Things not to do as a yoga teacher when you're trying to get classes at a studio...
I'm a yoga studio manager & yoga teacher and get so many emails from yoga teachers asking about getting a regular class or join the cover list. Usually there are so many issues with their requests.
I get it as a yoga teacher you want to be proactive and reach out to the studios. I’ve had new teachers tell me I’ve sent out 200emails and had zero responses to them. Do you know why you’ve haven’t gotten the replies? Let’s break it down here and share of a few of those reasons and most importantly what you can do to get a response or to build a connection.
First off look at it like this if you were applying for a job at a company and only say hi there, I’m newly qualified and looking to join your business permanently or to do ad hoc work, just reach out. Err I would hope the answer to this would be no you wouldn’t. There are a few things that you’d include before hand.
You want your interactions with a studio or whoever you’re looking to work with to be as simple, easy and minimal work for them to get a sense of you and feel engaged with you.
If you are emailing a studio, check the website. Is there a particular person or email address for new teachers to apply to? Are they looking for teachers? The bigger studios may have a process to go through for example including certificates, references, mini essay or have base requirements like a 500hr YTT. It looks more professional to show that you’ve done your research at the start.
Include your CV. Even if you haven’t taught much or other than friends and family, still put something like that down. It’s important to show that you are getting yourself out there and teaching. Include on your cv things like your contact details, online info, a short bio, where you studied, what trainings have you done, any classes you’ve taught and other yoga related activites, offer references upon request and have a few ready to go. You can add a small photo of yourself. I’d opt for a headshot as it can show your happy face as it’s already a given that you’d be able to do a yoga pose. You’d be amazed at how many emails don’t have a CV attached. As a studio manager, it’s impossible to even consider someone who hasn’t shared the training to give a sense on their training or style that they may teach in.
Share your website or instagram. It’s good to see someone sharing their online presence. It will help you to build your own community. If you’re including these in your email, be sure to make this clickable hyperlinks to your pages. If you don’t want to spend lots on a website then use something like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to create a simple landing page with your info. Perhaps on your instagram or site there will be a small clip of you teaching which will help the person at the studio get a sense of who you are. Or include a clip uploaded to YouTube as a privately listed video. Only those with the link can view it. It can be a 5min section of a class.
Go to the studio to see how it is and attend a class. You may go and decide that the space isn’t your vibe which is totally fine and it’s good to know. Every studio has it’s own atmosphere and ethos. Find ones that inspires you to want to teach there. Whilst you’re at the studio chat to the teachers and if it has Front of House staff, speak to them too. It’s important to build those connections and get them to know your face. Ask about how to get on the cover list and best way to approach this. Studios tend to have a teacher cover in the first instance and then see how the classes go as to whether they’d be a good fit for any up coming permanent teaching spots. Become a regular face at the studio by attending the classes as often as you can.
Connect with other yoga teachers and meet them for a coffee. I found meeting teachers and connecting with them then asking if they ever needed cover for a class was a good way of building a network. Sometimes the teacher I would have met wouldn’t ask me to cover a class but would recommend me to another teacher as possible cover. It helped me to build up my experience and network of classes. There are facebook groups, facebook messenger groups and whatsapp groups for teachers looking for cover. Find the groups local to you. As a word of warning, these cover groups tend to move quickly so make sure you have your info ready to fire over if you’ve said you can cover the class.
Follow the studios you want to teach at on social media. Follow the yoga teachers that you like and would love the opportunity to cover. Some studios may post about opportunities to audition for classes or to join the cover list.
Only offer to teach what you are certified to teach in. If you are offering to teach yin or a prenatal class but haven’t got the correct training then don’t offer this. Most responses for things like this will be ignored due to the fact the trainings make sure you understand the safety elements in a class as well as the deeper knowledge.
Stay humble. Remember there are many teachers and some have covered lots of classes at a studio whilst waiting for the opportunity to teach a regular class. Those organising a schedule appreciate those who are super responsive, want to teach and appreciate the opportunities as they arise.
Why are you solely applying to yoga studios to teach? I would encourage you to widen your offerings and include trying to get corporate classes, private classes and in the background build up ideas for workshops. I found teaching corporate yoga classes to be the most financially and personally rewarding. I would usually make more than 2.5X what I’d be making at a studio class. I’ve created a mini course on how to launch your corporate yoga classes as I do believe there are so many opportunities for yoga teachers to be teaching and making a difference.
Get experience teaching. This can be teaching friends and family. For my first corporate class I used to teach at my friends office. He was an old work colleague and I offered the class for free with the provision that if they liked the classes they’d give me testimonials at the end of the few months. I used him as a reference to get other classes as well. We did switch in time to a paid model when they realised the benefit that the team was getting from the classes. Some of those attending corporate classes wouldn’t feel confident going to a yoga studio or perhaps don’t have the time to go due to other commitments.
Private classes are another great offering to have. These can be harder to get and have a few logistics to work out like location, T&Cs etc. Again, these will be students who don’t want to be in a class setting or even at a yoga studio for a multiple of reasons. They are usually students who want a tailored approach or to work on something for themselves. Teaching privately would earn you more than you would earn in most studios per class. Yes there is a bit more admin to do but it’s really worth plus you have that consistency to see someone growing in their own practice.
Hopefully, there are some useful tips to help you get into a yoga studio and also consider other ways to teach.
