Completing a yoga teacher training is one part of your yoga journey, while learning how to begin teaching is another.
Every student thinks, how to start teaching yoga after the training is completed and sometimes even before enrolling in the yoga program.
How to Start Teaching Yoga After Training?
Post-training usually brings a mix of emotions like excitement and nervousness. Most certified yoga trainers are scared to begin, or many a time, feel “not-so-ready”. The truth is, it is just a phase before you start. Beginning to teach will automatically bring you out of this.
Check out how to start teaching yoga after training –
1. Ways to Start Teaching Yoga
There’s no perfect time to start. Waiting often leads to overthinking, and the longer you stay in your head, the harder it feels to take that first step. Here are a few ways to begin teaching –
- Teach Friends & Family – You can start teaching your friends and family with particular health concerns, like stress or back pain. Make it a point to teach them committedly, this will grow your confidence.
- Take Free Classes – Begin taking free yoga classes in your community, online, or for your colleagues. You will know your teaching style, and people will experience your classes and yoga.
- Teach in Yoga School & Gyms – Many studios need yoga instructors. You can begin by creating a resume and start working as a yoga trainer at yoga studios and gyms.
- Teach Independently – Don’t wait for opportunities to visit you, rather, start creating one for yourself. You can rent a space or a park to offer independent classes. This will help build your own following and gain teaching experience.
- Teach Online – You can start teaching online to reach more students limitlessly. Online teaching allows us to reach any geographical limit. It can be by taking live Zoom classes, Instagram lives, or pre-recorded sessions. You can even take private classes.
2. Teaching Community & Opportunities
It is less possible to get a job in the studio every time and this is not the only way. There are different ways like –
- Create your yoga resume, add all your qualifications, and substitute for other experienced teachers. You can cover their classes which will create your value in the yoga studio.
- Partnering with businesses for workplace yoga is a great way. It can be at co-working spaces, cafes, or even corporate offices.
- You can also start your own community of teachers where you can help each other get leads, offer support, and find opportunities. This will help you navigate challenges together.
3. Market Yourself
A lot of people feel uncomfortable in promoting themselves or telling about what they do. The reality is when you don’t tell, no one knows what you do. When no one knows, you will not be able to share yoga with anyone. You can begin by –
- Creating your Instagram or YouTube account to share your journey about what you do and update about your latest classes.
- Whenever you meet someone, openly tell people about what you do. Word of mouth is a game-changer!
- Create a mailing list – Being in touch with your students is essential. After offering classes, you can collect emails from students. It can be used for sharing about new classes, workshops, and your other yoga offerings.
4. Understand your Teaching Style & Niche
Every teacher has their own unique identity. You can choose a specific yoga niche that you want to teach, that suits you, or resonates with you. If you love the energy of power yoga, soothing vibes of yin yoga, or meditative flowing Vinyasa yoga, go for the one that suits you. Finding your niche will help in –
- Attracting specific students like beginners, pregnant women, athletes, seniors, or people with injury recovery. A lot of people choose a specialized teacher.
- It helps to stand out as a yoga teacher where you cater to people’s specific needs. This also creates a loyal student base and helps you figure out your own teaching voice.
5. Build a Pricing Structure
Having a basic pricing structure helps you commit to your classes. Students can understand what to expect before signing up. This is how you can structure your pricing –
- Drop-in Prices – You can create a simple pay-per-class option, such as $20 per class. It is great for students who like to attend flexible classes.
- Class Packages – A set of class packages can be created, like 10 or 20 class packs. You can also give a discount on bulk purchases, as this encourages commitment.
- Monthly Membership – You can create a monthly membership system for regular students, which is beneficial as a steady income.
6. Network with Fellow Yoga Teachers
You can start connecting with other yoga teachers and studio owners for teaching gigs, collaborations, and mentorship. You can network better by –
- Attending yoga meetups and yoga workshops. You can introduce yourself, learn about new yoga teachers’ experiences, share your journey with them, and lend an ear to other people’s journeys.
- Social media engagement helps in following other teachers, understanding the market, commenting on their posts, and building good relationships online.
- Collaboration is a remarkable recipe. You can partner with health & wellness coaches, meditation teachers, and fitness trainers to build diverse yoga offerings.
7. Think Creative
There are many ways to share your knowledge, spread, and teach yoga. You can think out of the box and find unique ways to implement. Creative offerings are different and attractive, like –
- Host pop-up yoga events at parks or terraces.
- Create themed classes like “desk yoga”, “yoga with poetry”.
- Make bite-sized yoga classes for Instagram like “morning flows”, “breathwork sessions”.
- Build travel-friendly yoga sessions for people like “airport yoga”, “hotel room stretches”, or “backpack flows”.
8. Expand your Knowledge
Yes, you’ll need a yoga teaching certification to start—but that doesn’t mean you need a bunch of Yoga Alliance certifications to begin teaching. Continuing education is a great way; however, do not let it be a hurdle, but a stepping stone to move ahead in your own practice.
Your knowledge is enough. Keep learning while teaching, as experience is the biggest teacher. It comes with regular teaching, observing, adjusting, listening, and receiving feedback.
9. Before Class Preparation
It is natural to feel nervous and overwhelmed. You can deal better by preparing beforehand, like –
- Create a good foundational teaching script and also keep space for flexibility.
- Practice yoga and take deep breaths yourself, first. Then, move on to your class.
- Always remember it is not about you. Students come in for their own yoga practice and not to judge you.
With time, teaching a class will feel easy and natural!
10. Begin Small, Stay Consistent
No one starts big. Starting small is powerful as it brings a lot of different learnings and experiences. You do not need a class of 20 people from day 1. Having 2-3 students is also enough. With time, your student base will grow with consistency and trust.
11. Stay True to Yourself
Never try to be someone you are not. Do not take the unnecessary pressure of becoming like another yoga teacher or creating a specific vibe. Let yourself flow, and you will eventually recognize your authentic style.
Conclusion
As said, the best way to start teaching is to – START! Even if you are beginning with one person, it is still a great class. You can step into your role, take on opportunities, be who you are and begin.
Every class will teach you something, every student will empower you in some way. Be open to starting, teaching, learning, and trusting your yoga teaching journey.
The more you teach, the more natural it will feel. Take the first step now as a registered yoga teacher because your future students are waiting!
