5 Tips For New Yoga Teachers: Creating Your First Workshop

The beginning of your career as a yoga teacher is such an exciting time! With fresh enthusiasm for your new chosen pursuit, and the yoga world literally at your feet, there is so much to get stuck into!

The first step in your new job is usually to secure a space at a studio so that you can begin to teach some classes. You may also start out as a teaching assistant, offering support to a more well-established yoga teacher.

Once you have been teaching your very own classes for a while, then you may start to feel as though you are ready to take the next step and to hold a workshop. A workshop is a great way to promote yourself to new students, as well as offering your existing students something a little bit different.

If you are getting ready to create your first workshop then there is much to consider, and I hope that the following five tips guide you to success!

Be Truly Ready

As with many things in life, it is often tempting to do the things that excite us before we are truly ready. The hazard with doing this with your very first yoga workshop is that you could be setting yourself up to fail.

If you do not feel 100% prepared, then there is no harm in gaining a bit more experience, developing your existing knowledge, and seeking more advice and guidance from those around you first.

Only you can know when you are ready to take this next step, so if you feel like you are at this point then spend some time in deep contemplation asking yourself how you really feel about it.

• Do you feel as though you will be able to guide your students through the entire workshop?
• Do you feel as though you will be able to answer all of their questions?
• Do you feel as though your students will leave the workshop feeling as though they have gained something valuable?

If you have answered ‘no’ to any of these questions then the chances are you simply aren’t ready yet – and there’s no problem with this! Give yourself more time to become the yoga teacher that you want to be before you put yourself out there!

Find Your Niche

If you are struggling to stand out as a yoga teacher then this can soon dampen your spirits and curb your enthusiasm. The truth is that there are a lot of yoga teachers out there, and this often creates strong competition when it comes to acquiring students.

If you discover a niche that you are truly passionate about, and then build your reputation in a consistent way, then you are going to naturally stand out. This could take a lot of time and energy to develop, but it is certainly something worth investing in!

For me, my focus has always been around self-care, and finding ways to enhance self-love, confidence, self-worth, and all of the associated concepts. I’m also incredibly passionate about nutrition, and I often ensure that the importance of healthy eating is spoken of within my workshops.

It will also help if you gain additional qualifications and experience relevant to your chosen niche. Connect with other yoga teachers within this niche and go to their classes and workshops. You will likely find the inspiration that you are seeking – and then some!

The more you carve out a place for yourself by becoming well-known within your niche, the more you’ll start to feel a valuable part of the yoga world. This new-found confidence will then undoubtedly shine through in your workshops, making them all the more exciting for your students.

Be Your Authentic Self

You will of course have your own reasons for teaching yoga, and for wanting to share this love and experience with others. It is important that you regularly take the time to truly reconnect to your reasons so that you can always be aware of why you do what you do. This is how you can ensure your authenticity continues to shine through!

When it comes to your workshops, encourage this authenticity to thrive, and your students will undoubtedly notice this. This passion and your genuine interest for imparting your knowledge is what will push your reputation as a yoga teacher forwards!

Don’t Overextend Yourself

Holding your first yoga workshop will likely be a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and to develop your skills as a teacher. However, overextending yourself in additional ways, such as taking on too many students, or focusing on a topic that you are not 100% confident to teach, might be of detriment to your efforts.

Try to stick to what you know, and teach in a style that you are comfortable with. Doing something in a way that you can do well, instead of trying to go too far, too fast.

Express Your Gratitude

When students attend your workshop, they are giving you their time and trusting that you know what you are talking about! Deciding to spend their time with you, instead of anywhere else at that moment, is something that you should always express your gratitude for.

When you are working to create your workshop, be sure to take some time to think about how you are going to show your appreciation for their attendance. It’s easy to vocally thank your students for coming, but showing your gratitude in other ways will demonstrate that you have really put some thought into it.

You might consider offering those at your workshop a discount to your regular classes, giving them a goodie bag of healthy snacks, creating personalised handwritten cards for each person, or perhaps sending a follow up email afterwards to thank them for coming.

Giving your participants something that they can actually take home is also a good way to ensure they have a reminder of your workshop. They may see your goodie bag or thank you card a few days later and be reminded to book onto your regular class or next workshop!

Creating Your First Yoga Workshop

Personal satisfaction is one of the best things about teaching yoga, and at the end of each class, workshop, and day, there is always the sense of knowing you have guided someone and helped them to grow in some way.

Anyone who has gone through the process of becoming a yoga teacher will know that this is a journey that involves many life-changing moments. Being able to create these moments for other people through classes and workshops is one of the most wonderful things about being a yoga teacher.

If you are looking for further inspiration for creating your workshop and developing your skills and style as a yoga teacher, then check out my Mandala and Mentoring Course! This course will show you how to build your business and how to keep your classes and your workshops creative and fun!