So you’re ready to spread the yoga love near and far. You’ve taken the plunge and completed a life-changing journey through yoga and yourself. You have your RYT200. Congratulations! Have a few bliss balls and a tall glass of kombucha to soak in the good vibes before the business bursts your bubble (only at first!).
You’ll gain a lot of knowledge from yoga teacher training, and you will have some teaching experience to help you in the real world after your training is over. There are some things, however, that you can’t learn or teach. They must be experienced. Here are a few of them.
It will be more difficult than you imagine to find a class that you can teach.
Many studios offer a variety of classes and students. It can’t really be that difficult to find a job as a teacher. It is.
Many studios already have a full schedule of classes and even more substitute teachers. Once you’ve found the right balance, adding a course to your schedule can be risky. You can never guarantee that it will attract new students or not cannibalize existing classes.
It’s a little-known fact that most studios don’t do it for money. They often make just enough to pay the bills. It’s not meant to discourage you but to let you know that finding a class may take longer than expected. You’ll have a much better understanding of the following points once you understand this.
Just do it to borrow Nike’s famous phrase.
Do it anyway, even if it takes longer than you think. Say yes. Say yes. Leave your ego behind and let your expectations be free.
It would be best if you remembered that the teachers in your favorite studio are likely to have been teaching for a very long time. Experience is important, just like it is everywhere else. Accept the position of sub teacher for Saturday morning basic yoga, even if you’d rather teach advanced Vinyasa.
You may want to teach Power Yoga, but your studio requires a Yin class on Sunday evenings. Just. Say. Yes. You will soon have more classes. Have faith. You can put it into the universe, and it will return to you with some (or lots) of work.
Your first class will not be full for several months.
It’s a common saying that “if you build it, people will come.” Where are your students if you’ve just landed a first class?
You will have to wait a long time before your classes are full. You may have only a few students in each class, depending on where you are. It’s not a reflection of your teaching. Be open to all feedback. Change things until you find a way that will bring in regulars and maybe even a few newbies.
Don’t quit your day job.
Many yogis dream of spreading yoga vibes all over the world. Unfortunately, yoga, positive energy, and karma don’t have much currency in today’s society.
Keep your day job and teach one or two classes when you have the time. Your roster will grow as you become a better teacher. Maybe one day, you’ll be able to quit your day job.
Find the right balance between ease and effort.
You have to balance sthria with sukham, just like you do in Yoga Asana. Being a yoga teacher can be a tough job; you will have to put in countless hours of work. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Find a balance between the feeling that you are barely working and working hard in order to succeed. It will keep you motivated and passionate.
You are the only person who can.
It’s important to keep in mind what you learned during teacher training. My boss/mentor said to me, before I taught my first class, to be myself and teach what I knew in my heart.
She made me realize I could not be her or any other amazing yoga teacher I’d ever had. I could only be myself. It’s common for yoga teachers to say this. Just do it yourself…you are the only person who can.
You can build your teaching practice, but it takes time. What were the most important lessons you learned when searching for your first yoga teaching job? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.