| How can Yoga teachers make new students realize | | | | help with many ailments, but when you make |
| the value of long-term training? Is it just luck, or | | | | guarantees, you leave yourself open for "legal grief." |
| where you are located, that draws appreciative Yoga | | | | A promise is a guarantee, and can potentially put you |
| students? Is there a method for teaching Yoga to | | | | out of the Yoga business permanently. |
| new students, without scaring them off? Let's look | | | | When you teach Yoga, stick to the facts, and know |
| at many solutions to keep the interest of your | | | | the exact sources of research, before making a |
| established Yoga students and those new Yoga | | | | statement. Most Yoga teachers do not have a |
| students, who just walked in the door. | | | | medical degree, so avoid medical opinions, unless you |
| When a new student arrives to learn Yoga, he, or | | | | are a medical doctor. A wise Yoga teacher would tell |
| she, may not have any previous Yoga experience. | | | | his, or her, Yoga students to seek medical advice |
| When teaching Yoga to new students, it is wise to | | | | from a physician. Yoga students should also look into |
| see it from their viewpoint. Everything is new, | | | | the value of a second opinion from a qualified medical |
| including your staff, your system, and your method | | | | professional. |
| of teaching Yoga. It is up to the Yoga teacher to | | | | Make sure your staff, and the person who answers |
| make of all these components "user friendly." | | | | the phone, are very friendly. If this is not the case, |
| Here are some tips for you, your staff, and the way | | | | find replacements. A rude receptionist will scare off |
| your facility is run. Remember that these guidelines | | | | existing, and new, Yoga students. Your receptionist is |
| also apply to your existing Yoga students too. Never | | | | the "keeper of the gateway" to learning Yoga from |
| take them for granted and your Yoga students will | | | | you, and gives the first impression of what you are |
| stay with you "through thick and thin." Always show | | | | all about. You will never get a second chance to |
| appreciation to your existing Yoga students. | | | | make a first impression. |
| Always give Yoga students your complete attention | | | | Lastly, always return phone calls. At our North |
| and make sure your teaching method for Yoga is the | | | | Providence wellness center, we constantly get calls |
| best it can be. If you are feeling ill, or are in pain, you | | | | from new, and eager, Yoga students who called |
| may have to let a substitute Yoga teacher, teach | | | | another Yoga teacher first. |
| your Yoga class, in your place. All of us want to | | | | However, the first call was not answered, and then, |
| teach our own Yoga classes, but the quality of your | | | | we get the second call. I cannot complain about this, |
| teaching should always be the best it can possibly be. | | | | it works to the advantage of my staff, but not |
| Do not get caught up in "penny pinching." Some Yoga | | | | answering phone calls, at any Yoga studio, gives all |
| teachers become adversarial about fees for every | | | | Yoga teachers a bad image. |
| little thing. If you teach Yoga for a living, charge a | | | | If you follow these basic guidelines, you will keep |
| fee that you can live with. Do not "short change" | | | | more of your existing Yoga students. New Yoga |
| yourself, but avoid the perception of a "money | | | | students will want to repeat a good experience, so |
| hungry" salesperson. Do not hire pushy sales people | | | | you do not have to preach them about the value of |
| either. Your Yoga teaching service depends on a | | | | long-term Yoga practice. They will eventually see it |
| professional image that is seamless, compassionate, | | | | for themselves and will come to appreciate your |
| truthful, and a pleasure to work with. | | | | teaching method. |
| Make sure you can deliver on all of your promises. | | | | Always remember: Becoming a successful Yoga |
| Never talk about Yoga as a cure. This implies that we | | | | teacher is not luck, it is a formula that you must |
| cure our students of ailments. Yoga definitely does | | | | practice every day. |