Where do I begin to teach?

Yoga Teacher Training
#1

Hi there dear yogis,
I would like to ask for some advice.
I completed my 200 hr yoga teacher training about a year ago. Since then I haven’t had a regular teaching schedule. Managed to do a few covers and a few privates. I have moved three times last year, that explains my irregular teaching.
This year I decided to stay in one city and hopefully I can stretch it out to two years. All of this very much depends on earning potential.
I haven’t approached any yoga studios in my new place. I have checked online a few halls that can be rented for classes. Also building my yoga website (and preparing leaflets) to let people know about myself and my teaching. At this point I am a little bit unsure how to approach yoga studios (if they will agree to take me on as one of their teachers). Where do I start? How do I make a good impression? I know that I can come to them with my CV and a cover letter. But at the moment I don’t have much experience to boast about. Shall I do at least a year of independent classes (renting halls, etc) before approaching them? I need a confidence boost… In terms of independent teaching. I am thinking of preparing a few leaflets, spreading them around local shops and health centres to promote classes. Is there anything else I can do to start the classes going?
Looking forward to hearing your insights and suggestions.

Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Best wishes,
Victoria

#2

Congrats on your new yoga journey!

Several points I’d like to make. First, what kind of yoga class do you want to teach? I ask this because so many studios only offer yoga exercise classes. They are devoid of any spiritual practice. If this is your cup of tea, by all means go for it, but know the studio and what they want and know what you want. Second, why worry so much about making a good impression? Just be YOU. If you are a good teacher and someone who they desire to have teach in their studio, that will shine through. No need to worry. Third, if confidence is a problem, continuing with private lessons or going to a studio that will allow you to assist the teacher might help with the confidence issue. The more you teach, the more confident you become. Only teach what you know. Lack of confidence will show if you are teaching something you don’t understand, know or practice.

I’m not much for flyers to advertise. Word of mouth is the best, IMO. Most new teachers do not start with a room full of students. The class builds over time. You develop a reputation that will draw and keep new students with you. I travel a decent distance to teach (it is in a different state, although it is in the general metro area) so I started with just the owner of the studio and her mother! Imagine an 80 year old doing a rigorous flow class! But the owner, who is a rolfer, referred some of her clients to my classes and then they told their friends, who told friends, and well you get the point. Building a class takes time and should be done slowly. Keep reading, studying and practicing, building your confidence. Things will fall into place.

Best of luck!
Shanti

#3

Dear Lotus Girl,
Thank you very much for your reply. You say the things that I wanted and needed to hear. I will keep my belief in just being myself. It is so nice to be encouraged to go out there and do things. Thank you again and I will post something on the progress in the future.

Best wishes,
Viktoria

#4

Viktoria,

You will do well. Just know that.

#5

Aww! Thank you!
Very kind :slight_smile:

Namaste

#6

the best place would be someplace quit that can be used for a small fee only on days of the classes. then you can get donations have do it for the fun then with time your students will tell others and then go from there

#7

The best way to approach yoga studios is to…[B].Go to their classes[/B] …you need to find out about their teaching styles and methods…then if you think you teaching would fit in…get to know the teachers…make yourself available for cover when teachers are away.
( I do not give any teaching to cover teachers unless they have been to class and the volunteer to teach a community class…then if I like their technique…then they can do cover classes)

Find out if you can be an assistant in any classes so they can get to know you…

Speak to the owners/managers of the studios and give them your CV…let them know that you are attending the classes and which teachers you enjoy being taught by…could you assist one of them?..which teacher do you feel is most similar to your style…

Keep going to classes…be friendly with the teachers…

And remember unless you are amazing at marketing/very lucky/“in” with the “in crowd”/famous…then your are unlikely to make a great deal of money teaching yoga.
…do you have another job?..can you teach just part time?

Good luck.

#8

I agree with YogaCambodia, you need to take the time to build relationships and rapport with studios that you want to teach at. See how they do things and then figure out if and how you might fit in. Look at it from there perspective rather then just yours.

#9

I want to second the advice of attending classes. Show up at any event they offer and make your face a familiar one. You could even make friends with some of the long term regulars, then offer them a free private session in exchange for a (sincere) recommendation.

Also, don’t just limit yourself to studios. They can be very difficult to break in to depending on the market. Gyms, rec centers, community colleges, etc may be much less picky when selecting teachers. If the person hiring you doesn’t know yoga, they are going to just go on their gut as to whether or not they like you and if you will be reliable. So again, be friendly and persistent. Gyms etc are also more likely to pay you per class rather than per person. You will often make the same amount of money if not more when just starting out with less stress (about how many people are showing up) so you can focus more on becoming a better teacher.

I started out teaching at the YMCA. It was only $20/class - but I got 10-15 people per class and gained a lot of experience. When I finally did break into a studio, my class had an average of 2 people for a year. So I was making less and getting less experience. I did both for several years until my studio classes were making me more than my gym classes and slowly phased out the gym classes.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!