Running a yoga business isn’t just about teaching poses and breathing techniques. It's about creating a sustainable practice that balances passion with practicality.
Yoga Business Tips
Here’s a guide to help you navigate the business side of yoga, with tips on pricing, marketing, financial management, and self-care.
Pricing Your Classes: Strategies for Setting Fair and Competitive Rates
Setting the right price for your yoga classes can feel like a balancing act. You want to be fair to your students while ensuring your own sustainability. Here are some strategies to help you:
Research and Compare
Market Rates: Check out what other yoga teachers in your area are charging. You can look at local studios, community centers, and even online platforms.
Value-Based Pricing: Consider the value you bring. Are you offering specialized classes like prenatal yoga, or do you have additional certifications that set you apart?
Tiered Pricing
Drop-In Rates: Offer a standard rate for single classes.
Class Packages: Offer discounts for purchasing multiple classes upfront. This encourages commitment and provides a more steady income.
Memberships: Monthly or yearly memberships can offer the best value and consistent cash flow.
Websites for Payments
Square: Perfect for both in-person and online payments.
Stripe: Great for online transactions with easy integration for websites.
PayPal: Widely recognized and trusted, suitable for online payments.
Mindbody: Specifically designed for fitness and wellness businesses, integrating scheduling and payments.
Marketing Your Classes: Effective Ways to Promote Your Classes and Workshops
Social Media
You know how much I dislike being on social media, if you were here in the training. We are also a bit lazy and reluctant to use social media. However, it is social media that shows you exist in real :)
Instagram: Share photos and videos of your classes, pose tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content. Use hashtags relevant to your niche.
Facebook: Create a business page, engage with local groups, and promote events. I know you would say who's on Facebook now. But trust me, even I was just like that. There are still a lot of people on Facebook.
YouTube: Start a channel for yoga tutorials, meditation sessions, and wellness tips.
Short Content
I would not say social media will bring your students. It is mostly not true. However, it is always. re-confirmation for your students that you actually exist, and they kind of get the first impression about you to come to your class.
Local Partnerships
Collaboration: Partner with local businesses like cafes, bookstores, and wellness centers to host classes or workshops.
Community Events: Participate in local fairs, markets, and health expos to increase visibility. I have been thinking about attending these events, like Yoga festivals. But sometimes, you don't have the chance if you are doing training courses every month.
Email Marketing
Newsletters: Regularly send out newsletters with updates, class schedules, and wellness tips. Tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact can help you manage your lists and campaigns.
My humble suggestion here is 'not to overdo it.' Do not send newsletters every day, and do not keep selling in every newsletter.
Yoga teachers and schools often send you so frequently that you don't even want to open them newsletters.
Exclusive Offers: Provide your subscribers with special deals and early access to new classes or workshops.
Practical Tips
Consistency: Post regularly and engage with your audience. Consistency builds trust and keeps your brand top-of-mind.
Authenticity: Share your personal journey and insights. Authenticity resonates more than a polished image.
Content Planning: Use a content calendar to plan your posts and promotions in advance. Use some of these websites for content planning: a. Canva b. Hootsuite c. Meta Business Suite from Facebook
Financial Management: Basic Bookkeeping Tips and Tools for Yoga Teachers
Practical Methods
Track Income and Expenses: Keep detailed records of all your earnings and expenditures. This helps you understand your cash flow and prepare for taxes.
Separate Accounts: Use a separate bank account for your business to simplify tracking and bookkeeping.
Invoicing: Use professional invoicing tools to manage payments and keep records.
Tools
QuickBooks: A comprehensive accounting software that helps with tracking income, expenses, and tax preparation.
Wave: Free accounting software that includes invoicing, payment tracking, and expense management.
Zoho: Useful if you are an Indian Yoga Teacher specifically, in terms of pricing.
Expensify: An app to easily track and categorize expenses.
Avoiding Burnout: Self-Care Strategies to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Practising what you preach and maintaining a healthy balance is essential as a yoga teacher.
Here are some self-care strategies:
Regular Personal Practice
Set Aside Time: Dedicate time for your personal yoga practice and meditation. This keeps you grounded and connected to your passion.
Mindful Breaks: Take short breaks throughout the day to stretch, breathe, and reset.
Schedule Management
Boundaries: Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Don’t overcommit yourself.
Day Off: Ensure you have at least one day-off a week to recharge.
Support Network
Community: Surround yourself with a supportive community of fellow yoga teachers and practitioners.
Mentorship: Seek a mentor or coach who can guide and support you.
Practical Ideas
Digital Detox: Limit your screen time, especially on social media, to prevent burnout and information overload.
Hobbies: Engage in activities outside of yoga that bring you joy and relaxation.
Running a yoga business can be incredibly rewarding when done mindfully.
Setting fair prices, effectively marketing your services, managing your finances, and prioritizing self-care can help you create a sustainable and fulfilling practice.
Namaste!
