Reaching the Senior Market

[Administrator]

Welcome Cheryl and we look forward to all growing together.

Namaste.

Harlan

[yogipam]

Hello all,
I'd like to add my comments to this issue of paying yoga teachers and the question of affordability -- I wish I could offer some positive suggestions, but I have run across the same issues as many of you.

I have been teaching yoga for nearly 8 years in two different cities, and while I've had a couple of respectably paid good gigs (one health club actually paid me 70 percent of the number of students registered for classes!), mostly the pay is pathetic. I take pride in the training I've received and the expertise I've developed (in no small part to my students, whom I learn so much from every day) and enjoy and take pride in sharing this and helping others. It's gratifying when students appreciate you, especially in alleviating their chronic pain when they are able to get through their day in more comfort and can sleep better.

So why do people and facilities feel like they shouldn't have to pay you properly for your expertise? Sometimes I think too many new yoga teachers spoil it for the others. They are so anxious to get any yoga assignment, they'll take anything for it. I have any number of experiences where I either had marketed myself to chiro/physical therapy centers, schools and corporations -- in some instances, they came to me and asked for me because I was referred or they knew of my reputation -- and then set up classes or series, only to be dumped at the last minute because when it came time to pull out their checkbooks, they decided they "couldn't afford it."

In one case, a college of chiropractic came to me asking that I set up a series for the semester, for the chiro students to not only relieve their tension, but for them to gain a deeper understanding of yoga so as to help their future patients (possible referrals). Because they were students, I was asked to discount my services. I worked out a plan where it ended up costing $7.50 per person per class, considerably less than what I had planned to charge, with a minimum of 6 students attending, but probably closer to 10. So I would make at least $45 per class. I thought I made them an incredibly good deal. Three days before the first class was to be, they called me and said they didn't need my services after all, because they had found another teacher who was willing to charge only $5 per person. I happened to know who this teacher was, and knew she was a fairly newly certified teacher.

As far as corporate yoga, it seems that individual teachers don't get paid much more for a class than in the health clubs, unless the corp. classes were set up through a yoga studio. When a studio markets and sets up a program with a corp. (company to company) they charge the corp. a hefty amount -- and the company pays it -- but the studio doesn't pass on much of that fee to the teacher they send. So companies are respected more than individual teachers??

I currently teach a few group/public classes a week, but it's not a living. Thanks to Sara and Harlan, though, I am starting to market myself for private students only. I'm very excited about this prospect and plan to seriously, actively market. But I could still use an infusion of positive thinking!

[Sara]

Dear Yogipam,

Hi there. I just finished reading your e-mail and for a brief moment felt very depressed.

If I was a new yoga teacher and currently not doing so well in my business, I would be terribly depressed and with a feeling of hoplessness.

But a little smile came across my face as your perked your attitude up and the end.

Wow, You need to wash out your brain with soap and dive quickly into a positive light. I say this with the best intention and warmth.

Go re-read this e-mail you posted. 99% of it is negative. If this is what you are writing and thinking, then guess what....

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE SENDING OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE AND A DARK CLOUD IS HOVERING OVER YOU!!

Tonight or whenever you get this e-mail I want you to create a powerful positive affirmation for yourself regarding prosperity in teaching yoga. I want you to write it on several recipe cards and decorate your entire house: the bathroom, your bedroom, kitchen, in your car, on your mirrors and under your pillow. I want you to begin changing your mindset in a big way allowing this new phrase to become your mantra.

Live and breathe POSITIVITY!!!!

what happened with your teaching before today was in the past and now you are ready to move foward and make fantastic money doing what you are so passionate about and what you have trained so hard at.

Once you take control of your mind and believe all that you want is possible, you tap into and abundance of source energy and your world will begin to transform.

with warmest regards
Let me know how you are doing and I wish you much success and a complete turnaround in your income for teaching.

Namaste,
Sara