Balance May 2018 - 12

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th e manual
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So you want to be a...

yoga teacher
You'll need to be extra-flexible, but bend enough and you'll reap the rewards

H
TRAINING

Official qualifications don't
(yet) exist, but if you don't
know your Shavasana from
your Utkatasana you're not
going to get very far.

COST

Triyoga's 24-month programme
will set you back £4,500, while
Frame Academy's 200hr
course, led by teachers Michael
James Wong and Emily-Clare
Hill, comes in at £2,800. Both
are accredited.

TIMELINE

POINT OF VIEW

Most courses ask for at least
two years of practice with a
qualified teacher. It's best to
view your journey as turning a
passion into a profession.

RESOURCES

Yogaalliance.org is a non-profit
organisation representing the
yoga community and
provides resources, routes
for continued education
and support.

GOOD READ

Jay Fields' Teaching People Not
Poses will help you truly
connect with your students.

12

Sanchia Legister
33, Russell Square
@misssanchialege
'With yoga, I've been
able to start a small
community of people
who like their wellness
served up with a side of
collaboration and some
dope brands. I've
travelled and shared
yoga in beautiful places
and been part of some
cool campaigns,
bringing yoga to more
unusual spaces.'

Michael James Wong
35, North London
@michaeljameswong
'There are challenges
with every career, but
what I've learned
through yoga is that
if you bring honesty
and integrity to every
class, conversation and
situation you're faced
with personally and
professionally, there
will always be a way
to make this
life successful.'

BA LA N CE May 2018

SUCCESS COACH

FAQ

LAUREN ARMES
Lauren is founder of
Welltodo, which helps
people build incredible
businesses and careers
in the wellness industry

Q.

I'd love to start an
ethical yoga studio, but
can business and ethics
co-exist comfortably?
It's common for people
to believe if a business is
'committed to doing good',
it won't turn a profit. This is
not the case. In a crowded
marketplace, it could give
you the USP you need.

A.

Q.

I'm starting out and
want someone who I can
learn from. Should I look
for a mentor?
A mentor can help shape
your business. Look for
someone you admire, who's
further into their journey
than you. You'll be surprised
how willing most people are
to impart knowledge.

A.

Phoebe Greenacre
34, West London
@phoebegreenacre
'After practicing yoga on
and off for 15+ years,
I realised it was fast
becoming an
international language.
I know how much yoga
had added to my life
and I wanted to be able
to share this wonderful
gift with others. Being
able to travel and teach
yoga was always
a dream.'

Q.

As a self-employed
yoga teacher, what's the
best way to diversify my
revenue streams?
Scaling is difficult when
your product is a direct
exchange for time, so
create digital content that's
shareable on a global scale.

A.

Visit welltodoglobal.com
for business and career
opportunities in wellness

WORDS:LAURA
XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX6.5PT/8PT
WORDS:
HILL ILLUSTRATION:
RAMI NIEMI APERCU

career toolkit

atha, hot, aerial... even goat. Nowadays the ancient
practice of yoga is more diverse than ever. Thanks
to the bendy-bodied Instagram brigade who have
been head-standing their way across the beaches of Bali, over
300 million people worldwide are pulling on their Lululemon
to attempt Downward-Facing Dog. As the $16bn industry
continues to boom, it's never been more enticing to step inside
the studio and teach.
Tossing the overnight influencer status and six-figure
endorsement deals aside, in an increasingly competitive field
the most realistic route to success consists of years of practice,
irregular working hours and the decision to invest in your most
important commodity: yourself. Be prepared to spend money
to  make money, and you can kiss routine goodbye.
Once you're qualified, working across yoga studios will
provide invaluable experience and help grow your network.
But if you're serious about taking your salary to the next level,
you'll need to go it alone.
This will require both mental and physical strength, as you
morph from teacher, to marketeer, to accountant, to all-round
therapist. Yep, your students will look to you to heal everything,
from posture to broken hearts.
In today's ecosystem, establishing a personal brand is what
will get bums on mats, headline influencer appearances and
that obligatory book deal. Market yourself as much as you
can, but remember in the end, it's how you transform the lives
of others that will determine whether you drive a successful
and sustainable career.
http://www.Yogaalliance.org http://www.welltodoglobal.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance May 2018
