Calling the yoga teacher market saturated is an understatement. More and more teachers are struggling to find jobs as the supply is much greater than the demand. I see teachers struggle all the time. I hear teachers speak to the challenges of the industry, getting in with studios, building a reliable schedule, earning a sustainable paycheck and so on. This doesn’t mean you should give up though and let go of your dreams. There is a way to stand out and get the jobs you want. What’s the catch? You have to WORK. You must be dedicated. Committed. Assertive. You have to be a LEADER in your community. If you work hard, patiently and persistently, you will be successful.

My Top 3 Tips for Getting a Job

1. Volunteer or work at a nearby studio

You’re probably already working full time. So what? Do you really think you can start a business and it’s going to be easy? What are you willing to sacrifice to get what you need? Realistically, this will mean less television, Netflix and social media. That’s a sacrifice you HAVE to make if you want to be successful.

In the corporate world they call it networking. In yoga we call it community - kula. Find your community and build there. I specify nearby because you absolutely don’t need to be wasting time commuting. Find a studio near home or work that fits your vibe and start showing up there. Get involved, find out who’s in charge and make yourself known.

It’s rare to get a job at a studio you’ve never been too. Simply applying and dropping off resumes will not work. I promise you.

2. What’s Your Niche?

What will make you stand out from the rest? You saw how many other potential teachers were in your YTT. It’s not hard to look around your community and see how many yoga teacher training programs are being advertised. The supply is much greater than the demand when it comes to yoga teachers getting a job. My hope is your teacher training talked to you about your dharma and if they didn’t it’s time to start exploring what that is. What is your purpose?

To help you clarify this vision I often as teachers to think back to their first time in a yoga class. What was your experience like? This may take some time to reflect, meditate and remember what it was like being a student for the first time. Then, think about the light bulb moment. The moment something clicked and you realized this yoga thing was something more than what you first imagined.

Why am I asking you to do this? Because many teachers live in fear about people not liking their classes. And to get over that fear, all you have to do is imagine you were teaching your beginner self. Teach in a way that made YOU fall in love with this practice. And leave the rest behind. The reality is there will be people who don’t like your classes. It doesn’t matter how confident you are or how many hours of yoga teacher training you have. There were likely people in the same classes that you loved who hated it and had the opposite experience.

So figure out what you do best and just do that. Teach the class that your beginner self fell in love with and that will be your natural law of attraction. That is who is showing up to your classes!

3. Take Initiative. Ask for a demo IN PERSON!

Getting the job is not important. But getting feedback from an industry leader on how to improve is imperative. Asking for demo’s is a win-win situation. You get valuable practice, it builds courage and shows that you are willing to take a chance and learn.

You won’t get what you don’t ask for. Simply ask about what the hiring process is, if you can teach a demo class, and don’t be surprised if it takes time and a little follow up. I’ve had to follow up several times over a few months to get a job at Equinox. It took about 6 months of consistently following up. I used to be hiring manager in retail and the folks who bugged me, kept asking, and consistently followed up almost always got hired. It showed persistence, passion, and courage! Move past your fear and ask. If you get ghosted (I’ve had that happen too) then it’s not your vibe. On to the next!

Are you Ready to take the NEXT step?

Check out my Business Support Network for Yoga Teachers by clicking below. I host monthly virutal meetups, run group mentorship programs and offer 1:1 coaching calls.

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