There was a time when the use of the words, ?Yoga? and ?business,? in the same sentence, would have been considered ?shameful.? However, when you have a Yoga studio, pay for a lease, advertising, insurance, utilities, and more - you know this is serious business. Whether you own a Yoga studio, or are an independent contractor, your money is ?on the line,? and possibly your life savings.
Many Yoga teachers, and directors, often ask me the following questions: What is my most effective way to advertise? Who should handle the marketing? What can I do about student retention? Why does a Yoga teacher need a sales letter or business plan?
As the popularity of Yoga grows, more Yoga teachers are looking for professional advice to ?stream line,? market effectively, and make their Yoga businesses ?recession proof.? For some Yoga teachers, Yoga has evolved from a sideline hobby to a fulltime Yoga business. Yoga students will not be happy to train and learn with you ?in a closet.?
As a Yoga teacher, your economic survival is at stake. With a fulltime business, of any kind, a surprising amount of overhead will follow. When you own a Yoga studio, you have to ?wear many hats.? If you are already an established Yoga teacher, you went into teaching Yoga to share the gift and practice your own solo routine more often.
Many of the most successful Yoga studios, ashrams, and wellness centers, get ?insider? business and marketing advice. The surprising fact is that Yoga business coaching doesn?t have to cost as much as you think. Yoga business coaching can be handled on a ?per session? basis. Many Yoga businesses save, and learn, far more than the session costs.
If this is not the case, it is time to find a different Yoga business coach or consulting service. The objective of Yoga business coaching is to help the Yoga business owner become self sufficient. Therefore, consulting is not for dependence, but to teach the typical Yoga studio owner how to fill the gaps and address priorities within a particular Yoga business.
What type of Yoga studio should seek business advice? Most Yoga businesses, of any size, can use help with a particular issue. Established Yoga studios, and Yoga teachers, usually know where they need help, but still need practical solutions. Also, established Yoga studio owners may want to ?recession proof? their business or increase their market share right now.
Is this type of service geared toward new Yoga studios, as well? After years of Yoga training, and thousands of dollars, many new Yoga teachers need to recover the money they have invested in their new career as soon as possible. Yoga business consulting services will help any new Yoga studio get to the next level and put the learning curve behind.
Are Yoga business consulting and technical support services given by phone or Email? Actually, I use a combination of both methods. After a Yoga business coaching session by phone, there is a ?homework assignment? for my client. Sometimes, this assignment will save my client thousands of dollars or create unforeseen revenue streams.
Sales letters, marketing campaigns, and website development can be handled by your Yoga business coach, but it is far less expensive if you learn how to take control of your own marketing campaign. Again, the objective is to have a client who becomes totally self sufficient.
However, complete marketing campaigns for Yoga studios are never refused by any responsible business coach. In any economy, coaching programs for marketing and business will save you thousands of dollars, and teach you skills that will last you a lifetime. At this point, it will be much easier for you to help your own Yoga students and clients.
? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Showing posts with label Ashrams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashrams. Show all posts
February 23, 2009
Yoga Teachers Lead by Example (Part 3)
Behavior toward neighboring Yoga schools, Yoga teachers, and their students, should be cordial. Like the old saying goes, ?If you do not have anything good to say, do not say anything at all.? When we speak of other Yoga teachers, or former Yoga teachers, in a hostile manner, what do we teach our students?
Unfortunately, Yoga teachers are human and behavior is not always optimum. Show respect toward neighboring ashrams by letting the director, master teacher, or guru, know about your events - in the form of a letter or invitation. Do not post your events on their doors, on their cars, and on telephone poles nearby their ashram.
Do not encourage your Yoga students to tear down advertisements of other local ashrams in the markets and local coffee shops. Harmonious coexistence with local Yoga studios and ashrams is healthy. When Yoga students are encouraged to become sectarian, or elitist, they are being strayed away from the true meaning of Yoga. Always remember Yoga means ?unity.?
Avoid moving your Yoga studio next door, above, below, or across the street from another Yoga teacher. The world is a very big place. There is no need for us to behave like rivaling businesses. If that were acceptable, Yoga would be just a business, and our true mission is to help others.
Try to maintain good relations with former Yoga teachers and their students. Sometimes, there are complications in the student / teacher relationship, but try to be as friendly as possible.
Relationships with your Yoga students should be balanced and kept intact. Yoga teachers should avoid using their position for leverage or special favors. If you are having feelings beyond the usual Yoga teacher / Yoga student relationship, you should seek qualified advice, do some ?soul searching,? or withdraw yourself from the situation.
The Yoga studio is not a romantic playground, or part of a dating service, for Yoga teachers. As a Yoga teacher, your relationship is founded upon the trust of your students. You also want to avoid ?fueling? any distractions from Yoga practice.
Lastly, you want to encourage your more advanced Yoga students to become independent creators of their own practice. It is nice to be needed, but your Yoga students will grow if they are allowed to be innovators. You can always show them the safest methods to keep them on the right track, but you do not want your advanced Yoga students to feel dependent on your existence.
To draw a small comparison: A pair of adult eagles takes wonderful care of their chick, but someday, that chick will grow to be as large as its parents. The solution is to encourage their offspring to fly and become independent. You know, you will not be around forever, so encourage your Yoga students to keep the practice evolving.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Unfortunately, Yoga teachers are human and behavior is not always optimum. Show respect toward neighboring ashrams by letting the director, master teacher, or guru, know about your events - in the form of a letter or invitation. Do not post your events on their doors, on their cars, and on telephone poles nearby their ashram.
Do not encourage your Yoga students to tear down advertisements of other local ashrams in the markets and local coffee shops. Harmonious coexistence with local Yoga studios and ashrams is healthy. When Yoga students are encouraged to become sectarian, or elitist, they are being strayed away from the true meaning of Yoga. Always remember Yoga means ?unity.?
Avoid moving your Yoga studio next door, above, below, or across the street from another Yoga teacher. The world is a very big place. There is no need for us to behave like rivaling businesses. If that were acceptable, Yoga would be just a business, and our true mission is to help others.
Try to maintain good relations with former Yoga teachers and their students. Sometimes, there are complications in the student / teacher relationship, but try to be as friendly as possible.
Relationships with your Yoga students should be balanced and kept intact. Yoga teachers should avoid using their position for leverage or special favors. If you are having feelings beyond the usual Yoga teacher / Yoga student relationship, you should seek qualified advice, do some ?soul searching,? or withdraw yourself from the situation.
The Yoga studio is not a romantic playground, or part of a dating service, for Yoga teachers. As a Yoga teacher, your relationship is founded upon the trust of your students. You also want to avoid ?fueling? any distractions from Yoga practice.
Lastly, you want to encourage your more advanced Yoga students to become independent creators of their own practice. It is nice to be needed, but your Yoga students will grow if they are allowed to be innovators. You can always show them the safest methods to keep them on the right track, but you do not want your advanced Yoga students to feel dependent on your existence.
To draw a small comparison: A pair of adult eagles takes wonderful care of their chick, but someday, that chick will grow to be as large as its parents. The solution is to encourage their offspring to fly and become independent. You know, you will not be around forever, so encourage your Yoga students to keep the practice evolving.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Yoga Teachers, Prepare for the New Year’s Rush - Part 2
Let?s continue with more ideas for workshops and some specialty classes that may fit in as part of your regular class schedule. You don?t have to use all of these ideas, but you may find one, or two, that fit with your clientele and your Yoga studio.
Prenatal Yoga: Again, this is much better suited for the female Yoga instructor, but this teacher should be trained specifically in Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga. There are too many complications for the average Yoga teacher; this is for a Yoga specialist.
Modifications and contraindications change for pregnant Yoga students each trimester. Jane Mackarness has written such a course, and we carry it at our web site. This field requires much more research than the standard 200-hour training, but can lead to networking with medical professionals and hospitals.
Kids Yoga: Specialized training might be needed, but patience is a key element for Yoga instructors who want to embark on this path. I teach children myself, and a Kids Yoga class has to be fun and include games. Vinyasa will be very popular with children, since they get restless with nervous energy.
Children can learn a lot, but Yoga teachers, who spend time with them, realize they are not little adults. Sometimes, the Yoga teacher?s lesson plan will not be finished due to questions, answers, and kids just having fun being kids.
Hot Yoga: Most Hot Yoga classes originated from Bikram?s style. Be careful not to use his sequences; he has patented them. Also, the Yoga teacher who wants to pursue this path should be familiar with how she or he will perform under conditions of serious heat. Hot Yoga is good, but it is not for everyone. Hot Yoga classes are usually held at a temperature of 105 Degrees Fahrenheit.
108 Sun Salutations: Many Yoga studios and ashrams have these workshops at the beginning of a season. This is good bonding time for the more physical Yoga students within your facility. You could always go out to your favorite restaurant afterwards.
Yoga with Weights: Sherri Baptiste just released a book on this subject. Bodybuilders have practiced combining weight resistance principles, with Yoga, for years, but Sherri may be on to something here. Yoga purists aside - the contracting of muscles during weight resistance training, and the stretching of muscles when practicing Hatha Yoga, can be a harmonious relationship.
? Copyright 2005 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Prenatal Yoga: Again, this is much better suited for the female Yoga instructor, but this teacher should be trained specifically in Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga. There are too many complications for the average Yoga teacher; this is for a Yoga specialist.
Modifications and contraindications change for pregnant Yoga students each trimester. Jane Mackarness has written such a course, and we carry it at our web site. This field requires much more research than the standard 200-hour training, but can lead to networking with medical professionals and hospitals.
Kids Yoga: Specialized training might be needed, but patience is a key element for Yoga instructors who want to embark on this path. I teach children myself, and a Kids Yoga class has to be fun and include games. Vinyasa will be very popular with children, since they get restless with nervous energy.
Children can learn a lot, but Yoga teachers, who spend time with them, realize they are not little adults. Sometimes, the Yoga teacher?s lesson plan will not be finished due to questions, answers, and kids just having fun being kids.
Hot Yoga: Most Hot Yoga classes originated from Bikram?s style. Be careful not to use his sequences; he has patented them. Also, the Yoga teacher who wants to pursue this path should be familiar with how she or he will perform under conditions of serious heat. Hot Yoga is good, but it is not for everyone. Hot Yoga classes are usually held at a temperature of 105 Degrees Fahrenheit.
108 Sun Salutations: Many Yoga studios and ashrams have these workshops at the beginning of a season. This is good bonding time for the more physical Yoga students within your facility. You could always go out to your favorite restaurant afterwards.
Yoga with Weights: Sherri Baptiste just released a book on this subject. Bodybuilders have practiced combining weight resistance principles, with Yoga, for years, but Sherri may be on to something here. Yoga purists aside - the contracting of muscles during weight resistance training, and the stretching of muscles when practicing Hatha Yoga, can be a harmonious relationship.
? Copyright 2005 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
What Do You Really Want from Yoga?
Are you looking for a healthy mindset, fitness, spiritual guidance, holistic health, self-improvement, success, or just more oxygen? Yoga can deliver all of these, but I doubt you find all of this ?under one roof.? The reason is that there are many kinds of Yoga, and some ashrams, or Yoga schools, will address some of the above-mentioned needs as priorities.
Do you ever wonder why some people are so successful in life? I am not talking about someone who has ?everything handed to them.? What I am referring to is someone who has taken the time to know what they want from life, pursues it, and then attains it. This comes from self-analysis, meditation, and goal setting skills.
Do not confuse yourself with someone else?s dreams or expectations of you.
You must know your particular strengths, weaknesses, passions, and desires to move forward in your Yoga practice. Remember when you were a child and adults asked you, ?What do you want to be when you grow up??
If you are not sure, you should compile a list of ideas. Here are some things to consider when deciding ?how to find yourself? and ?where to go from here.?
What is your concept of happiness?
Please be honest with yourself and go after your dreams. You cannot abandon responsibility, but you can make small changes in your lifestyle. Wake up each day and pursue your goals with happiness in your heart.
What are your real passions, obsessions, and desires?
These are ideas you think about all the time. Listen to your heart; the answers are within. They should not cause harm to anyone and should be morally sound. Whatever they are, they will keep you going when you have any doubts. This is your fuel for daily motivation.
What does any of this have to do with Yoga?
Everything ? Yoga is a daily path of self-discovery and self-improvement. Yoga literally means ?Unity,? and applies to all things. If you know yourself, you can help yourself. Help usually starts from within. Most of us have to ask for help, and you must know when, and who, to ask.
Seek and find the Yoga that will help you find yourself. Yoga?s many branches are over 5,000 years old. They are the origin of many self-improvement and health maintenance systems. Achievement is realized by habits. You alone, have the power to create or change your habits.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Do you ever wonder why some people are so successful in life? I am not talking about someone who has ?everything handed to them.? What I am referring to is someone who has taken the time to know what they want from life, pursues it, and then attains it. This comes from self-analysis, meditation, and goal setting skills.
Do not confuse yourself with someone else?s dreams or expectations of you.
You must know your particular strengths, weaknesses, passions, and desires to move forward in your Yoga practice. Remember when you were a child and adults asked you, ?What do you want to be when you grow up??
If you are not sure, you should compile a list of ideas. Here are some things to consider when deciding ?how to find yourself? and ?where to go from here.?
What is your concept of happiness?
Please be honest with yourself and go after your dreams. You cannot abandon responsibility, but you can make small changes in your lifestyle. Wake up each day and pursue your goals with happiness in your heart.
What are your real passions, obsessions, and desires?
These are ideas you think about all the time. Listen to your heart; the answers are within. They should not cause harm to anyone and should be morally sound. Whatever they are, they will keep you going when you have any doubts. This is your fuel for daily motivation.
What does any of this have to do with Yoga?
Everything ? Yoga is a daily path of self-discovery and self-improvement. Yoga literally means ?Unity,? and applies to all things. If you know yourself, you can help yourself. Help usually starts from within. Most of us have to ask for help, and you must know when, and who, to ask.
Seek and find the Yoga that will help you find yourself. Yoga?s many branches are over 5,000 years old. They are the origin of many self-improvement and health maintenance systems. Achievement is realized by habits. You alone, have the power to create or change your habits.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
February 22, 2009
A World of Infinite Opportunities
Many people feel that there is a limited amount of abundance, wealth, or chances to succeed in life. Furthermore, there is a solid belief that if one person succeeds, another must fail.
This might be true, in some cases, such as in a small company or school, where opportunity is limited by management. However, the world is a big place, and there are opportunities created from ideas that help people, and no one gets hurt in the process.
Below are two examples of success that have not taken anything away from anyone:
Danny Thomas: With his promise, prayers, and vision, for St. Jude?s Hospital, he received the help of friends in the Arab-American community to build a fantastic charity. Some of us also believe he received divine help ? I know, I do.
There is much more to this story, but what did this hospital or charity take away from anyone? Aren?t the children who recover from cancer living proof that this idea, and prosperity, is for the pure benefit of mankind? There is no one who is hurt by this, and Marlo Thomas has picked up where her father left off.
Yoga teachers: Many unfulfilled members of the workforce have left their jobs to teach the benefits of Yoga to the masses. They teach their students to enjoy life, deal with stress, breathe properly, improve their posture, become aware of their bodies, and many more benefits.
Most Yoga teachers believe that all of the great Yoga jobs are in health clubs, ashrams, and Yoga studios. Not so, in my book ?How to Grow Your Own Successful Yoga Business,? I mention 16 ways to start up with little or no overhead.
Within the first chapter, there are Yoga teaching opportunities that currently exist with little, or no, competition. Yoga teachers who have taken this advice have become successful and prosperous.
Do these jobs take food away from anyone? When someone starts a business, do they take food away from another competitor? If you believe your competition is your problem, it will be. This is limited thinking, and you have to learn to think ?outside the box,? in order to be successful in life.
Don?t waste time on bad thoughts. You can easily co-exist in harmony with them, become friends, and learn from them. There is enough opportunity for everyone. This should be your mantra: Observe your competition, learn from their mistakes, and when possible, copy their success.
This is why you need to take a mandatory vacation and get fresh ideas. This is why you should take a notebook with you. I still prefer the ?old fashioned,? spiral bound notebook, with a pen in hand.
Everyone has a niche, make sure you cultivate yours, and develop your own identity, in life. Always remember, the sky is the limit, and you are only restrained by your own thoughts.
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? - for Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
This might be true, in some cases, such as in a small company or school, where opportunity is limited by management. However, the world is a big place, and there are opportunities created from ideas that help people, and no one gets hurt in the process.
Below are two examples of success that have not taken anything away from anyone:
Danny Thomas: With his promise, prayers, and vision, for St. Jude?s Hospital, he received the help of friends in the Arab-American community to build a fantastic charity. Some of us also believe he received divine help ? I know, I do.
There is much more to this story, but what did this hospital or charity take away from anyone? Aren?t the children who recover from cancer living proof that this idea, and prosperity, is for the pure benefit of mankind? There is no one who is hurt by this, and Marlo Thomas has picked up where her father left off.
Yoga teachers: Many unfulfilled members of the workforce have left their jobs to teach the benefits of Yoga to the masses. They teach their students to enjoy life, deal with stress, breathe properly, improve their posture, become aware of their bodies, and many more benefits.
Most Yoga teachers believe that all of the great Yoga jobs are in health clubs, ashrams, and Yoga studios. Not so, in my book ?How to Grow Your Own Successful Yoga Business,? I mention 16 ways to start up with little or no overhead.
Within the first chapter, there are Yoga teaching opportunities that currently exist with little, or no, competition. Yoga teachers who have taken this advice have become successful and prosperous.
Do these jobs take food away from anyone? When someone starts a business, do they take food away from another competitor? If you believe your competition is your problem, it will be. This is limited thinking, and you have to learn to think ?outside the box,? in order to be successful in life.
Don?t waste time on bad thoughts. You can easily co-exist in harmony with them, become friends, and learn from them. There is enough opportunity for everyone. This should be your mantra: Observe your competition, learn from their mistakes, and when possible, copy their success.
This is why you need to take a mandatory vacation and get fresh ideas. This is why you should take a notebook with you. I still prefer the ?old fashioned,? spiral bound notebook, with a pen in hand.
Everyone has a niche, make sure you cultivate yours, and develop your own identity, in life. Always remember, the sky is the limit, and you are only restrained by your own thoughts.
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? - for Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
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