Yoga for KIDS: marketing and finding a space

[YogaKid]

Hello everyone...I'm completely new to your website and your forum, but I have read through most of the forum posts...I'm glad I found you and I hope that maybe you can help me.

I have just recently become a certified YogaKids and Yoga for the special child teacher...I currently teach 3 yoga classes for kids

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one at a Dharma Buddhist Community center whose mission is to offer ALL of their services and classes for FREE. They pay us but the public gets if at no cost. I get a base pay $35 for a once/week class no matter how many kids show up and then we ask for donations. Normally, I average between $53-60 total (base plus donations) although there have been classes wehre I have left there with $90+. As a beginner, I feel I have been doing pretty well with this class the problem...I can only teach there once/week because they can only afford to pay me once a week!!

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I have two kids yoga classes at a local yoga studio whose mission is to offer quality classes at low rates (i.e $5/class and unlimited monthly is $45) ...Theses are phenominal prices and they pull in 40 students + per class - they do well (I go there myself and love it). For the kids yoga, we are offering a 6-week session for $36 (so that's $6.00/class per child).......I got 13 registered and we have occasional drop-ins at $7.00 a class. The deal is 50/50 so I normally am getting moer or less $40 per class here (and that's times 2 since there are two classes)

Again I think that I'm not doing SO bad...but the problem is getting more classes so that combined I can make a decent income.
My questions for you:
1 - Am I right to assume that privates for Kids is not very common?
2 - I want to start giving private for Special Needs childrens (as I am certified now with Yoga for the special Child) but having a step-son with DS myself..I know many many families with special needs childrens that have so many expenses....a Yoga therapy may just not make the cut as a priority??? Do you have any suggestions as to how to market to this population and how much to charge for 1 hour sessions?
3 - How does a beginner go about getting a space to do privates??? A yoga studio would want a cut for each class....I can't afford to rent a place by myself and although I have plans in the future to possibly open up Tucson's First studio FOR KIDS ONLY....in the mean time....I can't seem to get off the ground (either with classes or with privates) because I don't have my own space....

I'm in Tucson, AZ and no one that I know of is offering Special Y oga. Also, there are three studios that offer kids yoga but it's sporadically and their main focus is NOT kids...but adult classes. Their prices range from $7 - 12 per class.
Your advice so far has been inspiring...and maybe you can help me out too.
Thanks.
Namaste.
C

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by YogaKid

Again I think that I'm not doing SO bad...but the problem is getting more classes so that combined I can make a decent income.
My questions for you:
1 - Am I right to assume that privates for Kids is not very common?
2 - I want to start giving private for Special Needs childrens (as I am certified now with Yoga for the special Child) but having a step-son with DS myself..I know many many families with special needs childrens that have so many expenses....a Yoga therapy may just not make the cut as a priority??? Do you have any suggestions as to how to market to this population and how much to charge for 1 hour sessions?
3 - How does a beginner go about getting a space to do privates??? A yoga studio would want a cut for each class....I can't afford to rent a place by myself and although I have plans in the future to possibly open up Tucson's First studio FOR KIDS ONLY....in the mean time....I can't seem to get off the ground (either with classes or with privates) because I don't have my own space....

I'm in Tucson, AZ and no one that I know of is offering Special Y oga. Also, there are three studios that offer kids yoga but it's sporadically and their main focus is NOT kids...but adult classes. Their prices range from $7 - 12 per class.
Your advice so far has been inspiring...and maybe you can help me out too.
Thanks.
Namaste.
C

First, you're calling to teach yoga to children and especially special needs children is a blessing. May God reward you for the love and caring you share with each child you teach, connect with and inspire.

You've asked a lot of questions but I'll give you an over all response.

Unfortunately, our society does not prioritize what you are doing. They will not pay you what your service is worth.

So you need to make an adjustment.

For you to continue to bestow your blessings and love on these children, you need to have a solid financial base.

Once you do that, you can do what you love and what is calling you.

Yes, you can teach privates to children. My youngest children have a private yoga session each week. We've also recommended this teacher to a friend and they've hired her once a week.

Once you start the referral systems we will explain, you should be able to get privates with children.

But since children go to school during the day, I'd recommend you start building a business based on adults, make some money, and then be able to do what you love without guilt.

Money can be a blessing or a curse. It depends what you do with it.

Be the blessing in these childrens' lives with a solid financial base.

Namaste!

Harlan

[nancybritton]

Hi C,
I am with Harlan, bless you for focusing on children's needs. I have been teaching kids yoga for a couple of years. The reward is huge in hearing from parents that the breathing exercises alone have helped their child cope with any assortment of stresses.
I started teaching at my son's elementary school. I was able to integrate it for one month into their PE class, so that the kids got a taste of it. Then I started a class after school which grew so large , I added another class. This worked beautifully for me because I used an empty classroom or the library and was not charged for the room. The school realized that is was a benefit for their students. I only charged $5 per class.
If your focus is on student's with special needs, I would advise working with a school's resource teachers and connect with those students and their parents. Maybe just go in once or twice a week for about 15 min. and teach the kids breathing exercises. Then work it into classes after school for them.
I think that it is key to make it easy for the parents. After school classes give the parents a little more time in their busy days before they have to pick up their child. This works better than them having to pick up their child and take them to another location.
This business grew in other ways for me also. The moms wanted a class for themselves. So, I did a class one morning a week for them that started right when school did. I was able to use an empty classroom. They dropped their kids at their classrooms and came to my class. For moms, it is all about convenience and less trips in the car.
Then the teachers wanted and deserved a class after school. So, two days a week, I was teaching teachers yoga.
It may help to do a little volunteer work to get a foot in the door, just to get a connection to that school community but once in the door, the opportunities are endless.
I wish you well in your endeavors and know that you are offering an invaluable tool to our future generation.
Namaste,
Nancy

[barefootyoga]

Hi there! I just returned from a training for Yoga in Chairs funded by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. I stumbled onto this by accident and had NO IDEA that grant funding was an option for yoga classes. If you are wanting to teach a class specifically for children with disabilities you can try touching base with local doctors who specalize and find support groups. These people know who is available for grant money. At least in my case, the coordinator of the local MS support group just got a grant from one of the pharmaceutical companies for $1,800 toward yoga classes. The MSF and I agreed upon $40 a class plus the people pay $2 each. This grant money enables us to have 45 classes.
Also, when I first started teaching I approached a karate studio and worked out a deal where I payed him $200 flat fee a month and taught classes when the studio wasn't in use for karate. I was also able to advertise thru him to his students and their parents. I wasn't there long, but it did serve as a stepping stone on my path!!
One more thing about the kids classes. I taught a class last summer and a REALLY helpful option is building a flyer now and taking it to the school board for approval. They approve, then you take it to the individual elementary schools for principal approval (if necessary where you live). Once you have all of the approvals, you get copies made in whatever quantities the school asks for and they will put them in the child's backpacks to go home with them.

Good luck and keep walking your path!!

namaste,
Kristy

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by YogaKid

My questions for you:
1 - Am I right to assume that privates for Kids is not very common?

I think there are strong possibilities for privates for kids. My kids
have a private once a week. I mentioned it to a neighbor and they
hired the instructor as well. But remember, to reach the kids, you
have to go through the parents. The younger the kid, the easier the
sell.

Originally Posted by YogaKid

2 - I want to start giving private for Special Needs childrens (as I am certified now with Yoga for the special Child) but having a step-son with DS myself..I know many many families with special needs childrens that have so many expenses....a Yoga therapy may just not make the cut as a priority??? Do you have any suggestions as to how to market to this population and how much to charge for 1 hour sessions?

It's not a good assumption to make that someone can't afford your services. It's a guarantee that they won't. The fact is that special needs
doesn't discriminate between rich and poor families. And the wealthy families will do anything they can and pay any price to help

Originally Posted by YogaKid

3 - How does a beginner go about getting a space to do privates??? A yoga studio would want a cut for each class....I can't afford to rent a place by myself and although I have plans in the future to possibly open up Tucson's First studio FOR KIDS ONLY....in the mean time....I can't seem to get off the ground (either with classes or with privates) because I don't have my own space....

First, you can do privates at your home or their home. It makes it irresistible to parents when you come to them. Of course, you need to run around a bit but it comes back to you.

As far as the studio for kids only. Time will tell. But kids hours are mainly after school. Fill them with their parents during the day.

And don't forget yoga camp during the summer.

As far as what to charge, find out the going rates for privates and charge it. It doesn't matter that you are new or any of that.

You have spent time developing a level where you are qualified to share yoga with others. When I hire a teacher, I never ask how many years they've been teaching. Only - can they meet my needs.

Originally Posted by YogaKid

I'm in Tucson, AZ and no one that I know of is offering Special Y oga. Also, there are three studios that offer kids yoga but it's sporadically and their main focus is NOT kids...but adult classes. Their prices range from $7 - 12 per class.
Your advice so far has been inspiring...and maybe you can help me out too.
Thanks.
Namaste.
C

Keep us posted on your journey.

Peace.

Harlan

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by barefootyoga

I wasn't there long, but it did serve as a stepping stone on my path!!
One more thing about the kids classes. I taught a class last summer and a REALLY helpful option is building a flyer now and taking it to the school board for approval. They approve, then you take it to the individual elementary schools for principal approval (if necessary where you live). Once you have all of the approvals, you get copies made in whatever quantities the school asks for and they will put them in the child's backpacks to go home with them.

Good luck and keep walking your path!!

namaste,
Kristy

Great ideas Kristy.

Thanks.