As of 2023, more than 36 million Americans practice yoga.
The global yoga industry is set to be worth $66.23 billion by 2027 (Zippia.com).
Our industry is expanding at a phenomenal rate. From yoga studios to online platforms, teacher trainings, retreats, yoga apparel and equipment, there are so many ways to enjoy a successful career within the yoga sphere.
Regardless of what we are offering, as working yoga teachers committed to wholeheartedly sharing the practice, we sometimes forget that we are also running a business.
Many 200-hour teacher training courses barely scratch the surface of business training, and for many teachers, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
If you are like most yoga teachers, you are an independent freelance contractor, meaning that you are responsible for your own schedule.
This often extends to creating, promoting, and marketing your own offerings, handling your business accounts and taxes as well as finding time to commit to your own practice.
As a teacher trainer and business coach, the most common questions I hear from yoga teachers are “how do I attract and retain clients?”, “how do I get my head around social media” and “how do I find time to market my offerings?”
Whether you are just starting out on your teaching journey, or have been offering classes for years, this article will explore some tried and tested tips for how to start your yoga business:- Choose A Business Name
- Find Your Niche
- Diversify Your Offerings
- Offer Complimentary Services
- Build Your Community
- Utilize Social Media
- Continue Learning
#1: Choose A Yoga Business Name
What’s in a name?
Turns out … a whole lot actually!
The name you choose for your yoga business will help to establish your brand’s identity and allow you to attract the right clients.
Before settling on your business name, consider:
Your style of teaching
Do you teach dynamic vinyasa flow or restorative yin yoga classes?
Your core values
Do you value community and inclusivity? Are your classes lighthearted or more traditional?
Research keywords
Brainstorm keywords that are relevant to yoga i.e – practice, peace, spirituality, asana, balance, harmony. Do any of these resonate?
Market research
Take inspiration from other teachers but remember to make your name unique to you!
Consider Your Own Name
While it is very common for teachers to use their own name (i.e. Ashley Galvin Yoga), consider how unique your name is and how easy is to spell.
Also, consider whether you ever intend to change your name.
Road-Test
Share your business name shortlist with friends and clients to gather feedback
Check Availability
Check to see if another teacher is using your chosen name, then ensure the availability of domain names for your website and social media handles – consistency is key!
#2: Find Your Niche
Finding your niche in the broader spectrum of yoga requires a little soul-searching.
A great place to start is to look back on your yoga journey…
Consider what first brought you to the practice, the styles of yoga that you enjoy the most, and the aspects of the practice that have had the most impact on your life.
Your niche will be something you both are passionate and knowledgeable about.
Maybe you have a special set of skills that can lend themselves well to your yoga business.
For example, a school teacher turned yoga instructor may wish to offer yoga classes for children that fuse asana with education.
Finally, consider the needs of your community. Are there any gaps that you can fill so that the practice can be accessible to more people?
#3: Diversify Your Offerings
There are so many ways to bring the teachings of yoga to your community.
In-person offerings can include group classes, private instruction, corporate yoga sessions, specialist workshops, yoga retreats and teacher trainings.
In addition to in-person classes, the yoga industry now occupies a growing online presence.
Teaching online is a wonderful way to build your client base as you are able to reach clients that are outside of your geographic location.
For many practitioners, online classes are more accessible (especially for those who have limited time or finances and for those who do not live near a studio).
Teaching at a few different studios will introduce you to more potential clients than teaching at just one location.
If you are aiming to grow your client base, consider offering a variety of services to get in front of more people.
You may also consider offering a weekly online donation-based class plus a specialist workshop or retreat a few times a year.
#4: Offer Complimentary Services
Part of diversification can also include undertaking additional training to offer complimentary services to your clients.
Some ideas include:
- Sound baths / sound healing
- Massage
- Reiki / energy healing
- Nutrition
- Wellness
- Yoga teacher mentorship / coaching
If training in any of these modalities interests you, a great place to start is your local college or university.
#5: Build Your Community
Most business professionals agree that the most powerful form of marketing is ‘word of mouth’.
Your happy clients’ recommendations to friends and family are vitally important for the reputation of your business … and what’s more, it’s free!
In today’s age of digital marketing and social media, it is easy to forget the power of real human connection.
This is especially in the yoga industry, where building trust through personal connection is the most powerful way to grow your business.
Know Your Students
It goes without saying but learning your clients’ names is a great place to start!
So often as asana teachers, we strive to remember our student’s physical needs but miss the opportunity to get to know them beyond the mat.
If your client shares that she was planning a hike last weekend, remember to ask her about it when she checks in for her next class.
Build Your Email List
If there is one element of marketing to focus on, it should be growing your email list.
In a world of social media and direct messaging apps, emailing still feels personal.
If someone willingly gives your their email address and asks to be added to your client list, you’ve hit the jackpot!
A great strategy to gather new client emails is to offer an incentive …
Here are a few tried and tested ideas that have worked for my mentorship clients:
- Offer a pre-recorded class – YouTube allows you to make videos private, then simply share the link
- Write an awesome blog post that addresses a common concern – i.e. – ’10 Tips To Build A Daily Practice When Time Is Tight!’
- Be The First To Know – My own retreats and teacher trainings are always released to my existing client list first. This provides a great incentive for new students to sign up.
Newsletters
The most powerful form of marketing for any yoga teacher is a regular newsletter.
Here are some golden rules:
- Frequency – anywhere between once a week and once a month is golden
- Be consistent – once you have committed to a frequency that works for your schedule, try not to miss a newsletter and be sure to send them out on the same day and time
- Offer value – your newsletter should not be all about selling (this is a surefire way to guarantee ‘unsubscribes’!). Always begin with offering something valuable and free
- Check and check again – make sure all hyperlinks are working correctly and there is a clear ‘call to action’ so that bookings are easy.
Two great platforms for email marketing are ConvertKit and MailChimp.
#6: Utilize Social Media
While not essential, if you have additional time to dedicate to marketing, social media can be very valuable.
My best advice is to choose one platform that you are familiar with and enjoy using.
Also, consider your target audience …
As a general rule:
- Facebook – great for attracting students aged 40+
- Instagram – 20s – 40s (although there are growing number of users over 50)
- TikTok – teens, 20’s and 30s
TOP TIP: You can set Instagram to also publish to Facebook which halves the work!
Avoiding Overwhelm
The social media sphere can be overwhelming so it’s important to favor quality over quantity.
One well-thought-out and valuable post every few days is more powerful than endless stories and reels that are not relevant to your business.
Be deliberate, be specific, and, remember to align your content with your niche.
Think …
- Mini tutorials
- A piece of yoga philosophy made more accessible
- Beautiful artwork for upcoming events
- Your coming week’s teaching schedule
- Your real, unedited, unfiltered yoga practice
#7: Continue Learning
I always tell my yoga teacher trainees that a 200-hour certification is a foundational course to get you started … the real learning comes when you begin teaching!
As you move through your yoga career you will naturally find yourself gravitating toward different areas of the practice.
Maybe you have a special interest in hands-on assists or wish to learn more about pranayama.
A vital part of being knowledgeable and relevant as a teacher is committing to regular continuing education.
For continuing education courses, Yoga Alliance is a great resource.
in Summary
Learning how to start a yoga business does not have to be complicated.
Once you have identified your niche, consider how you can align your passion and expertise with the needs of your community.
Remember that building your client base through personal interactions is key, followed by valuable email marketing.
Any extra time and resources could be dedicated to social media although this is not a ‘must do’.
Above all, stay true to yourself.
Be authentic in your offerings, and keep evolving as you grow in your yoga journey, committing to your own practice as well as being open to continuing education.
Read more on how to find your path within the yoga industry here:
Yoga Instructor Jobs: 8 Paths To Take After Your Yoga Teacher Training