The Yogipreneur » Pricing

So you want to teach yoga…Part IV

yogipreneur — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:00:53 +0000

You’ve done all the prep work. You know exactly what kind of student you are hoping to teach. You’ve brainstormed a few different locations to teach. So how do you approach an organization to set up a class?

Create a proposal

A well-crafted proposal is an essential tool to gaining entry into the “non-yoga” world. If you are trying to start a class anywhere but a gym or studio, a proposal helps you to create:

Clear expectations The location knows exactly what you are offering, options for payment, and how the program will be run.
Professionalism A written proposal maintains a level of professionalism. Too many yoga teachers start a program with just a conversation and nothing in writing. A written proposal shows dedication and will increase the support from the organization.
Education Most of the people you will talk to know nothing about yoga – and what they do know is often wrong! Educate them on the benefits of yoga. Provide clear points that answer the question “Why do the people here need yoga?”.

What’s in a proposal?

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Are you blocking the flow of abundance

yogipreneur — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:44:48 +0000

I received an interesting email the other day. A new yoga business owner was asking me “how do I discuss my fees with new clients”. He had not communicated clear expectations and these clients were walking in with no understanding of how he works. I could sense the uncertainty.

The fear in asking for money is essentially putting a brick wall right in the flow of abundance. You either attract money or you repel it. And it all begins with your personal thoughts and attitudes towards money.

Remember – what you think about, you bring about.

Many people have issues with money. We’ve all heard “money is the root of all evil”. I think that’s ridiculous – money is not good or bad. Money is just one of many currencies that people offer in exchange for services. Money allows you to continue your path of self-development – which allows you to offer more value to your students.

If you are not confident in your fee structure, you are attracting people who aren’t confident in your fee structure. You are attracting people who want to argue about how it costs too much to work with you.

If you do not set clear expectations of how you work with your clients, don’t be surprised when things don’t go as planned.

The first conversation with a potential student, whether someone is coming in to take a group class OR is a potential private client, needs to outline exactly how you work, expectations of the teacher and the student, and the fee structure.

If you don’t know how you work, the expectations of teachers and students, or have a fee structure in place – you need to create on asap!

Learn more about the Energy of Money at my workshop June 13th 2009!

Church of Yoga

yogipreneur — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:24:25 +0000

As I’m writing materials and talking to my yoga community for my workshop, The Energy of Money, I’m finding many people have a similar attitude about the services they are providing as a yoga teacher or in running a studio: yoga is a spiritual service – and asking for money doesn’t seem right.

This is a dangerous attitude to have about money. It is right along the same lines as money is evil.

Money is simply one of the many forms of currency that is exchanged for your services. (Yes there are others – more about that later!) Money is not good or evil. It is a simple way to exchange for the value of your services.

Here is another way to think about the exchange of money for spiritual services: a church (or synagogue or mosque). The church has financial obligations. Don’t they have utilities to pay? Don’t they have to purchase paper to print programs or toilet paper? There are expenses in running each program the church offers to the community.

And the church must provide a salary to the minister. The minister at a minimum needs to be able to afford food, clothing and shelter. The minister must continue their spiritual journey just as yoga teachers must continue to learn on the mat to better serve their community.

The church does not ask for donations or hold fund-raisers to extort money from their community. These funds are directed back to the community to provide more education, more spiritual guidance and deepen relationships.

If your students are finding a mind-body-spirit connection, they will realize that supporting you as a teacher will only bring more abundance into their life as well.