Ignite Your Fire & Share Your Passion

It is time to build your classes!

● Finding your student base

● Writing your bio and mission statement

● Developing your voice as a teacher

● Using language safely

● Writing your class description

● Mastering social media

● Pitching your class to a yoga studio

● Creating flyers, posters & marketing materials

Module 5

““We are told to let our light shine, and if it

does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call

attention to their shining - they just shine.” ~ Dwight L. Moody ~

Finding Your Student Base

Tools:

� Your Bio� Your Networks� Intro to Yoga Workshop/Series,

etc.� Yoga For All Classes

“� Put yourself out there; create a series� Be authentic and truthful� Share your story� Enlist your friends

“Your Vibe Helps You Find Your Tribe”

Creating a Kick Asana Bio

1. Be honest and authentic2. Be creative and fun3. Be You

Shine!Tell Your Story

Writing Your Bio

� Introduce yourself� Tell us about your yoga journey� Tell us why we want to practice with you?� You +what=Yoga� Be concise and do it in 200 words or less

Your Bio is your Resume

For Social Media:

Short Bio:Dianne Bondy is a celebrated yoga teacher, social justice activist and leading voice of the Yoga For All movement.

Her inclusive view of yoga asana and philosophy inspires and empowers thousands of followers around the world - regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability.

Dianne Bondy - Dianne Bondy is a celebrated yoga teacher, social justice activist and leading voice of the Yoga For All Movement. Her inclusive view of yoga asana and philosophy inspires and empowers thousands of followers around the world - regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability.

She applies over 1000 hours of training to help her students find freedom, self-expression and radical self-love in their yoga practice. She shares her message and provides millions of followers with affordable access to online yoga classes, workshops and tutorials at her virtual studio: Yogasteya.com. Dianne contributes to Yoga International, Yoga Journal, Do You Yoga, and Elephant Journal. She is featured and profiled in International media outlets: The Guardian, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, and more. She is a spokesperson for diversity in yoga and yoga for larger bodies, as seen in her work with Pennington's, Gaiam, and the Yoga & Body Image Coalition. Her work is published in the books: Yoga and Body Image and Yes Yoga Has Curves.

Long Bio for Websites

““If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.”

~Milton Berle� There is nothing wrong with promoting yourself!

� How are people going to find you if you don’t tell

who you are and what you are doing?

“Pictures1. Hire a photographer or take a great selfie2. Wear something that makes you feel good3. You need one headshot and one full body4. Have fun with the photos. Your energy shows up

on camera

Finding Your Voice

Ask your self:� What made you want to teach yoga?� How has yoga changed your life?� What is your favourite part of teaching?� Who do you want to teach too?

Language and Class Descriptions

� Define Yoga in Your Terms (enjoy yoga for your body-

everyone is welcome)

� Set Expectations (what will you teach in your class; what can your

students expect)

� Know Your Audience (who do you want to teach too)

� Be Concise (make sure you cover the what you are teaching, when

you are teaching and why people want to practice with you. Use dynamic and uplifting language, make your class an event )

Class Descriptions

Example:

Yoga for bigger bodies is about celebrating your practice as you are.

Beginners welcome, Everyone is welcome All sizes welcome. Come and

connect with your breath and your practice. Our yoga class is not about how

big, how flexible, or how strong you are , it about making yoga available to all

different abilities.

Mastering Social Media

The art of shameless self-promotion

The most important marketing tool: Your email list

◎ You MUST build your list!

◎ Create the ultimate freebie to entice subscribers

◉ Know your audience

◉ Solve a problem, struggle, or pain point

◉ Offer awesome value

◎ Set up an email list

◉ Mailchimp

◉ Mailpoet

So many networks, so little time!

Tips for great social content

◎ Figure out where your strengths lie

◎ Show your personality

◎ Consistency is key

◎ Provide value

◎ 3:1 ratio

◎ Remember that social media is about

conversation!

Build community offline, too!

Encourage your students to build friendships with one another in your classes.

Give your students a place to interact outside of class.

Celebrate your students online.

Pitching your class to a yoga studio

◎ Before you go, do your homework!

◎ Resume◎ Can you build your student

base first?◉ Free community classes

or beginner series◉ Build that list!

Approaching a yoga studio

Before you contact anyone

◉ Learn as much as you can beforehand

◉ Take classes with various teachers, ask who you should approach

Making first contact

◉ Take a class with the studio owner and follow up with an email

◉ Be brief but give important details

Once you have their ear...

Be proactive

◉ Get ready to talk marketing

◉ Be prepared to hustle

Show your skills

◉ Get a demo class ready

◉ Bring that Yoga For All game!

◉ Nervous? Reconnect with your “why”

Be ready to negotiate

Be prepared to be flexible

◉ Substitute teach - build relationships with other teachers at the studio

◉ Work study

◉ Non-prime-time class spot

Build your resume, but know your worth

Yoga in “non-yoga” spaces

Teaching yoga in places other than the yoga studio can open up a vast array of opportunities for a new student base.

Yoga studio alternatives

◎ Corporate offices

◉ Subsidized for employees

◉ Start small - pitch a trial run

◉ Show value to management

◎ Gyms

◎ Churches or community centers

◎ Libraries

◎ Your house or a friend’s house

◎ Hospitals or nursing homes

◎ Parks and Rec

Marketing Materials

Great photography is key!

Your photos will make or break your marketing materials, so spend time to get them right!

Print materials

Business cards

◉ Put an offer on the card itself (free or discounted class? Something else?)

◉ Moo.com

◉ Vistaprint.com

Flyers

◉ Trade with a designer

◉ Canva

What to include on a flyer

◎ Name of the offering

◎ Date(s) & Time(s)

◎ Location

◎ Large photo

◎ Description

◎ Cost

◎ About you (optional)

◎ Call to action

◎ Contact information

Your website

◎ Before you get started - research your competition

◎ What do you want? What do you NOT want?

◎ Make sure your photos are on point!

◎ Build that site!

◉ Squarespace or Wordpress

◉ Splashthat

◉ Upwork

◉ Trade with a friend

◎ Pick a simple, clean template and keep your site current

What to put on your site

◎ About you

◉ Bio

◉ Experience & training

◉ Affiliations

◉ Your photo

◎ Signup form for your list with your freebie offer

◎ Class schedule

◎ Blog

There’s no substitute for

active marketing!◎ Flyers are easy, but talking to

people is the best way to build a community!

◎ Build relationships with your students!

◎ Avoid jargon◎ Host a yoga party

Keep hustling!

◎ Marketing is never over! Don’t give up. Consistency is key.

◎ Remember, talk to people! (Not just yogis!)

◎ Don’t be passive, be a trailblazer!

◎ Get the word out - share your passion!

◎ Remember, this stuff takes time!

You got this!