If you read my piece « 6 Reasons it’s Time for Teacher Training » and made the leap toward becoming a registered yoga teacher (RYT), perhaps you are now wondering what’s next? As a yoga teacher, there are many ways to make a living post graduation, and your skills will provide you the means to be both self-sufficient and entrepreneurial.
Out of my class of 20 yogis, I was inspired to see each embark on a very different journey. Some went back to normal day jobs, others began teaching private lessons, some organized retreats or launched wellness brands, and a few opened their own studios. I have learned lessons from each of them as I navigate my way through the business of yoga as a yogipreneur.
- Use available resources: Graduating from yoga teacher training equips you with the skills, knowledge and degree to start your career in yoga. You also have great resources in your fellow classmates and teachers. I was lucky to have classmates from every corner of the world with varying levels of experience and insight into the yoga landscape. Online resources such as Yoga Alliance provide great business tips, instructions for officially registering as a yoga teacher, and marketing tools to help students find you.
- Be realistic: Launching your yoga career can be time consuming and costly. Additional training hours, renting studio space, starting your own studio, and other endeavors are commitments that will force you to be realistic about starting your yoga profession. This is the step where you factor whether teaching at a gym makes more sense than opening your own studio. Set expectations for yourself and your students by taking a realistic look at your goals. If you like to travel, opening a studio will require you to stay put. Whereas working as a private instructor may not guarantee steady income. Weigh the pros and cons of your options and consider what will be feasible while still feeding your passion.
- Manage your energy: Most of us are used to doing a couple hours maximum of yoga a day. As a teacher, you can teach countless session per day, requiring a massive amount of energy to stay aware and present for the safety of your students and yourself. While attending to the needs of your students, it is important to build boundaries, implement a healthy lifestyle, and consciously check in with yourself to ensure you are simultaneously taking care of yourself. Implementing small rituals, regular meal times, and moments of stillness will allow you to manage your energy.
- Love what you do: As you embark on your new career as a yogiprenuer, it is important to remember your passion and intention. Many people quit corporate jobs to do what they love, and for yoga teachers that is living, breathing, dreaming, and teaching yoga. While we may rely on our skills as teachers to make a living, it is important to remember why we began this journey in the first place. Every day you are helping others be their best selves while remaining a student yourself. Focusing on your goals and intentions can bring you back to the true meaning of your work and help you refocus on your passion.
Making your way in the yoga industry is difficult. Whether you see a need for a new studio in your neighborhood, or hope to launch a weekly retreat abroad, these endeavors require not only an entrepreneurial spirit but a creative nature that is both authentic and passionate. There is no clear journey for the yogiprenuer, but the steps above will help you stay true to yourself and your students as you start your career.
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Cameron Cler is traveler at heart, obsessed with seeing the world and discovering ways to contribute to positive global change. As a registered yoga teacher, she balances her constant travel and work in the startup world by channeling her inner yogi and welcoming peace in chaotic moments. Her passion is cultivating creativity and inspiration while sharing travel stories, yoga classes, wellness tips, and smiles with her friends, family, and students.