Making a living as a yoga teacher post pandemic: Recent Episodes
Shona Garner
Fill your classes, workshops and online offerings and make a sustainable income from teaching yoga.A new series of podcasts to help you get your yoga teaching off the ground.Bite size, 10-20 minute tips, support, stories and (hopefully) inspiration for any yoga teacher who is struggling financially, perhaps finding their confidence being sapped and feeing overwhelmed and unsure about how to make their dream of making a living as a yoga teacher actually work.All from a 69 year old teacher who has built (and still runs!) a thriving business, (now on as well as offline thanks to Covid!) generating a steady income stream which allowed me to quit my corporate training job......If I can do it at 69 - if I can pivot from off line to online - and then back again - you can too!Like to learn more and get some free guides and help?Start by visiting: https://yoginiors.co.uk/freebies/ Or reading my blog: https://yoginiors.co.uk/blog/LIKE TO BE PART OF A NEW SERIES OF TRAINING I'M DEVELOPING TO HELP YOGA TEACHERS START TO EARN A LIVING IN THE QUICKEST WAY POSSIBLE?You could be part of a beta test and receive structured, practical guidance, training and weekly coaching and Q&A calls helping you learn how to build your yoga business as quickly and effectively as possible, so you can relax knowing the bills are paid and focus more on your teaching and growing your business even further. You'd be helping me build training which REALLY helps answer the key questions yoga teachers have and you'd receive a 50% discount from the full cost of the course once the beta test is over. INTERESTED? E-mail me at shona@yoginiors.co.uk using the header: The business of Yoga podcast - training and you'll be given priority for a chat to see if it might help you get YOUR business off the ground.Shona.
In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, I speak with experienced yoga teacher Dina Cohen about her 25-year journey from the early rave scene and hedonistic living… to a deeply rooted, sustainable yoga business that truly fits her life.
Together, we explore:
✅ How to let your business evolve without drifting
✅ Why clarity and vision are essential — even if they shift
✅ The trap of the “wrong ladder” (and how to avoid it)
✅ What yoga really looks like in a messy, real-world life
✅ Why strength, rest, and community matter more than ever
✅ How to teach authentically — without trying to be someone else
✅ The business side of retreats, private clients, and chair yoga
If you're a yoga teacher trying to balance your passion with your energy, income, and long-term goals… this one’s for you.
**Hope this interview with Dina inspires you to think a little more strategically about YOUR journey.
And subscribe to the channel if you’re finding this interesting and would like to hear more business tips to hep you grow a sustainable and deeply rewarding part-time yoga business….!**
My mission? To help yoga teachers build a sustainable £2k to £4 a month business, teaching 6 to 10 classes a week while improving the health and vitality of more students as they age through yoga practices.
Looking for more support? Want to build a steady income from your teaching?
Email:shona@yoginiors.co.uk with the header “STEADY” for details for the next LIVE support week designed to get you focused on building the right yoga business for YOU.
Namaste,
Shona
For any yoga teacher doubting themselves!!!
Here’s an interesting quote I found one day that REALLY resonated for me….
“The thing about making it big and doing it fast in business is that invariably the first steps will be small and slow.
Which oddly, for too many, is reason not to take them.”
Ever felt like you’re stalling in your business?
Ever invested in a course you haven’t finished then started questioning yourself?
- Phrases such as "I'm not sure I'm ready yet" or "it feels a bit scary putting myself out there" come up a lot.
- We compare ourselves to others - and we feel everyone is "further down the path" than we are.
- We over-think things and don't ask for help.
If you’re in that place right now, wondering if you’ve missed the moment, doubting whether it’s working, or just tired of taking steps without seeing the leap — I want you to know: you’re not behind: you’re becoming….
Hope this 15 minute podcast inspires you to keep going…
And subscribe to the channel if you’re finding this interesting and would like to hear more business tips to hep you grow a sustainable and deeply rewarding part-time yoga business….!
My mission? To help yoga teachers build a sustainable £2k to £4 a month business, teaching 6 to 10 classes a week while improving the health and vitality of more students as they age through yoga practices.
Enjoy!
Willing to invest in yourself with a 5 day free kick start to growth?
if you're interested in considering how to work with this niche, and build a £30k a year or more part-time yoga business teaching no more than 6 to 10 classes a week you CAN kick start your journey with my FREE Pathway to Profit as a Part-Time Yoga Teacher Kickstart programme (AND access a coach call to help you consider if this might be a good niche for you)
It's available instantly - none of this waiting to start nonsense - I'm a big believer if you're ready and keen - let's capitalise on that motivation!
Namaste,
Shona
How Yoga, Pilates, and a fusion of the 2 might support strength and stability for our students in midlife and beyond.
Join me for an enlightening conversation with Beth Morgan, London’s leading specialist in Solomon Yogalates, where we delve into practical strategies and insights to enhance physical resilience for our students in midlife and beyond.
And subscribe to the channel if you’re finding this interesting! As there will be more on the whole topic of building a SUSTAINABLE part-time yoga business teaching a niche I am absolutely passionate about helping!
My mission? To help yoga teachers build a sustainable £2k to £4 a month business, teaching 6 to 10 classes a week while improving the health and vitality of more students as they age through yoga practices.
Enjoy!
And if you're interested in considering how to work with this niche, and build a £30k a year or more part-time yoga business teaching no more than 6 to 10 classes a week you CAN kick start your journey with my FREE Pathway to Profit as a Part-Time Yoga Teacher Kickstart programme (AND access a coach call to help you consider if this might be a good niche for you)
It's available instantly - none of this waiting to start nonsense - I'm a big believer if you're ready and keen - let's capitalise on that motivation!
Namaste,
Shona
If you’ve ever hesitated to invest in your business (or yourself) this one’s for you.
Let’s talk about something SO many yoga teachers shy away from: investment.
Not just money—but energy, time and courage..
In this week’s 12 minute podcast, I’m diving into what it really means to have skin in the game— how to tell the difference between a careful “yes” and a fear-based “no” and why the future of your having a sustainable business depends on your being willing to face that fear…….
And subscribe to the channel if you’re finding this interesting and would like to hear more business tips to hep you grow a sustainable and deeply rewarding part-time yoga business….!
There will be more on the whole topic of building a SUSTAINABLE part-time yoga business teaching a niche I am absolutely passionate about helping!
My mission? To help yoga teachers build a sustainable £2k to £4 a month business, teaching 6 to 10 classes a week while improving the health and vitality of more students as they age through yoga practices.
Enjoy!
Willing to invest in yourself with a 5 day free kick start to growth?
if you're interested in considering how to work with this niche, and build a £30k a year or more part-time yoga business teaching no more than 6 to 10 classes a week you CAN kick start your journey with my FREE Pathway to Profit as a Part-Time Yoga Teacher Kickstart programme (AND access a coach call to help you consider if this might be a good niche for you)
It's available instantly - none of this waiting to start nonsense - I'm a big believer if you're ready and keen - let's capitalise on that motivation!
Namaste,
Shona
Let me ask you - How many new enquiries or trial sessions did you bring for YOUR classes last week? or last month?
Do you get regular enquiries and new students coming in to your world or do you feel it’s more “up and down” than you’d like?
The most successful yoga teachers have a focus and a system which - with not a great deal of effort, will bring them in a constant flow of new enquiries and leads, so they’re not left suddenly with dropping numbers and panicking to try to fill those empty spaces.
Find out what they do in this podcast….
Hope you find this illuminating….
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like some FREE support to help you bring in a consistent stream of enquiries and new paying students to YOUR classes, creating a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time - take this 5 day challenge NOW :
https://yoginiors.co.uk/pathway-to-profit-5-day-challenge_evergreen/
Namaste,
Shona
When you think about how you currently run your yoga business do you ever find yourself struggling to make a decision?
Let's face it, in business the need for decisions comes thick and fast. Everything from...
Should I drop leaflets or not?
Should I get my website up first before I do anything else?
What should I charge for this class?
Should I go work for this gym/studio?
Should I boost a post in Facebook?
What booking software is best? Do I even need to pay for one?
If I send out another email to my list will they think I'm being too spammy?
And that's just a TINY fraction of the decisions you'll have to make each and every day.
So - you sit on the fence!
You tell yourself you need time to think about it;
You post in one of the yoga teacher groups and ask for advice. (Trouble is, there's a range of perceptions - and you end up with a whole load more ideas/stuff to consider which slows you down even more!
Did you know there's a saying in sales: "a confused mind never buys!" Well a confused mind never makes a decision either!)
The problem is, the longer you take trying to make those decisions, the longer you stay stuck on that fence.
And the longer you stay on that fence the less chance there is of you growing your classes.
In this episode I’d like to share 4 KEY TACTICS SUCCESSFUL YOGA TEACHERS IMPLEMENT which make them more successful:
Find out what they are in this episode.
Hope you find this illuminating….
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like some FREE support to help you make better, and faster decisions to create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time - take this 5 day challenge NOW :
https://yoginiors.co.uk/pathway-to-profit-5-day-challenge_evergreen/
Namaste,
Shona
Did you know over 98% of entrants for the London Marathon cross the finish line?
That’s remarkable - given the challenge the marathon represents.
But did you know that 94% of yoga teachers don’t cross that metaphorical line of creating a yoga business that actually sustains them?
So why do most yoga teachers end up in the 80% who are "getting by" or "broke"
In this podcast, I’ll share what I learned from one of my mentors about why there are parallels between the challenge of running a marathon and building a business of any kind…
It’s NOT that we don’t have the capacity….
The inspirational stories of individuals who have beaten what we’d see as enormous odds to cross that marathon finish line blows that theory out of the water!
They won’t make the under 2 hours time - but THEY FINISH! Anyone who has followed me for a while will know I am an absolute believer that the mindset required to run a marathon and the mindset required to build a SUSTAINABLE AND REWARDING YOGA BUSINESS ARE SIMILAR.
And the reason so many succeed is down to 3 key things…..
Find out what they are in this episode.
Hope you find this illuminating….
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you achieve mastery and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time - you can learn more at this link:
Part-Time Profitable Yoga Teacher.mp4
Namaste,
Shona
The first steps for any yoga teacher as they embark on a teaching career often involve one of two models:
You try to build your own classes; looking for halls and doing all your own promotion.
Or maybe you opt for working for gyms and yoga studios thinking that will mean you don’t have to do any of that dreaded marketing, and there’s minimal admin!
But many teachers hit BIG problems with these models almost from the get go.
The reality is that, the gym and yoga studio model often means you end up running round like a headless chicken, teaching loads of classes back to back or unsociable hours - or both – for what might seem like very poor remuneration.
And generating reliable income from running your own classes can prove to be a dispiriting experience – facing the roller coaster of feast and famine, and in some cases, not even being able to cover your costs, never mind make a profit.
Neither is sustainable, long term....and if there’s one thing I know for sure..burnt out, frustrated or resentful yoga teachers are unlikely to be able to give their best to their students.
My bet is, when you first embarked on this journey into becoming a yoga teacher, neither of those two scenarios was what you had in mind as any kind of long term plan?
You did not set out to feel frustrated, burnt out and disheartened….
In this podcast, I’ll share what I learned about building a business on my terms - what the acronym means and how it can help you build something more sustainable, fun and rewarding.
Hope you find this illuminating….
If any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you achieve mastery and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time - you can learn more at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Btnw-LC0nKJYP92HhVazSRx2l7P-JudE/view?usp=sharing
Namaste,
Shona
How would you describe your approach to growing your yoga business?
If you've been following me for a while, you'll know my interest and fascination with psychology and mindset goes back a LONG way!
And if there is one thing GUARANTEED to test our mindsets...it's growing a business!
Especially if this is a whole brave new world for you; you've never really learned about marketing or building a business before and you're starting from scratch.
So what's the difference between the yoga teachers who make it and those who continue to struggle or even give up?
Tony Robbins taught me many many moons ago now, that the difference that makes the difference is our attitude to MASTERY.
He taught me this: there are 3 types of approach to growing a business: you are either:
1) A dabbler
2) A stressor/achiever or
3) A master
Which are YOU? And does it matter?
In this podcast, I’ll share what I learned - and you’ll have the opportunity to consider whether you are a dabbler or a stressor/achiever…. And I have to tell you - if you are either of those KNOW that it’s hurting your progress to making a successful living from teaching yoga.
Hope you find this illuminating….
If any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you achieve mastery and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
I know this might seem a crazy question! Why on earth would you do anything to put people off coming to work with you?
But the truth is, as I mentor yoga teachers keen to grow their businesses, I can see they are quite clearly, unwittingly doing just that!
I call it creating “friction” in your business - and if you’re not making the income you hoped from your teaching this might be a really useful episode to listen to, as I can almost guarantee there will be friction in YOUR business you didn’t even realise!
In this episode I’ll share 5 things you might be doing which are actually hurting your business growth and leaving you feeling frustrated and stuck.
And if you’d like truly practical support and guidance, not only to help identify friction in your business but with building the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish. All without burning out and losing their love of yoga.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
Over the last 3 episodes of this podcast I’ve been diving a little deeper into the whole topic of investing in support for your business so that you can focus on what you do best: teach.
In this, the fourth episode looking at the whole concept of delegating in your yoga business, I’ll share some tips and suggestions for outsourcing work to other people effectively. Because, the truth is, done effectively, hiring others should also be an investment - not a cost. The whole idea is, by hiring others to support you, you grow the business by more than you pay them.as well as freeing YOU up to do what you do best; teach.
Learn where to look for good people, and some tips I’ve learned along the way about how to delegate tasks in a way which will indeed help to make you more profitable, as well as freeing you fro the chains of trying to be chief cook and bottle washer!
And if you’d like truly practical support and guidance to help YOU delegate more effectively and build the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish. All without burning out and losing their love of yoga.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
In the previous two podcasts I’ve shared why it’s a REALLY good idea to invest in support in your business from a very early stage and explained why it really is a false economy to think you can do it all on your own.
In this episode I share the 3 ways you CAN invest in support for your business growth: in tech tools to make admin easier; in people and in yourself, and in this episode I’d like to focus on the second of these; investing in people to support your business growth.
Now this can be a costly and sometimes challenging process - so it’s worth understanding how some simple principles can ensure you handle this right from the start. I share some of the mistakes I made - in the hope you don’t make the same!
Learn why you need to delegate - not abdicate - and the kind of tasks I’d encourage you to consider delegating as you move forward with your plans for growth.
And if you’d like truly practical support and guidance to help YOU delegate more effectively and build the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
The second in this series on why delegating and investing in support in your business - IF done wisely, is important if you seriously want to earn a sustainable income from your teaching.
Wondering if you need a website and considering doing it on your own even though it’s not your forte?
Considering just using your own email system to write to potential students, or just take cash rather than invest in a booking and payment system?
In this podcast I’d like to share why I believe skimping on setting up some basic tech and people support in your business early on actually means it is likely to cost you more than you realise as well as slow down your chances of growth.
I’d also like to share 4 key areas I’d like you to seriously consider delegating some work to either tech or people.
Which of these are you utilizing - and which could you perhaps benefit from implementing?
And if you’d like truly practical support and guidance to help YOU delegate more effectively and build the foundations for a sustainableyoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
In this, the final podcast in this series looking at how to revitalise your yoga business, I’d like to talk about something which might sound a little boring - but which is crucial on two counts: your profitability and your happiness and satisfaction with the business you end up with.
Are you CLEAR what your business model is and is it right for you?
Are you clear how it will generate the revenue you hope to achieve?
And are you in danger of trying to achieve a model you’re not actually ready for yet? (Which will only frustrate or overwhelm you?)
I explain why I see too many yoga teachers trying to run before they can walk - why going online, or running workshops or retreats may NOT be right for you just yet in your journey, and share 3 tips on how to avoid the trap of choosing the wrong business model for the stage of business you’re at…. And instead build a model which works for you, which fires you up AND is rewarding, both emotionally and financially….
Want to understand how to lay the foundations for a sustainable yoga business?
Perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
“I feel like chief cook and AND bottle washer!”
That’s a phrase I heard quite a bit from my Mum in our household when I was young….
It always came up when she was overworked, tired and struggling to juggle all the jobs, and Dad and I knew that meant we needed to chip in and help out!
It’s a phrase I’ve used a lot myself over the years, and never more so than when I decided to quit paid employment and set up a business of my own.
Because, if there’s one thing so many start up businesses find themselves doing – it’s trying to do it all themselves to keep costs down.
Maybe you’re still holding down another job that pays the bills? Maybe you have a family/children other “must do” tasks?
And when money is tight, it can feel like a hell of a risk investing hard-earned money into something you’re not sure will work….
Now I’m actually ALL in favour of setting up on a shoestring…..
I’m MASSIVELY in favour of testing your concept/offers on as low a budget as you can to begin with, then when you find what helps/works, scaling up from there
But what I am NOT in favour of is driving ourselves into the ground, OR giving off the appearance of a hap-hazard business to our potential students.
In this podcast I’d like to share 4 reasons why you should consider delegation in your yoga business right from the start EVEN if you don’t do much straight away.
And if you’d like truly practical support and guidance to help YOU delegate more effectively and build the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
In a previous podcast looking at what holds us back from thriving as yoga teachers I explained I see 3 key things which hold us back:
- First – your INTERNAL belief patterns.
Beliefs such as - I’m not good enough/don’t know enough yet
- It’s impossible to make a real living teaching yoga
- I’m not good with tech
I looked at 7 key beliefs I’ve held, and I constantly see the teachers I work with hold, which I KNOW stop us from being successful, but over which we DO have control to change for the better….
2. The second beliefs that can hold us back are our EXTERNAL belief patterns
And I’d like to delve a little deeper into these on this session.
3. And the third and final thing holding so many teachers back is their business model which I’ll talk about in the next podcast in this 3 part series.
In this episode I share 4 external limiting beliefs YOU may be holding which prevent you from becoming the thriving yoga teacher you aspire to be. Whether it’s believing the yoga market in your area is saturated and you’ve no chance of getting a foothold, to the fact you work full time being a barrier to building a yoga business - how on earth can you transition when you have bills to pay - I cover this and more in this episode.
And If you’d like support to help you overcome YOUR limiting beliefs and lay the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
As I record this podcast we're almost at the end of February - the first two months of the year are almost always one of THE best times of the year for anyone working in the fitness/wellness space, so hopefully you've begun the year with a good injection of cash into your business and full classes.
The hope, for all of us as yoga teachers, is that interest and motivation continues otherwise we face that sometimes demoralising roller coaster of "feast and famine"
So, as you look forward, to spring and beyond, how confident are you of generating consistent income into your business?
Are you generating a reliable and steady income from your yoga teaching?
The words “steady” and “reliable” here are crucial really aren’t they?
What if I told you there may be 3 things going on for you which are almost subconsciously holding you back from achieving that steady income and prospect for growth?
What are those 3 things? Over the next 3 episodes I’ll deal with each in turn.
In this episode learn why what you believe is possible for you as a yoga teacher is going to have a significant impact on your results…..
And If you’d like support to help you overcome YOUR limiting beliefs and lay the foundations for a sustainable yoga business then perhaps I can help?
Over 12 weeks I help aspiring yoga teachers understand how to build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month.
They learn how to create a business model and a marketing strategy that means they can transition from other employment to a part-time business which they can then choose to scale if they wish.
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct at shona@yoginiors.co.uk
Namaste,
Shona
How do you advertise your yoga business?
For many, on a shoestring budget, it's posting on Instagram or Facebook for free, and the mindset is one of spending as little as possible because money is so tight.
And I'm all for getting as wise as possible about your advertising strategy and ensuring that whether the advertising you do costs you time, energy and money or all 3, you see a return on that investment.
But one thing I also see is a reluctance to spend anything on paid advertising - and I'd like to suggest that this is not necessarily a good strategy nor is it wise for any business long term.
In this podcast I'd like to share why I believe any serious business should be willing to risk a little in terms of paid advertising, in order to create something sustainable for the long term.
Learn how I turned a £125 ad spend into an immediate £900 return PLUS why understanding the lifetime value of your students is even more important as you build your business.
Because I know that £125 spend will result in over £6000 into my business over the coming months….isn’t that what we need? Sustainability?
And if you’d like support to help you create adverts that bring sustainable business into your business then perhaps I can help?
I help aspiring yoga teachers build a profitable, part time business, generating £2k to £4k a month,
They learn how to create a marketing strategy that keeps on bring them a return on their investment of time, energy and money; that generates more enquiries, more interest and more students – and with a lifetime value which means the business is sustainable NOT up and down like a yoyo..
If you’d like to know more about how this 12 week mentoring and coaching programme might help you, contact me direct atshona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste,
Shona
In the last episode of this podcast I talked about why nailing your niche is probably one of the best things you can do to build a sustainable business as a yoga teacher.
But nailing a niche is not always an easy process and there’s one thing I hear said often that I really do believe can get in the way of getting the niche right as quickly as possible so you can start standing out from the crowd, increasing your visibility and attracting students to you far more easily - and it’s this:
“Do what you love and the money will follow.”
Because the reality is that simply is not true! There are LOTS of struggling, yet passionate yoga teachers, artists, musicians out there!
For many, it’s no more than an expensive hobby - or something they end up doing just for the love of it, but having to pay their bills from some other form of energy expenditure!
Nailing a niche is a process. It takes a bit of careful reflection, research and experimentation.
And I’ve narrowed it down to 5 clear criteria you need to have considered and tested BEFORE you even launch your first iteration of an offer to the world.
In this podcast learn what those 5 key criteria are.
Use it as a checklist for yourself to help you ensure you are in THE best place to launch something to the world, with the greatest chance of success.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you totally nail this niche thing once and for all, creating a sustainable income of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time then contact me at
shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste, Shona
At the risk of sounding totally “un-yogic” (if there is such a thing!) I’d like to say up front there are some people I don’t want to teach yoga to!
Not because I’m being mean.
But because I KNOW there are some students I’m simply not the right fit for and I’d much rather make sure any potential student who contacts me has a great experience right from the outset!
Think about it…
Have you ever attended a class with a yoga teacher who you just didn’t resonate with? You don’t want to go back right?
It doesn’t mean yoga isn’t right for you - it just means you haven’t found a teacher who is what I call the right “fit” for you.
I have two initial goals with prospective students:
- They have a sense of what to expect before they even come to class; whether that’s through a conversation with me or through the information they read/see before they turn up to class.
- When they do arrive, that first session is the best experience I can give them and meets their expectations.
In this podcast learn why my first business failed until I truly understood this, and the 4 key things I changed which totally transformed my results.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you totally nail this niche thing once and for all, creating a sustainable income of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time then contact me at
shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste, Shona
Over the last decade or so I’ve been teaching, I’ve seen a concerning increase in the rise of partisan mentality, dogma and increasing vitriol about what yoga is and how it “should” be taught.
Social media putting so many yoga teachers in touch with one another through a device ever present in their hands, means there are constant streams and threads claiming a particular perspective…
But the truth is, these ARE simply PERSPECTIVES. Where is the truth in all that? IS there any to find?
Yet, as a new, or even seasoned yoga teacher, we can sometimes feel intimidated or almost “obliged” to teach in a certain way with plenty of voices loudly voicing their opinions about what we “should” be including and what is not considered yoga!
It’s easy to see how this can lead to a lack of confidence for teachers about following their own voice/passions and interests, for the sake of, let’s face it, one philosophy among many; certain tools and techniques among many.
I’m not a fan of dogma.
In this podcast I share how the teacher in my advanced yoga teacher training and I did not get on - and why dogma played a large part in that.
I also share 5 key ways I feel you can begin to find your own sense of authentic voice as a yoga teacher - because, let’s face it, what the world needs more than anything right now is an acceptance of diversity, not a rigid adherence to doctrines or beliefs.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I help yoga teachers find the confidence of their own voice and create a business model that creates a sustainable income of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time then contact me at
shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste, Shona
In this, the third in a series about the rather tricky and awkward subject of money and yoga teacher pay, I’d like to do 2 things:
First, consider the challenges we face if we feel our students “won’t pay” for our services, or the quibble about our terms and conditions.
And secondly, I’ll share some tips which I have found helpful in my own journey and which may just help you see this in a different light.
Bottom line?
If we feel underpaid, we also feel undervalued. That’s NOT a good place to be teaching from.
I’d like to share how it IS possible to feel valued for what you do.It requires a switch in our thinking, and a confidence which emanates from us understanding the benefits we offer to those who choose to work with us.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you create a business model which ensures you do feel fairly recompensed for what you do and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time then contact me at shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste, Shona
In this, the second in a series about the rather tricky and awkward subject of money and yoga teacher pay, I unpick a little of what’s behind this real question which appeared in a yoga teacher Facebook group recently.
Because this teacher’s comments oozes a LOT of the frustration I often see amongst yoga teachers.
Frustration which isn’t just about the apparent unfairness of “low pay” but also the very real feelings of being undervalued for the skills we bring to the table.
In this podcast I’ll imagine this comment referred to how gyms or studios underpay yoga teachers - and bear with me, because I’ll play devil’s advocate here, and provoke thinking hopefully too.
Is it possible to earn more? IS it possible to make a sustainable living from teaching yoga?
Absolutely!
But in this podcast I’ll share why working for gyms or studios is unlikely to be a sustainable business model for any yoga teacher who wants to make a living without burnout, and I’ll outline the 3 things I believe you really need to do if you’re not happy with being a teacher for a gym or studio…….
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you ditch the gyms or studio business model and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
Namaste,
Shona
As a yoga teacher how does the whole topic of money make you feel?
Anxious?
Awkward?
Uncomfortable?
How do you feel talking about money with students? If you feel it’s time to raise your prices do you find yourself anxsting for ages about it yet find yourself feeling resentful because with costs rising, you’re almost working for nothing these days?
Money is a tricky subject - in all sorts of situations, not just in business BUT if you’re trying to build a business that actually makes you a living, neglecting being on top of this is a recipe for disaster.
The truth is, whether we realise it or not, all of us hold beliefs about money which can either serve us or not.
Money is an INNER GAME we may need to master.
In this, the first part of a 2 part series on the topic, I’d like to share some of the most common beliefs you can hold which can sabotage your chances of actually making the impact you want to make, teaching the students who need your help, and leading a fulfilling and balanced career that respects the fact that you too have to pay bills.
As a teacher for over a decade now, I’ve had my share of the money gremlins as I call them, but as with so much of growing a business, it's an inner game I’ve learned to control a little better!
If any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you deal with that inner game and create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
Is there a gap between where you are now in your yoga business and where you’d like to be?
If you feel driven to share what you know, if you know you’re a good teacher who can help students, but the reality of filling classes, covering costs and heaven forbid actually making a living out of teaching seems a million miles away, then have you considered investing in business mentoring?
In this podcast I share how I jumped from a well paid job to start my first business and quickly floundered…..until I found a mentor.
That mentor helped me build my first successful business, and when I decided to leave that coaching business to teach yoga it meant that business grew rapidly and with far more ease.
I share 8 darned good reasons why, if it’s your business skills you realise are holding you back then don’t invest in more yoga training, or throw in the towel with the belief you’re just not cut out to be a yoga teacher, or it’s too hard/impossible to make it work.
Instead, find and invest in a business mentor.
And if my story doesn’t inspire you, then perhaps these 8 reasons in this podcast will.
And if any of this resonates with you;re curious to learn my approach to mentoring yoga teachers then get in touch.
My mission is to help yoga teachers create a sustainable business of £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching just part time.
Once you have that nailed - you can scale if you want to. But you’ll have learned some really valuable skills which will serve you well for the rest of your life AND you’ll come out a more confident, authentic and resilient teacher.
What’s not to like?
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
December is a notoriously quiet time for yoga teachers, with student numbers naturally dwindling as other commitments and the colder weather mean attending yoga classes slide down the priority list.
For some teachers, it feels an anxious time. Income almost dries up, and it’s hard to remain enthusiastic and motivated when just one or two students turn up to your classes.
But if you find yourself looking back over the year and feeling like you’ve worked your butt off yet still find the effort isn’t actually showing up in your bank account then perhaps this is the perfect time to take a good hard look at what’s working and what’s not.
Because chances are, one of 4 things could be seriously limiting your chances of success – in effect, you’re driving with the brakes on.
In this episode I take a look at 4 key things which might be keeping those brakes on and stopping you from building your community and generating a sustainable income from your teaching.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you create a sustainable business and start to thrive with a £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time and using a strategy that works
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
Do you find your class attendances dwindle in December?
How does this time of year make you feel as a yoga teacher?
I’ve noticed so many threads in yoga teacher groups recently lamenting just how much of a struggle it is to manage the dwindling numbers of students.
In some cases, the income they’re bringing in doesn’t match the outgoings for the yoga space and other costs, so they’re running at a loss or for next to nothing in terms of financial income for themselves.
For some, their energy and enthusiasm reaches a low ebb, making them feel like it’s all just too hard and re-assessing whether teaching yoga is actually for them.
I want you to know, IF you’re savvy about how you run your yoga teaching business this CAN be a time NOT to feel despondent about what is the natural flux and flow of any health related business, but instead EMBRACE the opportunity to rest, re-charge your own batteries and enthusiasm and pan for the opportunities that are actually right there in front of you to take IF you think more strategically.
In this podcast I share 3 simple but KEY tactics to help you learn how to manage those peaks and troughs FAR more effectively in future, and create a part time business, as I have, with some certainty and a real sense of pleasure from teaching - learning how to create a sustainable business that works round your life, not the other way round.
And if any of this resonates with you and you’d like to know how I can help you create a sustainable business and start to thrive with a £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time and using a strategy that works
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
In a recent coach call for teachers on my business mentoring programme one teacher expressed how she felt like she was taking two steps forward and one back.
She sounded apologetic.
I could tell she was feeling a little deflated and at one of those moments in any journey which takes us to an uncomfortable place where we start to question why we’re doing what we’re doing.
There are actually 2 elements to this teacher’s struggle:
First - struggling with the work we do to help teachers find their niche, and their voice within that niche, so they begin to attract more enquiries, convert more enquiries to loyal students and start to feel more comfortable in their own skin.
Secondly, dealing with what I call the “comparisonitis” feeling that other teachers on the mentor programme were further ahead than she was and not “matching up.”
The truth is, nailing our niche and our individual, authentic voice and getting what I call “comfortable in our own skin” can be an uncomfortable process!
It raises what I call “the gremlins!”.
In this podcast I share how to recognise the gremlins when they appear, why I BET you have overcome quite a few in your time - and why you need to expect them if you’re trying to build a sustainable business of any kind.
Learn why, if you know how to drive, or have acquired any other skill in your life so far - then you have the capacity to deal with the gremlins!
And if you’d like to know how I can help you manage the gremlins in your head, and start to thrive with a £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time and using a strategy that works
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Namaste,
Shona
Do you post on social media hoping to get business as a yoga teacher?
Do you ACTUALLY get any business from the time it takes up?
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of postings on social media from yoga teachers these days so it may feel like it’s the “done thing” and you must be doing that to succeed, but in my experience the majority of yoga teachers get little or no business from this time and energy.
Teachers like one of the students on my mentorship programme who wrote:
“I create business cards, improve my website, make new postings - I get new clients, but NOT through postings or the website. So everything seems very random to me and not very systematic.
I need a strategy which leads to success and stop wasting my time with “unnecessary tasks” which are only there to tell myself that I am “working on my business.””
In this podcast I share how social media CAN be a useful tool in helping you grow your business but ONLY if you understand a few basic business principles and, most importantly, APPLY THEM!
If your actions are random - don’t be surprised if your results are too!
So, if you’d like to know how I can help you thrive with a £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time and using a strategy that works
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Do you ever turn up to teach a class and it’s the last thing you feel like doing?
Do you ever find yourself avoiding the stuff you know you need to do to grow your business as a yoga teacher?
It’s easy to go for the “easy” route isnt it?
It’s more comfortable to tell yourself you’ll do that thing you know needs doing when you’re less stressed/tired/cold or whatever other story you’re telling yourself is over?
And if you teach regular classes, it’s hard “showing up” with our best versions of ourselves despite the fact that you’re just not feeling it, when you’re a bit under the weather or there are things going on for you which make it hard to focus.
Life happens.
But “showing up” matters.
“Showing up” is what people notice.
AND HOW YOU SHOW UP ALSO MATTERS.
And if it’s not consistent or genuine people KNOW – it affects how they see you; relate to you; treat you.
It can directly impact your business.
In this podcast I share why setting up good habits, the righthabits to show up in our business as we hopefully do on the mat, could make all the difference between struggle and ease and between building a sustainable yoga business and one that’s more like a roller coaster…
And if you’d like to know how I can help you thrive with a £2k to £4k regular monthly income teaching part time and using a strategy that works
Contact me @ shona@yoginiors.co.uk to find out more about the 12 week mentoring and coaching programme designed to support you to do just that.
No pressure - not my style. Just real support to help you master some basic business principles, and build a sustainable income from teaching part time, to students in mid life or later years.
Many yoga teachers make some serious mistakes when it comes to advertising their classes or offerings.
They think they can (or even SHOULD) teach ANYONE.
They believe yoga is “inclusive” and it’s “bad” yogic behaviour to exclude anyone.
They don’t really understand why people come to yoga in the first place.
The result?
They simply try to copy what they see other teachers doing, jump on the bandwagon without REALLY understanding how to stand out in what is an increasingly crowded market place.
In this podcast I’d like to share something I teach the teachers who come on my mentoring programme: that learning the power of copy and getting clear about what we call your student “avatar” is VITAL for the health of your business.
As a yoga teacher, do you find the whole marketing and business side of yoga overwhelming, confusing and just a little bit “icky?”
Sometimes, those feelings literally stop you from taking action that might actually help you grow your business.
Or maybe you DO take a lot of action, but you wonder why you’re not getting the results you want?
You still find yourself with erratic numbers of students at your classes and have no sense of predictability in terms of income.
In this podcast I discuss the most common problems yoga teachers face trying to generate reliable income from their teaching, and explain why seeing it a bit like baking a cake might just help!
Bear with me on this one….I think it might just change your perspective….
Want to know how I can help you thrive teaching part time? shona@yoginiors.co.uk
I once learned a saying from a mentor which has become a bit of a mantra for me:
Treat your yoga business like a business and it will PAY you like a business.
Treat your yoga business like a hobby and it will COST you like a hobby.
I see too many teachers SAY they want a business, but BEHAVE like it’s a hobby!
In this podcast learn why knowing the difference between an investment and a cost in your business is a crucial skill you really DO need to master!
How do you feel about teaching yoga right now?
If you had a vision of quitting your job and sharing with others the magic yoga has brought you, but the reality of filling classes and actually making any kind of consistent income, then you'll realise something's missing...something yoga teachder training courses tend to avoid talking too much about.....
So what is the elephant in the room? And why might you need to take on that elephant?
Another, short (7 minute) episode talking all things teaching yoga....
Why NOW is a great time to work on your yoga teaching business………….
Making a sustainable and regular income teaching yoga doesn’t come easy.
If you found the last two year of the pandemic and its immediate aftermath a little difficult, you’re not alone.
But if you’re at a low point; feeling stuck or thinking about ditching the dream of making a living from your teaching I want you to know there ARE yoga teachers out there making it work and at 69 I’m one of them.
But you need to have some basics in place! You need to just know what to focus on to get some traction, before you can scale up to bigger things…..and that’s where I believe I can help.
With New Year just around the corner – there ARE opportunities – for those willing to look with fresh eyes at their business model, and get clearer about what they need to focus on to get hard cash in the back account.
In this podcast learn why now is a great time to work on your business, and how the start of a new year could see the start of a thriving business for you.
I am SO fed up of the hype around teaching yoga online and tying it to 6 figure yoga businesses!
If you’re a yoga teacher struggling to make a regular income from your teaching it’s SO easy to be seduced by the online, high ticket “gurus” who promise the lap top lifestyle and thousands in the bank.
But if it were that easy – everyone would be doing it – and they’re not!
Honestly?
If you're not already making steady income, month in month out from your teaching, then trying some of these tactics the "gurus" are selling you is like entering the London Marathon when you haven't even mastered couch to 5 K yet!
Doesn't it makes more sense to focus on what will bring that cash into your business quickest, so you can feel comfortable knowing the bills are paid?
In this podcast, I want to suggest a different perspective and take on the topic. One which is aspirational but realistic in its approach. One which takes account of your starting point, and makes you look - with your rational head on, at the best path for you on the yoga biz journey.
If you've been tempted, or even bought one of these "guru's" programmes and ended up with it sitting on your computer unfinished a few months in, perhaps this will resonate for you, as well as give you some tips about how you can build your business based on a realistic, yet aspirational vision of what a successful yoga business looks like - for you.
Enjoy – and let me know what you think!
Have you been thinking about investing in that high priced training from the online yoga business guru promising you they will show you how to earn 6 figure months as a yoga teacher?
Maybe you’ve already paid out for such a course and a few months on it’s still sitting there on your computer and you’ve stalled/struggled/ended up feeling guilty?
I totally get it! But in this podcast learn why I encourage you get a little more savvy and ask the right questions BEFORE you jump into an expensive outlay for business training which may simply not be right for you, right now…..
And there’s one question I REALLY think you should ask them or investigate….find out what that is in this short podcast!
How are you feeling about teaching yoga right now?
Over the months of the pandemic and even in recent weeks, as life has returned a little more to normal, I've seen a number of threads in Facebook groups I'm part of where teachers are talking about "losing their mojo," not enjoying teaching like they did and just feeling like pulling the plug on the whole idea of making a living as a yoga teacher.
It's such a shame because all that time, energy, money and passion yoga teachers have invested into becoming a teacher gets lost in this downward spiral.
Some are even talking finding their own practice suffers too, with the wider implications that has for their mental and emotional well-being.
I know how losing your mojo feels!
I'm creating a series of podcasts dealing with the whole issue of how we, as passionate yoga teachers can get back on track; whether that's in our mindset, our vision and our finances (or maybe all three!)
And in this, the first podcast I'll share three powerful questions I think really help us get out of that funk and into positive action.
Recognising the stage of business you’re at and using that as your guide about what to focus on first is what will help you gain momentum and confidence far more quickly than trying to jump ahead of yourself too soon.
There are stages to building a successful, long-lasting and thriving business. Understanding the stages, the goals and most importantly where you need to focus is what will help you to build your confidence and your business more quickly AND more effectively, so it’s a business which lasts; which weathers storms and which has a greater impact.
In this episode I cover what I believe are the four main stages of growing a yoga teacher business from scratch and share the key tasks I believe you should be focusing on over the next few weeks to start generating real hard cash into your business - cash you can use to pay your bulls and re-invest in helping you to scale up what works.
Why do some yoga teachers struggle even thought they are working hard?
And what exactly IS the best use of your precious time over the next 90 days as you build your yoga career and business?
I hope this helps clarify the answers to those questions!
Am I ready to go online? A checklist for any aspiring teacher. Don't jump in until you've answered this checklist!
After the initial panic - DO something! Learn the importance of taking imperfect action.
Choosing your strategy; why taking your teaching online may NOT be the right action for you to take at this moment.
Diary of a yoga teacher faced with Covid 19:
Phase 1 – Handling the panic…..3 things you absolutely need to succeed.
With literally thousands of yoga teacher training schools churning out thousands of aspiring yoga teachers, it can feel a tough challenge wanting to make this a career. Learn what you REALLY need to focus on if you aspire to making a successful career from teaching yoga. Is it really right for you? And if it is, what do you really need to make it a success?
Learn why taking that other yoga training you've been looking at for a while may NOT be a good idea for you right now, ESPECIALLY if you're struggling to earn a living from your teaching right now.
Sometimes we need to focus on what's needed for the stage of business we're at. And if you would like a steer on what you SHOULD be focusing on if you want to fill your classes and generate a steady income from your teaching, then download the 13 point checklist below and join our Facebook community where we'll help you focus on the RIGHT stuff to build your yoga teacher career!
Newly qualified teacher or just wondering where to start to teach? In this podcast learn 3 practical tips and some valuable questions I believe you need to ask yourself BEFORE you put yourself out there - so you build a yoga teacher career that serves YOU as well as your students.
Learn one of the biggest mistakes I see yoga teachers make when they are trying to fill their classes; and how some simple changes to the way you promote what you do, and how you think about what you offer, can dramatically increase student numbers and retention.
Learn why researching is an important part of planning a successful yoga business BUT how that can stir up a whole boat load of anxiety you need to know is normal!
Honestly, how much profit do YOU make from your yoga teaching each month?
For too many teachers it's just "pin money" on the side or worse: an "expensive hobby!"
In this episode, learn why you absolutely MUST get comfortable with marketing if you want to earn a decent living from your yoga teaching, and why you're never going to have the impact you'd love to have, or benefit the lives of others through your teaching unless you're willing to take on that challenge.....