How to discover your yoga teaching niche

First of all, how great is this photo?!

How can we create a community of specialized experts, while at the same time make it easier for students to find the teacher or studio they resonate with?

Niche creation and specialization.

As teachers and studios deepen their specific niches, not only do they become better at what they do, they are no longer trying to be good at everything. This frees up other niches for other teachers to fill. Makes for a win-win-win. And I am a big believer in the win-win-win.

Dream vaguely and your dreams will be vaguely realized. Get specific about what you really want. Get clear about your own strengths. Get honest with your preferences and priorities. Dream precisely and your dreams will be precisely realized.

Here is a basic worksheet to discover your niche…because, while you are not the only yoga teacher or yoga studio in town, you are the only YOU in the whole world!

Who

1. Who are you? The eternal question… Don’t worry too much about this seemingly epic question! Of course you are a complex individual comprised of many shifting roles and attributes. Identifying roles you are comfortable in and traits you gravitate towards can be a helpful exercise to help you discover a powerful niche for you. Don’t be too serious about it or feel locked-in by this.

Your roles: are you a goofball, a healer, a drill sergeant, a poet, a performer, an athlete, a scholar?
Your traits: are you serious, lighthearted, direct, quiet, loud, clever, spiritual?

2. Who do you want your students to be? What faces do you want to see out there? Perhaps you have something to share with a specific group of people, or perhaps there is an untapped pool of possible students right under your nose.

Their roles: elderly, young, college students, type-A personalities, working professionals, stay-at-home moms, pregnant women, recovering addicts, aging hipsters?
Their circumstances: on a spiritual quest, going through a time of change, trying to get in touch with their bodies?

What

1. What kind of yoga do you want to teach? I’m hoping that is the kind of yoga you got trained in. If so, narrow down within that modality what kind of yoga you teach. Cite your teachers and what you like about their style. Accurately (and in a detailed way) describe your own personal style.

If not, get your research cap on learn as much about the kind of yoga you are interested in. Read online, check books at the library, and of course…take classes. Consider supplementing your training. And talk to other teachers!

2. What is it that you have to share with the world? Remember that you are perfect, whole and complete! There is something super-rad in you worth sharing. Something specific and unique about YOU. Asking your friends and loved ones can help you get a handle on this (as well as feel pretty great.)

Where

1. Are you willing to drive or do you want your classes to be closer to home?

2. Are there studios or gyms where you can teach? Do you want to open your own?

3. Do you want to teach in a state-of-the art studio and nothing else will do? Or is it unimportant to you the kind of facility you teach in? Do you need windows? Do you need a certain temperature?

4. Where are you in the world? Different cultures (even within the U.S.) can help you define a niche.

When

1. How often do you want to teach? Teaching yoga isn’t like building widgets; there is a lot of energy and preparation that goes into each class. For some, teaching is energizing and exhilarating, but be aware how often you can teach and not deplete your own resources–because depleting your own resources would be silly! <3

2. At what time do you want to teach? Early bird or night owl? Nine-to-fiver or free spirit? Never during “Survivor” or “3o Rock?” (My parents have given me strict instructions not to call during “Survivor.”)

3. How long do you prefer your classes? I’ve learned the hard way that I can work on mural painting for three hours and then I’ve got nothing left. I start walking in circles and staring into space. Are your best classes an hour? Ninety minutes? Seventy-five?

Why

Why, oh why did you want to be a yoga teacher in the first place?? Go back to that moment when you decided to spend your time and money training to do this. When you feel unsteady and the wind threatens to blow you off your feet, the why renews your stability, your strength and your focus.