Lately I’ve been trying pretty hard to find a way to teach yoga again, which is not easy when you’re the new kid in town. I’ve been going to lots of different studios, introducing myself to the owners, requesting to be on the sub list… I’m going to be honest. It’s pretty annoying how they all say, “Our subs are members of our community that I know very well. They’ve all taken my class for YEARS.”
Well, excuse me for asking!
No, snagging a yoga teaching job is not not like getting other types of jobs. You can’t just show up, resume in hand, and expect to get the job because you’re the most qualified candidate. It really doesn’t matter if you’ve mastered Crow Pose, know the yamas and niyamas inside and out, or have tons of experience and knowledge. Most of the time, it’s about knowing the right people and being a part of the community. (Actually, maybe it’s not so different from getting other jobs after all.) Unfortunately, after three months, I still don’t know anyone here, so getting a studio owner to take a gamble on me feels like an impossible feat.
So how do you talk a studio owner who doesn’t know you well into giving you a shot? Anyone have any experience with this? Am I really going to have to wait YEARS to get a teaching job in a new town? That just doesn’t seem fair. I promise I’ll show up! And I’ll even put all the props away neatly when class is over! Do you think begging would help?
What's funny to me, is that when I first started teaching in Denver – I got every job I blinked my eyes at. Without a doubt… sometimes at places I'd never seen before.
Sometimes I found that asking for a job directly after practicing in a class taught by the owner was a nice way to transition into it. Other times you DO have to wait at least 6 months of regularly practicing there before they'll even consider you to sweep the floor. You just have to feel it out.
Then I moved to small town Oregon and there is only a tiny tiny yoga community here. I find myself dealing with 2 kinds of people. People that would love to hire me, but expect me to take minimum wage for 3 hours a week… and people that say they don't have room for a new instructor – even though they only HAVE 3 people.
I refuse to take a job with insulting pay – I'd literally work for free first. And these other people just want nothing to do with me… even though I'm THE most qualified person in town by a longshot. I have now been NOT teaching for just over 2 years. I can't wait to move.
My current best bet is that I'm talking to a local non-profit that will let me rent space… but it's going to be awfully hard to build a following from scratch.
Good Luck – I'm sure you'll find something soon ♥
What about private sessions or trade your yoga teaching for someone elses skills? If they like your session word will get around and a studio will want you rather than you pulling people from them. Or you could volunteer with a school or gym for the free yoga they put on from time to time… Get to know people and get your name out there…
I don't know, I can see how this would be a hard situation to be in… None of your teachers knew anyone in the area who could help you wiggle into the community?
One strategy is to start taking classes at a couple studios you really like. It's amazing how quickly you become a 'familiar' face around the studio (it doesn't really take 'years' for people to get to know you). As the teachers get to know your practice, they'll feel more confident asking you to sub.
Have you considered offering to teach some Karma classes (PWYC)? This could be a way to get your foot in the door. I got one of my teaching positions by offering to teach a couple of weeks of classes for free (which were then offered free to members). The classes were a hit and I was hired!
Gyms are often more willing to hire based on your resume and experience, I find. Make sure you're getting paid the same rate as the other fitness instructors/personal trainers. Also offer your resume to community centres. Reach out to churches in the area – they are often willing to rent space cheaply in order to offer yoga as a service to their congregants.
Finally, you can try niche classes like Youth Yoga or Yoga for Seniors. Draw up a plan for what you have to offer and do some cold calling. A friend of mine did that for her Hooping classes and ended up on the Yoga sublist as well!
Good luck! You're on the right track. Remember: never ever sell yourself short! You were correct to turn down the minimum wage job. You're worth more than that! Others will value you only as much as you value yourself.
What great suggestions already. I agree that Fitness centers are a great place to start. They are usually looking for subs and then you can keep asking about new classes or take over an existing class when it opens up.
Can't say that the kind of attitude you're getting from studio owners would be the same around here. Maybe these studio's offer YTT and now they have lots of graduates who want to teach?
Good luck!
i'm finding myself in the same navasana 😉 (haha couldn't help myself!) i have found that offering to teach a free class is a nice ice breaker and I agree with a post above, it doesn't take years to become a familiar face. especially if you are an enthusiastic participant in a workshop or other event that will give you an opportunity to shine 🙂 best of luck and thanks for your posts!
Sounds frustrating. I know that even as a school teacher, it is definitely not WHAT you know, it's who.
Best of luck!
A friend of mine — a Kundalini yoga teacher — started giving classes at a local community center and posted her flyers on the community boards at the markets. Every friend she made she gave flyers to and now, after 18 months, she is teaching several classes a week. Now, she not only has a following, but she has gotten the attention of other yoga teachers here and can join any studio who wants to offer her style of yoga.
I find it difficult to understand, though, why a yoga studio owner would not give a yoga teacher a shot? Is it a liability issue? Can't you get into a studio on a trial basis?
Along with the suggestions above, I would advise you to work your connections. I know that might seem awkward, but it really is often who you know, and you know a lot of people. Find out which teachers whom you know recently came to Charleston for workshops (even if it was a year ago) and when you speak to the studio owner, tell them about those relationships. Further, if any of those teachers are willing, ask them to call email the studio owners to vouch for you. I know you've had trouble finding a place where you want to practice regularly, but being visible certainly can't hurt.
Wow. I didn't expect to get so many great ideas! I'm glad I posted this. I will definitely offer to teach a free class at all the studios close by! I actually really LOVE the studios around here! I just need to get my foot in the door! 🙂
How lucky am I to have a community of yoga teachers who are so willing to brainstorm with me!
Also be sure and let them know that any embarassing moment, or studio drama is likely to be your next blog topic – read by 1000's. That should seal the deal
Haha! I was reading through these comments just thinking, "Well.. if the studio owners didn't want to give me a class before, they definitely won't want to if they read this blog!" But, yes, whining, begging, and threatening.. I'm sure all will make a great impression. 🙂
As a studio owner, I get many calls and emails from people who want to teach. My studio is my livelihood, so the teaching, and teachers who offer clases and workshops, ultimately reflect on my repuation in the area. And I care deeply about the quality of the experiences my studio offers in the name of Yoga. Why, then, would I hire someone I wasn't at all familiar with? I'd pay attention to someone who came to me after taking several of my classes, and offered to test-teach me a class to "see if it's a good fit". I did that when I was a younger teacher and it got me several teaching jobs. Also don't underestimate the value of being willing to go the extra mile, offer to sub, offer a free community class, ask to try a short workshop or specialty class and donate the proceeds. It's the teachers with "attitude", those who give me the long resume and the "celeb list" of teachers they've attended trainings with along with their salary requirements without bothering to take a class first or find out anything about my studio and whether what they offer would fit with what we do, that I tend to bless and dismiss.
Yes, I get that. If I were a studio owner, I'd probably feel that way, too.
I don't have any different to add but I was thinking about you this morning during my practice & sent you some positive vibes. Any studio and the yoga community will be fortunate to have you!
Maybe we could all start a letter writing campaign in support of you…
I do think that this is an issue though. Being an Army wife I will have to travel to teach someday. There is only 1 studio here where I live so that doesnt leave me very many options either.
I know how you feel you are not alone on this.
I do think that people deserve a chance though. Why not try to do a community class first somewhere. I think you need all types of teachers at your studio. Not everyone likes the same things. Just because this is how things have been done for years doesnt make it right.
It took me two years to get a class at a studio here. And, I rent the space, so I'm not actually and employee. I can understand owners being very particular about who they invite in. I just kept going to classes there and workshops, and eventually got asked to help out subbing in some tight situations…
Not only is it challenging to get a studio job, but then you have to build your clientele and that takes time! So, obviously, we do this because we love it, not because we're making tons of money!
I also teach at a couple of gyms, which I know to some teachers isn't ideal, but I've found that you have an entire audience to reach there that you normally wouldn't have. And, you can start to build a clientele there.
Anyway, best of luck to you! I'm sure that the universe will give you exactly what you need.
Hi, Anonymous Studio Owner,
I sort of feel like some of your comments were directed at my suggestions, and I wanted to clarify why I put them out there. I'm not saying that Erica should attempt to dazzle studio owners with her connections, or posture and prance about how she has trained with some amazing teachers. My suggestion comes more from the idea that if studios have hosted workshops with other instructors with whom Erica has a relationship, I would expect that the studio would value the opinion of the person who gave the workshop and that those connections can be useful. We don't balk at finding and using references in the corporate world–why would they be offensive in the yoga world? Obviously, as a studio owner, you could also gently suggest that someone coming to you looking for a teaching spot might want to teach a test class, sub, whatever you feel would help you know them and them to know you. Surely other beings have more value than to be summarily dismissed because their original approach was not what you desired.
Yoga Teacher Training courses nowadays are inviting yoga aspirants to join the course & learn all about yoga & its benefits.This course involves extensive training on yoga & its benefits.
Dude, I hear ya. Just moved to a new city, away from my vibrant yoga community where I was happily teaching.
I am sort of in the opposite place though, I keep going to studios to check them out with the intention inquiring about teaching and NOTHING is feeling right – I work full time at another career, so I can only teach once a week and so that once of week needs to feel really right. So far, it hasn't come to me…
But like everyone else said, when I first started teaching, I just started taking classes at studios and tried to make connections, always offering to sub first. Don't worry, abundance will come.
A friend of mine is simply offering to teach a sample class for free at fitness centers she wants to work at. She's got an "audition" next week as a matter of fact.
The other thing you could do is simply offer a class of your own through a community center. Schools are good places to get known. In my area, they often hire yoga teachers to come in and teach kids for a month or six week session. Retirement communities are good places to ask to.
The other thing is to stake out a studio. Go to classes like crazy. Mention the other teaching you do (which means doing some of the other things I mentioned).
I just started teaching at the beginning of the summer and have more classes and offers than I can handle really, but I am in a small rural area outside a small town where people really love yoga. There just aren't enough of teachers for the demand.
I hear ya! It does seem to be about who you know most of the time. Very annoying. If you can snag a chance to sub that's usually the best way to get in… or keep showing your face. Good luck!
I recently (6 months ago) started teaching in studios and gyms. I contacted the HEAD of each place directly with emails.. stating my experience, my training, my writing, etc. I also said my schedule and that I'd love to come in and talk to them at their convenience. I mentioned that directly coming to the studio might disrupt their classes so to let me know a time I could introduce myself. I offered to teach a demo class and then also stated the styles of classes I felt comfy getting. Finally I asked to be put on the sub list.
All of the studios I contacted got back to me eventually and I got jobs at most of them. I started out subbing at first and then students liked me and voila.
good luck! (great tips above btw)
The yoga world looks a little different outside the cacoon of yoga journal. This is the reality of many teachers and overhyped teacher trainers courses. Good luck ikn your search.
I know this is a late comment, but I've been struggling with the same thing. I moved back a year ago and immediately began a yoga teacher training program (had been practicing for quite some time in the last city I lived) and so spent the majority of the year at a single studio. Now, the challenge is going out to all of the other studios to *hopefully* find something. I really appreciated all of the comments and I think I'm going to bite the bullet, so to speak, and start putting myself out there! Thanks for the post (and for all of the comments!!)!!