Becoming a Yoga Teacher: The Business Side
Becoming a yoga teacher takes thought, planning, and knowledge about how to make wise choices. If you want to be a yoga instructor, you need to understand the basics regarding how to achieve your goal. Whether you just finished our Vancouver Yoga Teacher Training course or you are a seasoned Yoga Instructor we are sure you will find these tips useful:
First steps
Gain certification from an institution that’s affiliated with Yoga Alliance in order to adhere to industry standards. You are not required to do so by law, but obtaining a respected qualification will automatically help you be seen as a professional.
Once you are qualified, you can make a business plan. Creating a plan will help you manage issues such as whether to be a sole proprietor or join an institution. If you want to go it alone, you will need a financial forecast. The cost of renting or buying a studio, and potentially hiring other yoga teachers, could be considerable depending on the size of your business.
You may choose to rent your local village hall several evenings a week or purchase a studio outright. The former will ease your financial burden and risk, but will not allow for the freedom that comes from owning your own space.
On the other hand, being part of an established practice may be beneficial. If you decide to provide classes from a venue that’s already popular, you might easily acquire students and support from experienced teachers.
Groundwork
You will benefit from obtaining first aid training. Not only will being a first aider be useful, but also some establishments require instructors to be trained in CPR and know how to deal with minor medical emergencies. Additionally, you will require business insurance. Research costs as some associations and programs offer superior value than others do.
Showcase your talent
Marketing can make or break your business. Prospective students will be attracted to joining your classes if you provide them with excellent reasons to choose you over other instructors. Design a booklet that displays your qualifications, experience, style and attitude. Think about offering your service in a way that sets you apart from other yoga teachers.
For example, you may want to specialize in teaching a targeted customer base following a certain discipline. Additionally, you could offer yoga retreats and lectures from experts in related fields of work such as massage or chakra cleansing.
Many would-be yoga pupils are likely to browse the Internet when selecting yoga classes. Thus, creating a great website that engages your targeted audience will be constructive.
Other methods of obtaining students include posting flyers to doctor’s surgeries and therapeutic practitioners such as chiropractors and institutions like spas. Additionally, you could hold yoga parties, provide special offers, reductions for students who refer others, and get in touch with local media representatives who might interview you about your course on the radio or TV.
Preparing to become a yoga teacher and setting up business might seem difficult, but the planning and thinking involved will stand you in good stead to relax, safe in the knowledge that you’ve covered relevant issues thoroughly.
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