The Yogipreneur » Working Smarter

The Seasons of Business – Summer

yogipreneur — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:01:23 +0000

Every business is seasonal. For most of us, the summer is traditionally a slow time. Kids are on vacation, people are traveling, and routines are more relaxed. With a little planning, you can learn to use this time to grow your business and position yourself to have an incredible fall and winter!

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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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Creating a Business Plan…Part I

yogipreneur — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:00:54 +0000

As a yoga teacher, you take time to prepare for a class. You set the intention for the class. You look for inspiration from your teachers to impart on your students. A sequence is developed to prepare the body to reach a specific posture. Each class builds on what you taught in the previous class.

So it surprises me that many yogis begin on the journey of a yoga business (teaching or owning a studio) without a goal in mind. They spend more time planning classes than planning for their business.

Without a clearly defined purpose, the business is more likely to be unfocused and lack direction. When opportunities or roadblocks arise, how do you decide what to do or what not to do if you don’t even know where you are going?

A business plan is a tool that can bring clarity to decision making in your business. This is not a static document – a functional business plan is a dynamic plan that is consistently reviewed and updated. It keeps the business on track so that you can achieve the vision for your ideal life.

What is in a business plan?

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July Business Bootcamp

Allow The Yogipreneur to guide you through the process of creating a functional, results-oriented business plan. This series of 4 webinars will take you through each section of a business plan with a bonus session on creating systems to allow you to achieve more of your goals with less time and energy!

Two Week Series | Tuesdays & Thursdays 1PM – 4PM | July 14 – 23 2009
Creating a five year strategic action plan for your business.
Read more and Register Online

So you want to teach yoga…Part III

yogipreneur — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:14 +0000

Submit a resume to your local gyms and studios, but don’t limit yourself to only these locations. In these economic times, there are dozens of alternative locations looking to add more to their menu of services. Once you have identified your ideal student, brainstorm other places your student might frequent.

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So you want to teach yoga…Part II

yogipreneur — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:33 +0000

You are now a yoga teacher! With a RYT certificate in hand, you start applying to gyms and yoga studios; however with the current economy you quickly realize there are few openings for new yoga teachers. So how do you find students and places to teach?

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Smarter Not Harder

yogipreneur — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:13 +0000

I am often asked how I am able to stay so focused and accomplish so much so quickly. Many people think that I must work non-stop – but this is not true. Admittedly, I used to be one of those people who put in a 12 hour day then came home to work on the weekends. Now I have simply learned some ways to work smarter and not harder – freeing up my time and energy to pursue my passions and spend time with my loved ones.

So here are some of my tips and tricks so that you can get off the 12 hour treadmill and start having more control over your time!

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Creating a Life Plan

yogipreneur — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:45:20 +0000

Most new business owners think the first thing that they should do is start writing a business plan. While a business plan is imperative to the growth and success of your business, there is something even more important that you need to consider – creating a life plan.

As a business owner, many opportunities arise. Many of these opportunities will be incredible business opportunities to grow or increase income, however many of these opportunities will also move you away from your vision of your ideal life. A life plan is the foundation for not only your business plan, but also for the decisions that you will need to make in your business.

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Learn the essentials of creating a functional business plan with The Yogipreneur Blog – Creating a Business Plan coming June 24th!

Taking yoga off the mat

yogipreneur — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:45:17 +0000

As yogis and yoginis, we practice yoga asana to learn to master the body and quiet the mind. However many of us forget the importance of a quiet mind when we step off our mats and into our business!

We live in a world of NOW. Someone calls you, you immediately answer. An email pops up on your blackberry, you immediately start typing a response. You get on facebook while you watch TV. Throughout the day, you are constantly interrupted and distracted.

The average person is interrupted about 50 times per day, for an average of 5 minutes per interruption, and it takes us about 20 minutes to get re-focused. This means approximately every 8-10 minutes you are interrupted. Each workday, you spend almost four of eight hours dealing with phone calls, instant messages, emails, etc. It seems the only time you can find a quiet mind is on your mat!

A quiet mind is powerful. A quiet mind brings more clarity, focus, and attention to detail than the mind consumed by multi-tasking. It also brings efficiency and productivity to your business.

So how can you re-create the peaceful feeling off the mat when you are dealing with your business?

Create a space and time that is distraction free. Tell everyone that you can not be reached for a few hours. Do not answer your phone, email, instant message, or facebook. Do not allow anyone to walk into your office to ask a question. Do not get on the internet. Focus 100% on the task at hand.

This may be difficult. We are all addicted to our devices and worry that things can’t run without us there. THAT IS NOT TRUE! Everything will continue to run, people will figure out their own problems, and you will become much more productive and effective. You will be amazed at how quickly the mind will become quiet with no distractions or interruptions.