I have loved teaching yoga classes in studios. My goal for 2025 was to extend my teaching to pop-up events. The one-off not a “scheduled” in-the-studio type of event. I wanted to teach 6 pop-up events.
I already had a great partnership with the library, and 6 events turned into 15 by the end of the year! So naturally, the yoga teacher progression is to lead a workshop. But the idea of teaching a workshop sounded too far fetched for me.
For some reason I had built up workshops to be a magical event only yoga fairies were “allowed” to lead.
Guess who became a yoga fairy last year?
I encourage all yoga teachers to do a deep dive into the thing that makes their hearts go pitter patter! For me, Yin Yoga is one of those things. I love the evolution and history of Yin. The “founding fathers” and mother(!!) Who have shaped Yin Yoga.
The poses and modifications. TCM. Meridians and acupressure points. Explanations that hard pretty complex to teach during a one hour class.
These are a few of my favorite things! Who better to lead a Yin Workshop? It’s not like Bernie Clark is flying down to Denver to teach a workshop at the Rec Center. Why not a Yin Teacher who already works there? Me, waves hand frantically. It’s Me!
One day I gathered up my courage and pitched my boss. Is there any opportunity to offer a Yin Workshop? I blurted out and hid behind her desk.
I know I’m not alone, feeling intimidated to ask for our very first workshop. Getting ready to explain and defend our training. Our passion for that thing we can’t wait to share.
If she said yes, I figured I’d get one 2 hour Saturday workshop. Instead, my boss thought it best to do a 4 week series. Deepen Your Yin Practice. Far more than I expected for my first workshop! To my surprise, 16 women showed up each Saturday and loved the information, the community we created, and going down in history as my first workshop group.
Teach Your Yoga Workshop
What is holding you back from asking to lead your first workshop at your studio? Rejection? If your boss declines, then you’re right where you were yesterday. But if they agree – then you just became a yoga fairy too!
Not sure what to teach? What do you love to talk about? What is something you always bring up in class? What do you find fascinating?
Breath work? Chakras? Parasympathetic Nervous System? Inversions? Yoga for Perimenopause? Mudras? Hindu Mythology? Crystals? Yoga Nidra? Sound Bowls? Chair Yoga? Yamas & Niyamas? Yoga 101? Yoga & Aromatherapy? Ayurveda? Alignment?
Surely you’ve already thought of your thing and you’re reading this because you’re working up the courage to ask. I hope that courage grows, because I’m sure you have something amazing to share!
And maybe it’s never been done before? Great – create it! Maybe you’ve seen it done, just poorly. Great – fix it.
Studios need more workshops. We do not have enough time in a 60 minute class to teach the great things that go so much deeper than a Warrior Flow. But you have the time and an interested audience.
A regular class brings all types of students. Workshops bring dedicated practitioners. I believe those students deserve an opportunity to deepen their practice. Workshops allow that.
Workshops are also financially beneficial to the studio. They bring in extra money. Most studio owners would love to bring in a little more money. Which you make too. Workshops pay better than studio classes.
What is holding you back from a workshop? Not sure how to plan it? That’s valid. I wasn’t sure how to break up everything about Yin into 4 weeks, but sitting with it for a bit and it presented itself.
Maybe you’re worried you’re not the authority on a topic. No one said you had to present yourself as such.
Do you notice that we’re word of mouth people? You have probably recommended a book to a friend. That doesn’t mean you have to work for the New York Times Best Seller List. I bet you’ve shared a movie with someone, does that make you an Oscar winner? Liking a restaurant doesn’t mean you need to be a Michelin food critic! Nope. You’re sharing what you enjoy.
Sure, a workshop requires a little bit more effort. And hopefully you might have grown just a tad more confident to ask to lead a workshop down the road. Not tomorrow. Not next weekend. But this year, teach your workshop this year!
We can chat about the planning after you pitch the workshop.
From my mat to yours,
Stef