How to Build a Business Mindset as a Yoga Teacher

Yogis all around the world are enrolling in teacher trainings and quitting their day jobs to pursue a new career as a yoga teacher. But becoming a yoga teacher and actually being able to make a living off your classes doesn’t just happen overnight. 

The reality is rather challenging, as this pathway can be full of ups and downs. But given your passion for yoga, it’s definitely worth it! You aneed to put your time and effort into working on the business side of yoga. 

This requires building a business mindset and learning how to market yourself. Thinking as an entrepreneur. And first of all, it means getting xcomfortable with the idea that no matter how much you love yoga, making money as a yoga teacher is not a bad thing.  

Read on as we outline the steps you need to take to grow this business mindset and watch your yoga career flourish!

Find a Yoga Teacher Training

You might be practicing yoga for several years. And you might have noticed lots of changes for the better in different aspects of your life and felt that you’d like to share your experience. But having an advanced practice and a passion for yoga doesn’t qualify you as a yoga teacher. 

In order to start building your yoga business and really get into the business mindset, you need to actually get qualified as a yoga teacher. Do your research and pick the best 200hr yoga teacher training; a training with experienced educators that will offer you the necessary basic knowledge and help you find your voice as a yoga teacher and stand out.

You might have to spend some time at first, trying all kinds of different things, before you find what suits you best

Depending on the training you choose, this can take anywhere between a month and a year. And it will most likely be just the beginning.

Apart from the useful insights a yoga teaching training will offer you, there is one more important thing; once you have done a YTT, you’ll feel like you have the tools you need to teach great classes.

Leave the Guilt Behind

This is probably the most important step of all. You are now officially a yoga teacher. You have worked hard to become one. And when the time comes for you to actually start teaching, you need to remember this.

At first, you will most likely start teaching friends and family. And it’s ok to do it for free in the beginning – you need to gradually work on building your confidence as a teacher after all. But this doesn’t mean that the classes you teach should remain free of charge forever. 

Regardless of how much you enjoy sharing your beloved practice, making money out of it isn’t wrong. You need to let go of that attitude. You have invested lots of time and effort in this. And you are offering a valuable service your students will benefit from on so many levels. So, when the time comes for you to decide on your prices, make sure you remember that they need to be representative.

Find your Niche

Before starting your yoga business, it is probably a good idea to think about what your niche will be. Why should someone choose you as a yoga teacher? What makes you stand out from the crowd? What is your target audience?

You might need to consider having a certain specialty. But make sure you choose something you are really passionate about, and not just kind of interested. It might also be a good idea to do a little research on your competition. Too many competitors could be a problem. But some could actually be a sign that the niche you have chosen is profitable.

Have a Business Plan

When you have a business, you need to have a plan as well. Starting out without really knowing what you’re trying to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it can turn out tricky. So, take some time to ask yourself a few questions. What kind of business do you want? Will you partner with a studio or do this on your own? Will you teach on-site or online? What is your vision? Where do you see yourself in the nearby future? What about the long-run? 

All this might seem a little overwhelming when starting out. You might have to spend some time at first, trying all kinds of different things, before you find what suits you best. And once you know what you want to do, you need to figure out how you’re going to do it. 

Market Yourself

Marketing is one of the most important aspects of any business – yoga businesses too. Without it, it will be hard for people to know what you’re offering and reach out to you. Therefore, you need a good marketing strategy that will help you build your brand and promote your classes or events – a strategy that will help you stand out and grow. 

Once you have decided on your niche, you will be able to plan your exact marketing moves. There are however two things that are probably universal; 1) grow your presence in the social media and 2) network, network, network! So interact with people as much as you can. Let them know who you are and what you are doing. The wider your network, the more chances you have to reach potential clients or future partners. After all, isolation and success don't go together.

Remember Why You’re in this Path and Commit

When running a yoga business, there will be both ups and downs. And it’s when the downs come that you need to remember why you have decided to walk this path and become a yoga teacher in the first place. It’s then, more than ever, that you need to fully commit to your goals and efforts.

After all, entrepreneurship is no joke. It requires hard work and serious dedication. You need to be all in. But this shouldn’t scare you. Because there is great power and lots of inspiration in having a clear intention that resonated with every cell of your body.