in.

If you are a new studio owner, you have to get comfortable being out of your comfort zone (like when no one shows up!). You also have to find ways to spread the word. To get some initial buzz, I took out an ad in the local paper, created flyers, created social profiles on Facebook and Instagram and signed with a digital marketing agency to provide SEO and PPC services on a monthly basis. Social Media and the agency probably had the biggest impact. After we survived our quiet period, we hit the New Year. As the new year’s resolutions kicked in, word of mouth began to spread.

Fast forward to today, and Firefly Yoga has been open for just under two years now and business is growing strong. I wouldn’t change the journey getting here for the world and feel like I have the best job in the world.

One of the things that I credit our success to is that we have focused on building community.

Here’s what helped me get here.

1. Create a warm and welcoming environment

The vibe of your studio is so important. At Firefly Yoga, we have soft lighting and padded flooring, which creates a relaxed and comfortable environment. Because we are a hot studio, I can always keep the studio nice and cosy on a winter’s day. Creating a relaxing, homey environment will allow your students to feel comfortable and welcome.

And you must keep your studio clean and tidy. If you are a smaller studio working on your own, then create tidy up routine that you do every day once the last class has finished. Teaching your students to help pack their own props is also helpful.

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2. Separate your yoga and check-in space

Having a check in area separate from your class space provides a general meeting point where students can meet, talk, and connect before classes. It gives your students a place to speak more freely, whether it’s about me, other classes they enjoy, or just general life stuff. I always open up 30-45 minutes before my classes start to allow my students this time to chill and chat with each other.

It’s great seeing them all talking to each other, I always feel guilty when I have to shush them so we can start!

3. Create a relaxed class atmosphere

While I know it won’t be for all teachers, allowing for a relaxed, casual, and non-judgmental class atmosphere feels very authentic to me and helps create a feeling of connection. I don’t require silence while we practice; instead, I encourage students to ask questions throughout the class rather than waiting until the end. We also laugh while we practice.

This laid-back atmosphere allows students to be themselves. (It’s great because I can be myself as well!) Once you have that trust and feeling of community, it allows the group to really connect with one another.

4. Show off your community!

Again, this may not be for everyone, and it will depend if your students would be up for a bit of fun!

We recently held our first Real Yogis photoshoot. This was a great day that strengthened and built new relationships with my students.

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Students volunteered to come in for an hour and be part of the photoshoot. (Make sure to get their written approval!) We did some yoga poses, had some photos taken and then finished with tea and cupcakes.

I’ve now got these photos all over my website and will be able to share them on social media. It’s great to have your own images as well rather than stock ones. When the people who come to the studio see themselves on social media, I think it makes them feel even more a part of the studio.

5. Organize Events

A great way to solidify your community is to build relationships outside of the studio. Both yoga and non-yoga events are a great way for students to enjoy spending time with their yoga friends in a different setting. 

I recently held our first Firefly Yoga retreat, with the intention of providing a new experience for students and build on our studio relationships. As it was our first ever retreat I offered it at cost price for the students. They were my yoga retreat guinea pigs!

To minimize our risk, I chose a venue with a good sized function room for the yoga and lots of different sized properties for people to stay in. This allowed us to build up numbers of attendees slowly. It also meant we didn’t need to fill a say 30 person property to be able to go.

The retreat helped solidify existing relationships and create new ones between students who went to different classes. It was also quite the talk of my classes for the next week after we got back, and created conversation with about where the next one was going to be!

I also organized a Firefly Yoga Christmas meal last December which was a great success and a really nice opportunity to get to know people better. Other options could be pot luck dinners or post-class gatherings: whatever works for your community.

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6. Learn your students’ names

This sounds simple, but it goes a long way! I see around 250 students a week and take pride in the fact that I know all their names. Not to say I don’t occasionally have mind blanks like everyone else! This makes them feel special and appreciated, and who doesn’t want that?!

7. Take an interest in your students as people

Take an interest in what your students tell you about themselves. 

If they tell you about an upcoming holiday, ask them how it was when they get back. It can sometimes be hard to keep track of everyone’s movements, but when you have regulars you’ll start to notice when they aren’t around. Even casually asking, “Oh, I didn’t see you last week, have you been away, is everything alright?” will open the door to conversation and show them that you care.

I may not always remember the exact location they have been on holiday for example, but bringing it up will still show that I’m taking an interest in their lives outside the studio and helps them feel valued.

A caveat: you will also have students who seem to prefer not sharing about their lives, in which case I don’t pry.

8. Be relatable 

Last but not least, be relatable.

Just as students wil share snippets of their lives with you, share a bit of your life with them. For example, I recently shared some pictures of my wedding on the studio Facebook page. If I have a weekend off, I always share what I’ll be up while the studio is closed. I make sure to show that I a real person too. For example, I’ll share blooper videos of myself practicing poses that didn’t quite go as planned!

By being relatable, I help us all to relate from a human – rather than just transactional – space, which helps to foster connection.

Good Luck!

I hope you find these tips useful and inspiring. If you use any of the ideas, I would love to hear how it went! If you have any other ideas. please share them in the comments below.

Why Marketing is Like the Yogic Nadi System

Energy channels are like information freeways.

According to yogic texts, humans have a system of over 72,000 nadis, or energy channels, that flow throughout the body. These channels are not visible to the human eye, and encompass a bustling network of moving information through our system.

  • When the nadis, which translate into “channels” or “flow,” are open, energy flows freely — and our systems are healthy.
  • When the nadis are blocked, energy becomes stagnant and we experience physical and mental discomfort.

This dynamic energetic process, which is currently taking place in our bodies, is exactly like the process of marketing your business. Like the energy in your body, your marketing is most effective when it has several clear, open channels for energy, or information, to flow through consistently.

Marketing is simply sending a message through a channel.

Marketing, like the nadis, is a system of channels, or freeways, that carry information from a source to a destination.

  • Effective marketing is like cars moving freely on a freeway with no traffic.
  • Ineffective marketing is like a traffic jam where cars are stuck in place.

In other words, rather than thinking of marketing as a practice that is “good or bad,” instead think of marketing as a system of channels carrying information at varying speeds.

Using this framework, the first question to ask yourself as a business owner looking to expand your business is, “which channels are currently open, and flowing easily?”

Your channels are the ways people find you.

The number of channels you have opened will determine the ways that your customer can receive your message and decide whether to buy something from you.

Marketing channels are information gateways like Instagram, email marketing, and events. They are opportunities for you (the source) to send a message (the solution your business offers) to a destination (your customer).

Business owners may feel discouraged about their sales, but if they only have two or three marketing channels open and those channels have “bad energy flow,” then they must evaluate what’s obstructing the flow of those channels, and decide if it’s worth opening new ones.

Assuming your message is clear and that you’ve targeted the right customer, marketing channels can deliver your business’ solution quickly and directly to solve your customers’ problem.

Choosing the right channels.

Let’s say you are a nutritionist, and you host an in-person workshop about gluten-free meal planning.

In the workshop, you reference recipes from your gluten-free cookbook that help people with the problem of preparing gluten-free meals ahead of time.

Let’s say that after the workshop, you sell a cookbook to all 15 attendees.

In this instance, the marketing channel of a workshop demonstrates fast energy flow for your business because it easily allows the solution that you offer to flow to the problem that the customers have, through the nadi, or channel, of the workshop.

Let’s say that you are meditation teacher, and you create a single post on Facebook about a digital meditation course that you are selling.

Forty-eight hours after you posted about your meditation course, you’ve gotten ten likes, two comments, and zero sales.

In this instance, the marketing channel of a Facebook post demonstrates slow energy flow for your business, likely because the millions of other posts and ads about meditation on Facebook are like a traffic jam slowing down the ability for your solution (a meditation course) to reach its destination (a stressed person looking for ways to relieve anxiety.)

While this example is not to suggest that you should prioritize workshops over Facebook posts, it is an invitation for you to evaluate the speed through which energy flows from you to your prospective customers.

Practice yoga for your marketing channels.

Energy flow in our bodies is improved by the practice of yoga. When you practice yoga, you breathe deeper and infuse the nadi system with more prana, also known as life force energy.

I think of life force energy as life momentum. It’s a universal momentum that makes the seasons change, the flowers grow, and the planets orbit. It’s the same momentum that propels you out of bed each day and catapults you into your desk chair, eager to build your business.

Just as you can build prana in your own body through the practice of yoga, you can also infuse more prana into your marketing channels focused mindfulness. This doesn’t mean doing poses on your mat while making a Facebook post; it means being present and conscious as if you were doing yoga while you do your marketing.

With a yogic level of awareness and presence in your content creation, you will likely consistently craft posts that speak directly to your ideal customer, convey your message clearly, and fit in to your overall strategy.

This level of presence is what infuses your marketing channels with the energy that helps you to find your clients easily.

As a best practice, only open marketing channels that you feel consciously excited to work on. Whether it be email marketing, workshops, or YouTube videos, choose channels where you will be inspired to inject the necessary prana to lovingly reach your target audience.

Create time to nourish your marketing.

Being conscious in marketing means treating marketing with the same care as you would your yoga practice.

Just as you carve out time for your yoga practice, you can carve out time to work on marketing.

In yoga, you can only do one pose at time, and in marketing, you can only do one task at a time.

On your mat, you practice observing distractions and not engaging with them, just as you can at your desk.

Most of all, being compassionate, non-judgmental, and joyful during the process of marketing like you are in yoga is the key to creating energetically charged content.

Marketing is a practice.

There are plenty of other variables to consider when it comes to a successful conscious marketing strategy.

Looking at marketing through the lens of the nadi system is simply a reminder to be aware of the channels that you’re working with, and to remember that the remedy for any slow-moving marketing channel is more energy.

Ultimately, remember that marketing is a way of strategically using a channel to share a solution with people who have a problem, and that doing this process effectively is simply a faster way of helping people.

Is Teaching Yoga A Good Career?

I get this question a lot from students who are considering doing a teacher training, or from graduates who are wondering if they should quit their corporate day job. They wonder, “Can I really have a yoga career?”

Here’s the thing: it depends what you mean by “good.”

Here’s what’s good about being a yoga teacher:

  • heartfelt connection to a community
  • sharing what you love
  • you must practice in order to be a good teacher (so it keeps you on track with your own wellness)
  • you are engaging in a rich and elevating philosophy of life and living
  • it’s a life if continual learning, self-examination, and growth

Here’s what sucks about being a yoga teacher:

  • you don’t get paid a lot (see this article for info on how you’re paid)
  • you have to scrap to get more money (see here on how to ask those questions)
  • you usually have to run around town to different studios in order to make ends meet
  • if you want to only teach yoga classes, you’ll probably need to teach between 20-30 classes per week to make a living. I did this for two months one time and then decided never to do that again.
  • to resist burn out, you’ll need to create different streams of income that aren’t only pay-per-hour

Here’s my personal advice: if you want a yoga career – if this is your passion and it’s all you want to do – then you must do it. You will be sad if you don’t, because your dharma is calling you. And if your passion changes in five years, at that point then you must allow yourself to be resilient and flexible enough and allow yourself to be moved in a new direction.

If you love yoga, but you also love having financial security, then blend your yoga with a more traditional way of earning income. Yoga is so forgiving that way! A “yoga career” can look like anything! I know amazing teachers who teach twenty-four classes a week and I know amazing teachers who only teach three. I’ve usually taught anywhere from 5-8 classes per week, combined with a more managerial/educational leadership role in the yoga biz. The combination approach has worked for me and allows me to use different parts of myself in my work, which I like.

Let yoga SERVE your life. Don’t let yoga BECOME your life.

Yoga is a tool to your own personal development, health, and well-being. A yoga career can take so many different shapes. Listen to your heart, listen to the needs of your whole self, and listen to your energy. Stay aligned with joy. And the right relationship with your teaching and your career will naturally arise.

How To Run A Yoga Studio

Six ways to stay in the black

Surviving as a yoga studio is hard. I know: I’ve been behind the scenes at Yoga Works in New York City and YYoga in Vancouver, Canada. Both of these entities are what we would call “corporately owned yoga:” they have multiple locations managed from a central business and central corporate structure.

You’d think that with pass prices going up, yoga studios would see a greater margin for profit. However, that’s often untrue. Rent, staff costs, teacher costs, laundry expenses, equipment costs, and cleaning can start to eat into your profits. Here are six tips for beating the curve.

1. Cut costs

I know, I know…obvious right? However, those small costs can cause a slow hemorrhage that drags you under. You may find that your students grumble when they don’t have the nice shampoo, but they’re really there for the yoga, right? If you’re opening a studio, consider that including amenities like showers (which will require shampoo, conditioner, water, cleaning and laundry) may not be your best investment and will require you to fork over more money in maintenance. Many times, students prefer to pay less for their monthly nut even if that means showering at home. If you do have luxury add ons (or say you’re a hot studio, and a shower feels like a must have), then keep it simple and charge appropriately.

2. Charge more

Again, obvious. But let’s say that you’re renting mats. Are you really charging what it takes to source them, clean them, and dry them? Figure out your true costs. Even if you’re trying to keep the yoga fees low, charge appropriately for add on services.

3. Focus on what you do well

If you’re a mom and pop shop, the reason that students will choose you over a corporate studio or gym is because of the feeling of your studio (like more yoga-ish and authentic) and the intimacy of your community. Don’t compete where you can’t win (amenities, number of classes, bells and whistles). Do what you CAN do really really well. Have community events, encourage teachers to connect with students, and focus on the roots of yoga. Differentiate yourself by doing what a gym or corporate studio can’t: focus on individuals and create an authentic, yoga-delish space.

4. Get lean

At most corporate studios, staff – not teachers – signed in students. However, unless you’re doing a booming business, most smaller studios do well to have (trustworthy) teachers take on this task. It reduces your costs and provides an additional touchpoint for the teachers with the students for community. (However, I’m going to leave the sticky question of whether teachers are independent contractors or employees in your company for you to figure out.) If you do have staff, my experience is that they are very busy during sign in, and then are often under utilized in down time. For a smaller studio, it may be cheaper to have one full-time manager than to have five rotating staff members. When your manager is not signing in classes, they can manage payroll, social media, retail (if you have it), and everything else that goes along with running a studio. (And if this person is you, then you must take the bonus point very much to heart.)

5. Diversify your products

You need a high priced product that can boost your revenue. Teacher training (which nets you at least 3K per student) is a product that helps keep many studios afloat. Invest in creating a branded, customized training, schedule it smartly, market it well, and you’ll have a cornerstone for your revenue for years to come. Not only does it flush out your revenue, it builds and reinforces your community. You run a training, the students start posting on social media and create your buzz for you. You hire your graduates, which then incentivizes students to take your course. Create a passive stream of income by putting some simple courses or classes online. This will never be your meat and potatoes (there are too many people doing it already), but it will help expand your brand and give your students a way to stay connected when they can’t be at your studio in person. Be smart and be lean, but get a toehold in the marketplace.

6. Schedule smartly

Set up your schedule smartly. When can your people come? Close the studio when no one needs to be there. Most studios run early morning classes, lunch time classes, and evening classes. But if your demographic is a bunch of stay at home parents, they may love coming in just after they dump the kiddies at school (9:30 AM). If you have a bunch of 9-5’ers, you may want to tuck in a 50-minute lunch time class (not one that is too sweaty!) so they can squeeze in some yoga over their break. Find out what your community needs and go from there.

Bonus: Don’t do everything

Yes, I mean, don’t try to be everything to everyone, but more specifically, I mean, don’t YOU try to do everything. In a smaller studio, owners almost always start out by doing everything themselves. They teach, they manage, they’re the staff and the cleaning crew (see #4). You must practice some serious self-care and learn to delegate if you want to stay in for the long run. Remember why you started your studio (because you love yoga!). You didn’t start it to become a frenzied, overworked person who never actually gets to take a yoga class. Set up clear boundaries: take a day off, delegate smartly, protect your energy, and let things slide occasionally.

Then take a good look at your students’ happy faces after Savasana. That’s almost as good as kombucha.

Five Things To Do Once You Finish Teacher Training

So you’ve just finished your 200 hour yoga teacher training. Now what?

Here are five things that you should do to get your yoga teaching engine running.

1. Keep practicing

One of the biggest mistakes that new yoga teachers make once they graduate is to focus on teaching to the exclusion of practicing. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard yoga teachers lament that they didn’t have time to practice. However, your yoga practice is the backbone and inspiration for your teaching. Make it a priority to keep your practice as a sacred part of your schedule. In the long run, your commitment to your personal practice will sustain you. It will also keep you from a cardinal yoga teaching mistake: demonstrating while you teach to get a mini-practice in.

2. Practice teach

Practice teach wherever you can. The large corporate studios for which I’ve worked (Yoga Works and YYoga) won’t even look at you until you have 1-2 years of teaching experience under your belt – and for good reason! It takes awhile for all the content goodness of your 200 hour to seep into your bones. After I graduated from my 200 and 500 hour training, I volunteered at Yoga Works in New York City to get my teaching chops up. Worry less about pay (though here are some tips on that particular subject) and more about getting your skills honed. Here are few options:

  • your local community centres
  • your friends
  • your family
  • at your office, or your friends’ offices
  • smaller yoga studios: by donation classes
  • volunteer organizations

3. Get insurance

Yoga insurance costs about $200 a year. You’ll need it before you teach at most studios. However, go ahead and get it right up front. I’ve never had to lean on my liability insurance, but you are definitely better safe than sorry. And you don’t want to wait to get it if you get a job offer, right? Make sure your insurance covers you for at least 2 million, and that it is valid where you plan on teaching. For example, if you decide to teach in Mexico, you want to make sure that your insurance is good there.

4. Clarify your mission

Why do you want to teach yoga? What does yoga give you that you want to share? As you practice and teach, you will start to develop what studio managers call your “teaching voice.” This vague terms is a combination of factors: your tone, your physical presence, and your teaching style. What kind of class experience do you create? Are you passionate about alignment, or do you want students to focus on their breath? Are you energetic and personality driven, or do you fade into the woodwork to give students space for their own experience? Your particularly mission (WHY) you teach will begin to help you shape your teaching voice, which will help you identify yourself more clearly in the market place.

5. Plant seeds

So you know you want to teach at the funky studio down the street? Well then it’s time for you to become part of that community! Attend classes, find out who’s running the show, and make friends with the regulars. Be honest with management about your intentions: “I’d love to teach here. What do you look for in your teachers?” Get to know the decision makers. At some point, you’ll be ready to audition.

Bonus: Patience

The Yoga Sutra say that practice is “consistent, devoted, and for a long time.” Your teaching is no different. See the big picture: your yoga teaching may become a wonderful companion activity that lasts for your entire life, ripe for exploration and evolution. There’s no rush. Enjoy the transition. And the journey.

How To Create A Successful Yoga Career: Six tips for staying focused on your goals

This is part 3 of a three-part series. To read part one of the series on goal-setting, click here. To read part two on Taking Action, click here.

Goal setting is a critical part of achieving what you want in your personal and professional life. Taking steps to accomplish your goals is incredibly powerful and cultivates a sense of personal responsibility, pride, and confidence.

But what happens when you map out a clear goal, take consistent action, yet the results don’t show up in the time frame you planned?

It happens, and it’s frustrating.  

But it also allows an opportunity to reflect and make shifts in the present. Often we focus so much on building for the future we neglect the opportunities are right in front of us. Too much focus on the future also breeds stress and negative thinking. Achieving your goals requires flexibility when things don’t go as planned as well as being open to reassessing your goals.

Eckart Tolle summed it up perfectly when he said:

“Nothing has happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now.”

Tips For Staying Focused

  1. Realize the present is all you have right now.  The past is history, and the future is entirely unknown. You have today. Now. Don’t squander it.  
  2. Remember life is unpredictable and you can’t control everything that may happen in the future no matter how much you plan and prepare. Don’t waste valuable time and energy focusing on what might happen.
  3. Be open to not knowing and discovering new opportunities. Some of the best opportunities present themselves after a big disappointment. Sometimes it takes hardship to shake you up and realize your strength and capabilities.
  4. Focusing too much on the future is stressful. Although some stress can help to motivate you, the importance of not living in the present can be detrimental to your emotional and physical well-being.  Trying to over plan and control the future just prevents you from living in the present.  
  5. Pay attention to your thoughts. Our thoughts are often so clear and specific they feel like facts – although they haven’t even happened yet. When you notice yourself projecting or worrying about the future, realize they are just thoughts and not reality.  Once you are aware of your thoughts, you can redirect your attention.
  6. Flexibility is crucial. Often the most significant results happen by not achieving precisely what was planned and being flexible enough to spot the win.

I would love to talk to you about your goals!  If you’re interested, click here and schedule a complimentary 20-minute coaching session.

How To Create A Successful Yoga Career: Taking Action (Part 2)

This is part 2 of a three-part series. If you missed part one of the series on goal-
setting, click here to read the article.

You have identified a goal. Fabulous!  However, now the “real” work begins. It’s one thing to have a goal but quite another to commit to consistently doing what it takes to get there.  It’s challenging to propel yourself into action – but even more so to stick to your plan.

Why is that?

The biggest obstacle is your mind.  Your mind is incredibly powerful and can work hard for or against you.  The stories you tell yourself and what you believe about yourself can make or break your plan of action.

If you buy into thoughts like:

  • I don’t have enough time…
  • I can’t do it…
  • I have to wait until “x” happens to get started…

Then the game is over before you’ve even stepped onto the playing field!

It’s evident that type of mindset will result in either complete inertia or quitting before reaching your goal.  Also, once you get started, if you don’t take consistent action, you’re not going to make real progress. Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

Here’s the truth:  it’s the daily actions you take that will change what you believe about and for yourself.  The key to success is not only creating an action plan but, more importantly, sticking to it.  Commit to the process of taking daily actions instead of worrying about attaining the end goal.

Here are 8 tips for taking consistent action towards career success:

  1. Make time for yourself and your career.  Take a close look at your priorities and don’t be afraid to say “no” to people and things that don’t align with your career and personal goals.  Be willing to reduce or give-up your involvement in activities and projects that aren’t a high priority.
  2. Think creatively.  If you keep hitting the same brick wall, consider other alternatives.  Many roads lead to success so you may have to take an unfamiliar detour.
  3. Be willing and open to learning and trying new things.  Thinking you know it all and resisting help and advice is not productive. Be open to listening and learning from knowledgeable people and resources.  If something doesn’t work for you or sit right, you don’t have to continue.
  4. Review your progress regularly and be accountable for your results. If you are busy spinning your wheels and making little to no progress, it’s time to re-evaluate and re-organize.
  5. Don’t compare yourself and your progress to other people.  There’s a reason for the saying, “compare and despair.” Stay focused on your goals and actions.
  6. Be consistent in taking action.  There will be days you “don’t feel like it” and want to procrastinate.  Don’t fall into that trap; it’s usually a slippery slope!
  7. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.  Nothing great ever happens inside your comfort zone.  If you think back to your most impactful accomplishments, you will find tolerating discomfort and pushing through fears was part of the process.
  8. Enlist the help of a mentor or coach.  If you are stuck, confused or overwhelmed, a coach can help you see a way through it and regain control.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

If you would like to discuss your career goals and progress with a coach – I would love to hear from you. Just click here to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery session.

Next Steps:
What actions are you committed to taking to achieve your goals right now? Remember to be as specific as possible; “I’ll have a conversation with my manager by Friday” versus “I’ll talk to my manager.”

Take tuned for the next instalment!

Creating Career Success: How To Deliberately Design Your Goals (Part 1)

This is part 1 of a three-part series.

You want to take your career to the next level and move beyond that survival mindset.  You’re ready to feel like you’re proactively creating versus scrambling and reacting. But, what do you want? Take a few minutes to really think about what YOU desire. Maybe you want to create teacher trainings or impactful retreats. Maybe you’re ready to get out of a survival mindset and stop scrambling. It’s time to think bigger about your career path and be deliberate about taking steps to get there.

It can feel scary to actually dream about and declare what you want.  What if you fail? Where do you even start? It often feels overwhelming to even THINK about your career dreams and goals.

Let’s start at the beginning:

The first step to achieving career success and happiness is being able to clearly articulate where you want to go. Most people don’t walk around thinking about what they really want and creating a plan to get there. If you want to achieve your goals, you actually do need to do the thinking and planning about what you truly want. Otherwise, your life is lived by default. Thinking and writing out your goals is the first step to making them happen. Your dreams and goals are your internal picture of the future. Everyone has them yet many are unconscious and based on personal history versus deliberately created.

Here are five tips for designing your goals and creating a career plan:

  1. Your goals should be a stretch for you but achievable.  Many times we go from one extreme to the other when setting goals.  If you think too small, you probably won’t be excited to go for those dreams. On the other hand, if you design goals that aren’t realistic, most likely you will feel like it’s too much and set yourself up to fail.  
  2. Put aside the “should’s” and other people’s opinions.  Often we set goals based on something we think we “should” do but either aren’t ready to do or it’s not truly what YOU want. Don’t set your goals based on someone else’s opinions or desires. Either of these scenarios will result in you having no real connection to the goal or why you’re even putting in the effort to achieve it.  
  3. Focus on the positive versus limiting yourself a negative mindset.  You don’t want to create goals based on what you don’t want.  It is easier to envision change from a mindset of positivity of what already exists. This calls for you to be imaginative and push aside the limitations you may have created based on where you are right now.
  4. Watch out for the mediocrity mindset. Settling for mediocrity is tempting. It’s easier and more comfortable to sit in “it’s not great but it’s not terrible”. We tolerate, justify and have a list of reasons why it’s OK to not reach for our greatest potential. I promise you weren’t put on this earth to be mediocre or live an “it’s just OK” life. Challenge the human tendency to just settle!
  5. Share your goals with people in your life and who will be supportive. Steer clear of talking about your dreams with those who are prone to focus on the negative. Having positive people in your corner helps with accountability and support. Also the more you talk about your goals, the more likely you are to stay connected to them and follow through.

Action Step:

Take some time to think about what you really want and why. Take the time to research and investigate what you would need to do to get there. Let go of the negative and limiting internal chatter that may tell you it’s not realistic, too hard or you’re not good enough. Focus on deliberately designing goals that reflect what success looks like for YOU.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of this blog series, Taking Action!

For Yoga Teachers: How To Have An Uncomfortable Conversation

How often do you put off or totally avoid having difficult conversations? You know the ones you’ve been intending to have:

  • asking management for more classes
  • taking time off
  • studio policies
  • addressing student complaints, or
  • replacing props

Does the mere thought of speaking up or asking the studio for what you want create a knot in your stomach? Last week, I was working with one of my favorite yoga teachers, Natalie, who was very upset with the studio managers:

I can’t believe the manager is trying to schedule me for all evening classes again. I’ve requested more day classes for the past six months.  I know other teachers were given more daytime classes. And….the studio still hasn’t gotten any new mats!! Obviously, I’m not valued or respected.

I asked Natalie if she had recently spoken to the studio manager about the issue and she responded,

I don’t know what to say. What if she gets upset her angry with me? I’d love to leave, but I really need a good relationship with this studio. Is there a nice way for me to phrase it?

As she continued expressing her concerns, I pointed out that her worries had little to do with the studio manager’s feelings. Natalie was simply looking for a way to avoid feeling uncomfortable. 

What do you mean?” she asked.

As we continued to talk, Natalie realized her number one fear is that her employer will not be happy with what she has to say. The conversation might also stir up conflicting opinions or feelings, and Natalie may even be on the receiving end of criticism or judgment.

Her discomfort deepened as she started to question if expressing herself or asking for something was simply just wrong. 

Am I being unreasonable?  Is it selfish to ask for a schedule change? I should probably just let it go and deal with the evening classes.

If you find yourself in this position – wanting to say something but feeling anxious and avoiding the conversation – realize the first step is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Recognizing and accepting what you’re feeling, versus running away and avoiding it, makes a big difference. These acknowledgments will actually make your situation less uncomfortable. 

Here are my top 10 tips to get you on the road to speaking up and pushing through the discomfort.

  • Don’t put off the conversation.  If you find yourself repeatedly promising you’ll address it next time, now is the time to speak up.  It’s much easier to tackle conversations as situations present themselves.  Not only can you resolve and move past the issue faster but you will also escape the inner chatter that continues as long as you stay silent.
  • Set up a time to have the conversation – no surprises.  You could say, for example,  “There’s something important I wanted to discuss with you.  Is now a good time or is there another time that works better for you?”
  • Be clear about your intention, concerns and feelings upfront.  For example:  “It’s awkward to bring this up and I don’t want to upset you, but I feel it’s important to talk it through.” 
  • Set up the conversation to put the other person at ease from the start. You are setting the tone for the conversation so they are prepared and open to listening. For example: “I want to share with you what’s on my mind and get your feedback. I realize you may have a different perspective and I want to hear you and understand.
  • Be graceful in the conversation. If the other person gets defensive or upset when you speak to them, it probably means you are using too many definitive statements. Qualify your statements with lines like, “I don’t know if it’s true, but this is how I perceived it.”
  • Focus on speaking directly and put your feelings and requests on the table. If you leave the conversation feeling you didn’t fully express yourself and ask for what you want, then you probably used too much tact.
  • When setting up the conversation, start with assuming it’s you. This has nothing to do with being right or wrong, but about never assuming you know what the other person is thinking or feeling. Come from a place of simply wanting to hear what they have to say so you have a better shot at being heard – it usually works.

When you communicate something difficult and it goes badly, it’s usually because there is an accusation in it or an assumption about something they did. If you start with assuming that you bear responsibility, it typically keeps the other person from getting defensive. For example, “I’m not sure if this is true but…”

  • Listen with an open mind, just as you’d want them to listen to you. Put yourself in their shoes and understand what they experienced. The point is to “get” their version. You don’t have to agree, you just have to understand. Acknowledge (and if appropriate apologize) for your part in their negative experience.
  • This isn’t about being perfect, being right, winning or avoiding a fight. It’s about being mature, honest and building better relationships. It’s about being a leader with your communication style.
  • Every conversation will not go as you planned or even as you wanted. It’s also okay to make mistakes at this. It’s okay to need more than one conversation to get it right. It’s okay to be successful with some people and not so successful with others. Remember this is like building a muscle so start with conversations that are slightly uncomfortable for you and build to the harder ones.

Need more help?

Contact me for a free 15-minute consult for additional or specific support!

Yoga Teachers: How To Ask For A Raise

Let’s face it; no one really likes talking about money.   

Unfortunately, if you avoid financially advocating for yourself, you’ll likely end up not only settling and undervalued, but also underpaid! Often the problem isn’t that clients and employers won’t pay what you’re worth; it’s that you won’t ASK!

Whether you are thinking of raising your rates, asking for a raise or negotiating in a new position, I can’t stress to you the importance of valuing yourself and your time.  

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”

– M. Scott Peck

This is easier said than done, especially in the wellness world where there’s often negativity and guilt associated with desiring financial prosperity. So first and foremost, you must stop believing that you don’t deserve to be well-compensated for helping people!

If you’re like me, you probably have a history of valuing yourself at a certain level. And when you even THINK about asking for more, those voices in your head star to chime in: 

  • What if they say no or I lose clients?  
  • What if I don’t give enough value to be worth that?
  • What if I’m not good enough?

This is just fear talking. Our inner fear voice will try to keep us in a certain comfort zone where we don’t have to do anything too hard or too scary. Unfortunately, we often allow fear to win  – and end up losing potential revenue by accepting being underpaid.

Remember: it’s normal to feel afraid when you start to take a stand for your own value. However, feeling uncomfortable doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it nor that something is “wrong”. Everyone feels afraid when they do something beyond their comfort zone. The butterflies in your stomach will not magically go away  – and are usually a sign you are moving in the right direction. It’s up to you to decide to push through the fear. Also, know the longer you put the conversation off, the bigger and more overwhelming it will become in your mind.

Once you’ve mastered your mindset, here are a few tips for the actual conversation:

Be yourself.
You don’t have to be overbearing or aggressive to be a good negotiator. Find an authentic voice that allows you to advocate for yourself with confidence and convey your value with sincere intent and conviction. You can take a strong position without being tough or defensive. Learning to speak authentically while holding your boundaries is a powerful skill to use in all areas of your life.

It’s normal to ask for an increase.  
It’s not greedy or selfish to ask for a pay raise. Prices go up incrementally over time for nearly every product or service and it’s expected.  You’re not asking for a favor, just fair compensation for your work.

Do your research.
Make sure you know what the market rate is for your services. Be sure to consult multiple sources since you aren’t the only one who undervalues their services! It’s useful information to have whether you find you’re underpaid or at the top of the market.  

Be prepared for the conversation.
You don’t want to “wing it” when discussing your financial future.  Take the time to think about why you’ve earned a raise or rate increase.  You don’t need to go overboard with a detailed presentation feeling you have to “convince” the employer or client, just connect to your value and the good work that you do. You will be able to speak more confidently in that mindset. Also, have a dollar amount in mind. If you’re raising a client’s rate, be specific as to what the new rate is and if you’re asking an employer for a pay raise know what you will and will not accept.  

Be prepared for a “no”.
If you’re increasing individual client rates, you may end up losing a few. There’s a saying, “Some will.  Some won’t. Who cares? Who’s next?”  It’s about eliminating a scarcity mindset versus being cold or uncaring. You want to attract the “right” clients for your services and be OK letting those that don’t fit go elsewhere. The “right” clients see the value in your work and are willing to invest time and money.

If you’re negotiating your salary with an employer and you get a “no”, don’t give up.  This is an opportunity to get direction and feedback on what it will take to get the raise or salary in the future.  

Act as if you’re negotiating for someone else.
People are typically better at asking on behalf of others versus negotiating for themselves. When advocating for other people, you’re more likely to hold your ground and worry less about judgment or outcome. Use that knowledge and skill to your advantage!

I hope this is helpful!  If you want to talk further about negotiating your rates or salary, I’d love to speak to you.  Click here to schedule a 20-minute complimentary one-on-one consultation with me.  

Don’t Let Procrastination Get In The Way Of Growing Your Dream Business

Erin’s dream is to grow her yoga business, put together a series of workshops and create her first retreat.  She is a talented and inspirational teacher with adoring clients who often ask about her next event. In fact, several months ago, Erin announced to clients that a date for the retreat would come soon.

I had the pleasure of taking Erin’s class last week, and we grabbed a coffee after class to catch up. I asked her when the retreat was happening.  Uncomfortably she said,

“Oh, I know, I’ve been meaning to set a date, but haven’t gotten to it yet. I’ve been so busy lately.”

If I weren’t a life coach who knew Erin well, I would have sympathized with her “too busy” story and moved on, but I can recognize an excuse a mile away.  So I continued the conversation,

“I know how much you want to grow your business and creating this retreat is a big dream. What is keeping you too busy to get this going?  Can I help you talk it through?“

Quietly Erin said:

“I keep promising myself to set a date, weeks fly by, and I make no progress.  Every time I start to look at locations, I get overwhelmed, confused and stuck. What’s wrong with me?”

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Erin, she’s just being human and stuck in the trap of procrastination.  We chatted a bit and got to the bottom of what was blocking her. Erin got teary and explained the painful internal conversation running through her mind daily:

  • “What if no one signs up?
  • Why would someone pay that much money for a retreat with me?
  • I may be kidding myself not be able to put together a great experience for clients.  
  • Maybe I’m just not ready to do something on that level?”

Ouch. No wonder Erin was stuck. Her procrastination was just the voice of fear and self-doubt yelling louder than the sound of her dream!

The trouble is, the negative voices stemming from fear will not just go away on their own. Erin will not wake up fearless one day so what IS the solution to procrastination?

Since this is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear as a coach, I decided to put together a free e-book:

Typically when we feel fear, the mind interprets it as a sign to stop because we’re going in the wrong direction. Ironically, the reverse is true! What we are most afraid of is typically the very thing we need to do to move forward and achieve our goals.

Taking action may feel scary, but the trick is not to let fear stop you. You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable and not always knowing the answer. Every time you push through fear, you get stronger and more confident. Growth requires getting out of your comfort zone. I promise you nothing extraordinary was ever accomplished in your comfort zone. Also, know there is a direct correlation between the level of your achievement and the ability to deal with being out of your comfort zone.  

I hope you find this guide helpful.  Please reach out to me with any questions or comments at christine@christineyoungcoaching.com  

I would love to hear from you!

PS: Each week I offer a limited number of 20-minute complimentary consultations.  I would be happy to help talk you through what’s underneath your procrastination.  Just click here to go directly to my calendar and schedule your free 20-minute session.

Awesome Tool The Entrepreneurial Yogi: The Interactive Quiz That Gets You Leads

Yoga teachers are entrepreneurs.

In addition to teaching, we have to do our own marketing, manage our bookkeeping, create our own products, and be our own graphic designers. We’re one-woman (or man) shows. And in my yoga-preneurial life, I sometimes come across new tools that I’ve found that can be useful for our work.

Here is one that I love. It’s a quiz from the people at Interact and it’s designed to get you leads (and newsletter subscribers) by getting people to take a quiz. Now, until this time, I’ve been doing what most of us do: throw up a newsletter invite on my site and hope for the best (bless you Mailchimp!). However, I have been wanting to create something more interactive for my visitors – and I also wanted the capacity to add people to different newsletter lists depending on their interests. Interact lets me do both.

Interact Quizzes are easy and intuitive to build. They’re visual, fun, and there are a ton of templates made to make it easy for you to create. You can make branching quizzes (one question leads you down a particular rabbit hole), personality tests, scored quizzes, or assessments. You can link up your favorite newsletter provider to the quiz results (I use Mailchimp, but they integrate with a lot of others, like Infusionsoft, Constant Contact, and MadMimi to name a few) so that your quiz participants can be directed to sign up for your newsletter service before they get their results. And (this is super cool), you can add them to different lists based on their answers to different questions! In other words, you can get really granular and have people on a few different lists by the time you’re done. Wow! And isn’t it more fun to get people involved with your site a bit before you hit them up for their email address?

Of course, after they’ve done the quiz, you can give them your grand call to action (“get my free yoga class,” “find where I teach,” or “get my free ebook”).

Now, I just popped this quiz onto my site a couple days ago. Interact gives you several different integration options (add it to your announcement bar, make it a pop up, send people a direct link). After I put the quiz into my site, I also shared it out on social media and added it to my newsletter.  Since then, I’ve gotten about 500 quiz views, 50 quiz starts and 11 newsletter conversions. To give you an idea,  I generally get one new subscriber a day. And I just got eleven in two days. So…that’s cool (!). While the jury is still out to see if the quiz performs better over time,  I’d say that’s a decent start!

Also (and this is very awesome), when I look at who has taken my quiz, I can see how people answered the questions, which gives me excellent intel about why people are coming to my site and what they’re looking for. Interact is containing to build out their reporting features, which will make it easy for you to see how people are reacting to your quiz. On the technical side, Interact integrates seamlessly with WordPress (my platform). Yay! You may need a bit more elbow grease if you use a different platform, but mine is simply plug and play.

Best of all, it’s free. Yes, you can buy the fancy version for money, but almost all of the cool features are available in the basic version.

If you’re curious about using quizzes to help engage and build up your community, check it out.

 

Yoga Teachers and Money: why you’re underpaid and what you can do about it

It’s hard to make a living as a yoga teacher.

We run across town from class to class, trying to cobble together enough money to make a living wage. New yoga teachers often teach for free to gain experience, and a decent starting wage is usually around $30/ class. Even veteran yoga teachers rarely make more than $80, unless they’re profit sharing with the studio.

If you’re not happy with your earnings, perhaps its time to do a re-think.

Untangle Old Beliefs

One of the reasons that yoga teachers frequently struggle is that we suffer from a misguided belief: “I can’t get paid to do what I love.”

Many of us took a yoga teacher training because we wanted to deepen our practice – not because we wanted to teach professionally. As a result, our motivation to teach comes from a desire to share our passion rather than make a buck. Because we love what we do, we may feel that we don’t deserve to get paid.

“There is nothing wrong with getting paid well for work that you love!” says Christine Young, a life coach based in New York City. “Clients will value the work they do with you even more if you respect your own time and worth. Charge accordingly to the results you provide – they’re worth it.”

Think about it: if you love what you do, then you will invest time, money and resources to be even better at it. You show up with enthusiasm and go the extra mile for your students.

Suggestions:

  1. When you’re setting your rates, do a pre-think about the experience and value that you will be providing to your clients.
  2. Consider the financial and emotional commitment that you have made in becoming a teacher: your investment in your 200 hour, your life experience, your continuing education. By acknowledging the investment that you have made, you may feel more confident in the worth of your offerings.
  3. Consider your own expenses. As a yoga teacher, you are responsible for several expenses, including professional dues, continuing education, taxes, music, travel, and insurance (to name a few!). Remembering your financial output will help you feel more firmly grounded in what you need for input.

Rethink “Spirituality”

“Yoga is a spiritual practice, so don’t be so materialistic.”

While yoga may be a spiritual practice, we live in a world where we need to pay the bills. Even gurus would take gifts from students in order to support their need, to…oh, eat. An honest exchange of goods and services is part of living in our society.

Setting reasonable prices is part of participating in this flow of energy.

“Think of money from a spiritual context. What you put out there you receive. If you are putting out a great service, the universe wants to return the favour financially.” – Christine Young

How to set your rates

To determine your fair market wage, start with objective research. Find out how much yoga teachers are generally paid in your local area by canvassing teachers and studios. It’s also a good idea to find out the criteria by which wages are set. Some studios will pay everyone a flat rate, while others will scale wages based on criteria such as:

  • experience
  • number of students who come to class
  • seniority
  • perceived commitment to the community

Once you’ve completed an objective analysis, it’s time to do an internal check with your gut.

When you’re setting your rates, do you feel that the exchange is equitable? Setting your rate too low can result in you feeling smaller, powerless, or diminished. Setting prices too high may feel like grasping, desperation, or self-importance. Check out how different prices feel to you in your body; often you can get a good sense of what feels appropriate by trying a few different numbers on for size.

Fiscal Realities

Bottom line? Most yoga studios aren’t very profitable. The hard reality is that yoga studios don’t have a lot of leeway to offer their teachers a great income; revenue from public classes alone usually won’t pay the bills. Unless a yoga company has been able to leverage a popular teacher training (Bikram, CorePower, Yoga Works) or successfully implement a certification track (Anusara), it will not reach the profit margins enjoyed by similar businesses in other sectors.

If you wish to improve your personal income but don’t want to teach more than twenty classes a week, then consider creating other revenue streams. These streams could be yoga related:

  • yoga project management (ie: running a yoga program for a corporation, club or school)
  • corporates
  • privates
  • retreats
  • workshops
  • teacher trainings
  • online courses
  • online classes
  • specialty yoga (acro, partner, kids, prenatal, yoga therapy)
  • coordinating and working with other organizations (a holistic health centre)
  • owning or managing a studio (however, see “bottom line,” above)

Or they may not be.

If you love teaching yoga, but enjoy the financial stability from your day job, then why not do both? Yoga teaching is a forgiving and flexible side career, since most people love attending classes after working hours. Teaching part-time will also help you avoid the most dreaded yoga injury: teacher burnout.

Love to hear from you.

How do you manage balancing yoga teaching with creating financial stability?

I’m sorry my yoga offends you: a defence of modern yoga

I’m sorry my yoga offends you…….

There is a divide in the yoga community right now and I feel like I have one foot on either side of a great valley.  The teachers, gurus, and practitioners who are seasoned and rooted in the traditional and classical styles of yoga stand on one side.  The newbies to the yoga scene, with their fast paced vinyasa, fusions styles, intense heat, loud music, Instagram poses, and flashy lycra stand on the other side.  I am somehow straddling the void with an understanding and appreciation of both perspectives and hope that this piece can act as an opportunity to bridge the gap.

I have recently been joking with some colleagues that I am the rock and roll of yoga, that there has been a shift in yoga culture brought on by a new generation of yogis to the scene. This shift is causing the classical yoga community to shake its head and cover its ears, and declare “that is not yoga!” It is not a far stretch of our imagination or memory to compare this scenario to arrival of rock and roll in the 1950s, the divide that was created and the defensiveness of the previous generation over what they believed the only definition of real music was.  It was music, just different music, that was connecting with a new generation that needed a different way to connect with and express what it was like to live in their world.

Yoga like music is evolving, and western culture is doing what it does best to anything popular by capitalizing, glamorizing, sexualizing and Hollywoodizing this ancient tradition.

I understand the uproar, because I know the beauty, art, science, tradition and mystery that makes the holistic practice of yoga so incredible. I understand the path that is so clearly laid out that does lead to evolvement of the self, harmonizing of the individual and collective, and the ability to live more rooted in that which is real. I am starting to step deeper into my own practice and understanding of all the limbs of this practice, though like many I started only intrigued by the physical. I too cringe a bit when I see images or new versions of asana practice, and the money making slant many are using. I have deep respect for the elders, the holders of wisdom and tradition and seek to learn from them as I become more and more ready for what they have to share. I have one foot deeply rooted with this side.

I understand and am part of the new generation of yogis who are living in a reality that is virtual, imaginary, and not at all rooted in the physical world. The reason yoga that is so physical, intense, difficult or hot catches there attention is simple, it reminds them what it is to feel. On the most basic level to create a sensation in the body and in the moment that immediately grounds them. It is like a gasp of air when you held it for too long. This reconnection with the physical is so foreign, yet so familiar, it sparks a moment of presence that becomes a seed.  Using asana to recreate that moment is what catches the attention of this generation, and holding attention is no small task.  Never before has the human mind been so tugged at, so over stimulated. Yoga gives us a taste of what it feels like to again be a real human. A seed is planted in the root chakra and then grows, because that is how yoga works.

One of my first teachers, Arlene Bjork, always reminded me not to concern myself with why people came to practice. The reasons/motivations could be a million different things and none would end up dictating what that person actually ended up receiving from that practice. Just know the more they come the deeper that seed will take root, the more it will be nourished, the more it will grow. We can all take something from this, to be reminded that each person’s path is their own. We can encourage people to come to the path and encourage them to continue, but where that path goes, what it looks like and where it ultimately leads is none of our business.

That being said, I do want to encourage more people getting on this path and perhaps that means opening our perspectives on how this looks for all of us. Perhaps we can see it all as a progression that will lead us in different ways to the same place.  Maybe this new generation needs the flashy, hot, and loud practice of asana to catch their attention in the beginning. But if you watch them beyond that you will see an evolution within them.  Their interest will spread over time to mantra, mudra, chanting, mythology, spirituality, meditation, and more sincere human connection.  I witness this all the time, but it happens over time. We need to see the bigger picture, the potential that exists within this illusionary “problem” with modern yoga. We have the potential of millions of humans becoming interested in their individual and collective evolvement. They may not end up on the list of the enlightened, but they may end up achieving human adulthood (thank you Jed Mckenna). To have a world filled with people who have learned to live in a way with more consideration will be of great benefit to the planet and all the beings who call it home.

My request to the elders: I respect what you stand for and what you have preserved, what you practice and what you teach, and I hope to learn all you are willing to share. I ask that you take a moment to consider a new perspective, to open your arms to me, to us, and our rock and roll yoga. To teach us when we are ready, to allow our path to where you are to be different than yours was.  To have faith that many of us will get there too. We will need you as teachers as guides to preserve the flame and carry the tradition, have patience and willingness to lead and not judge.

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise, seek what they sought.”  Basho

Yoga teachers: should you join Yoga Alliance?

should you register as a 200 hour yoga alliance teacher

When you graduate from a 200-hour teacher training that has been approved by Yoga Alliance (YA), you have the opportunity to join the Alliance and become a “registered yoga teacher” or “RYT.” Should you?

Well, until very recently, my answer to this would have been, “No.” Don’t waste your money. Aside from getting to put the letters “RYT” after your name, there wasn’t much benefit to paying your dues. However, Yoga Alliance has been trying to step up their game the last few years, and now it may be more of a toss up.

The History

Yoga Alliance formed in 1997, when a group of yogis came together at the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference. Seeing the growing popularity of yoga in the United States, they took on the responsibility of creating the yoga teacher training standards, which are now the benchmark for trainings over the world. Since 2013, Yoga Alliance has been focused on offering more tangible member benefits, such as discounts on products and services and online workshops.

Pro’s of Joining

  • Discounts with a wide variety of partners for products (like clothing and props) and services (like legal advice and liability insurance). Partners include companies like Manduka, Half Moon, Gaiam, Jade, YogaU, and MINDBODY). So if you want a discount on your new mat, this could be a good deal.
  • Free Online Workshops (about 90 and counting) on a wide variety of yoga and business subjects. The quality of these workshops isn’t technically high, but it’s content rich.
  • Scholarships (20 scholarships were given out in 2016).
  • You get to add “RYT” after your name, which looks fancy.
  • You get listed on their site as a registered yoga teacher (in case anyone is looking).
  • If you have long terms goals of participating as faculty in registered teacher trainings or offering yoga continuing educational credits, you will have to become a registered teacher eventually.

Con’s of Joining

  • Cost: $115 to join up front, then $65/ year thereafter.
  • People who hire yoga teachers generally don’t care if you are a member (though they may care that your program was registered as a school, they won’t care if you are a current member. I’ve been hiring teachers for about ten years now and never asked if someone was registered).
  • If you want to be faculty or a CEC provider, you don’t have to join now. You can join later when you want to actually start offering course credits. (I didn’t join YA until after I’d been teaching for six years and was creating a teacher training program.)

Recommendations

  • Check out Yoga Alliance’s list of discounts and workshops. If you feel like you will get $115 of value from these offerings, then join now. If you think you can get the same information and value through other channels, then save your money.
  • Whether you join or not, keep an accurate and thorough log of the classes that you have been teaching. If you want to eventually register or upgrade to a 500 hour or E-RYT status, then you will have to provide an accounting for your teaching. Better to proactively track now than to try to backtrack later.
  • If you aren’t a teacher yet, but are looking at teacher trainings, do choose a training that is registered with Yoga Alliance (unless you plan on doing another 200 hour or unless you are focused exclusively on a niche style like Iyengar or Ashtanga). While hiring managers won’t necessarily care if you yourself are a member of YA, we often care that your School is registered.

Questions or comments?

Email me or join the conversation below!

 

How to Protect Your Yoga Business with Yoga Teacher Insurance

Hey new yogis, many of you have asked me about insurance and why you need it. Check out this guest article from Canopy. They cover some important points and – for my yogis in the States – I wanted to hook you up with this really great rate!

– Rachel 

Have you ever thought of what would happen if one of your students were to sue you? The average legal cost of a liability claim is $35,000 not including damages if you’re found liable. Insurance Canopy can help you find the yoga teacher insurance that is flexible enough to fit within your budget and still provide you with the protection you need.

What Is Yoga Teacher Insurance?

Yoga teacher insurance covers you in case you are sued for bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury.

You need this coverage for a variety of reasons. Let’s say, for example, you are a yoga teacher who routinely makes house visits. General liability coverage would cover damages to a client’s home if your yoga wheel indented their new hardwood floor.

Or, perhaps you are sued by a student because your instruction gave them an injury, such as a torn ligament or hurt back.

Do I Really Need Yoga Teacher Insurance?

Yes. It’s essential to carry yoga teacher insurance for the following important reasons:

  1. It protects your financial assets and can help you with legal expenses if you get sued, medical expenses if you were found liable for a client’s injury, or the cost to replace something if you damaged someone’s property.
  2. People won’t hire you without it. Many gyms and studios require yoga instructors to carry insurance. Some gyms or studios may require you to add them as an additional insured in order to conduct sessions at their gym.
  3. It keeps your career as a yoga teacher going strong, even if you are sued.

What Should I Look For in a Yoga Teacher Insurance Policy?

In addition to comprehensive coverage and low deductibles, you should look for the following features:

No Membership Required

If you have been shopping for yoga insurance, you know that the annual premium for yoga insurance policies can range from $150 to $350. In many cases, to access lower premium for yoga insurance, you must also purchase a membership in an organization or subscribe to a publication.

Insurance Canopy provides yoga insurance for a low annual premium of $129 with no membership required, making our policy one of the most cost-effective out there.

No Hourly Requirements

Whether you teach full time, part time, or as a hobby, our policy is available to you.

Insurance Canopy offers a single-cost policy that covers both part-time and full-time instructors.

Multiple Services Allowed

If you are a yoga instructor who provides multiple types of yoga instruction, you may have noticed that other insurance agencies require you to purchase a separate policy for each type of yoga that you teach.

With Insurance Canopy, you can provide multiple types of yoga instruction that will be covered under one policy.

Buy Online & Download Documents Immediately

Online access is important for yoga teachers on the go. With Insurance Canopy, you can purchase yoga insurance online within minutes, without needing to wait for a quote. You can also download your insurance documents 24/7.In addition, you can add additional insureds and have your proof of insurance within minutes at anytime during your policy period.

Insurance Canopy offers yoga insurance through a no-hassle, online process that is available at your convenience.

Additional Insureds

You may teach yoga at a single studio or travel to different locations. Gyms, studios, or other venues may require you to add them as an additional insured to protect them from your liability. To add a single additional insured to your policy, the cost is only $15.

With Insurance Canopy, you can also purchase unlimited additional insureds for just $30.

Have More Questions?

We hope this helps you understand what Insurance Canopy’s yoga insurance offers and what insurance coverages your yoga teaching practice may need. If you have additional questions, our representatives are available during business hours. Please contact us at 844-520-6993 or by emailing info@insurancecanopy.com.