ROOT TO RISE – how to thrive as a yoga teacher

Root to Rise is a coaching program developed for yoga teachers who are ready to step up their game. By exploring your roots and defining who you really are, you can begin to more clearly communicate what you offer and to who. Then you can rise and start making money. 

This program is for you if: 

• You know you have a lot to offer but you have a hard time getting the message across
• You know you are a good yoga teacher – but you find the business aspect challenging
• You are ready to start treating your passion as a job, not a hobby on the side
• You are ready to put all your dreams, skills and strengths on the table and start to build your personal brand
• You are looking for a sustainable yoga teacher career – one that lasts, one to be proud of and support yourself on

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Next start date: May 14, 2021 ››

ROOT TO RISE is a 3 month virtual program for yoga teachers. You will walk away from the program with a strengthened sense of who you are as a teacher, who you can best serve and how to package your gifts and talents into something unique and profitable. My ultimate wish with this program is to help you identify your roots so that you can rise and thrive. 

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Does any of this feel familiar?

• You recently finished a 200 hour yoga teacher training or similar. You went from feeling supported to lost and alone once you were back in your every day life. How do you get going from here? 
• You have, after one or more trainings, more questions than ever, but nobody to direct them to. 
• You have been teaching yoga for a couple of years but you still carry that feeling of being found out.
• You don't feel authentic and you look to other teachers for ideas all the time, still looking to find your own voice as a yoga teacher. 
• You have a hard time accepting the title Yoga Teacher because you don't feel like you can live up to it.
• You have a hard time finding collegial support where you live – instead other yoga teachers act more like competition.
• You are unsure how to price what you offer. 
• You find online presence scary but you know it's something you need to take charge of.

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The problem

You love yoga, because it's had an impact on your life. You followed your heart and took a yoga teacher training. You kept studying to become more skilled at your craft: anatomy, sequencing and philosophy. Then you realised you weren't making any money, so you begun to study marketing and business, cranked out posts, created packages and came up with ideas for retreats. Two people booked. Then the panic set in. You realised you are one out of thousands and thousands of yoga teachers who seem to be doing the exact same thing you are. 

It seems like working with something we love has a negative effect on our business sense. "I love teaching yoga, money is not my motivation" is common. That seems beautiful at first, but the consequence of this mindset is this: Money is not your motivation so you just make up a price that you want people to feel like they can afford. You want to share, and you want no-one to be excluded. You are sending a message to the world that an hour of your time has less value than an hour of a plumber's time. Your expertise, which you have invested in, has less value than other people's expertise in their fields. The power that yoga has to change somebody's life has less financial value if you guide a person through it, which also means it has less emotional value. 

The problem in this type of story, which is very common, is that one crucial step in business and marketing was skipped: branding. Branding is the behind-the-scenes work around your identity. A strong brand will be more clear and make more money. The reason why it's more tempting to invest time and money into learning about social media marketing, or how to build a website is because it's visible. Branding is more abstract, but investing here pays off. Big companies know this. Now it's time for yoga teachers to get onboard. 

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Why this program is important

When I started teaching yoga in 2007, I had no formal yoga teacher training. That wasn't very unusual back then. I was lucky enough to be coached by two strong, talented women who believed in me and pumped me with the confidence to start teaching. Not until a couple of years later, teaching twice a week and going to every workshop I could find, did I sign up for a 200 hour certified training. I realised then how much my mentors had taught me. My training was good, and necessary. But the growth that comes from a more experienced individual sharing with and supporting a less experienced individual professionally is absolutely priceless. It is by far my strongest platform. 

Now I train and educate yoga teachers myself. I know how hard it is for many trainees to go from that strong support and bond you share in a training to land in your own hometown, all alone. No matter how much we prepare our students for this, it is still to some degree a vulnerable situation, where most of us aren't overly confident. How do I get started? Where should I teach? How do I price this? How do I describe my yoga? Who will sign up? Am I good enough? Should I tell them I'm a new teacher? How do I get a foot in the door at a studio? How much time should I spend planning a class? What happens if nobody shows up? What happens if people actually do show up? 

And then, a year or two down the line,  a whole new set of questions and doubts appear that are impossible to prepare for. Where do I go from here? How do I keep my students? Are they getting bored with me? Did I teach them things that are wrong? Am I any good? Should I charge more? How do others do online yoga? Do I have any right to teach this ancient knowledge? Am I a fraud? And on it goes. 

I'm offering this mentorship program because I want to share my 13+ years of experience as a yoga teacher, marketing consultant, educator and entrepreneur. I have an underlying wish to be part of strengthening the entire yoga industry and the yoga teacher's level of professionalism and status. I believe I can help you level up your yoga teacher brand.

These are my strengths that will benefit you if you join the program: 

• 13+ years of experience as a vinyasa flow teacher and E-RYT 500
• Part owner in a small town yoga studio for 7+ years
• Part owner and educator at True North Vinyasa since 2018 (we have educated more than 70 yoga teachers)
• Marketing consultant and brand strategist (different industries) for 15+ years
• Part owner and educator at Elevation Leadership since 2018 (leadership, self leadership, yoga)
• Entrepreneur with a good ability to listen, pick up gems and brainstorm business ideas 

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What I want to give you with this program

• Clarity on your strengths and weaknesses, your possibilities and desires. 
• Insight into how you can shape your career while staying true to who you really are. 
• Confidence in sequencing memorable classes, workshops and events that are 100% you. 
• Trust in your ability and value as a yoga teacher
• A business mindset and a healthy relationship with money
• A sustainable plan of action for the year to come

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How it works

This program is a one-on-one mentorship and coaching program. It will be tailored to suit your specific needs, but the overall purpose is to define your voice and identity as a yoga teacher. I will listen, challenge you, ask difficult questions and ultimately help define a direction for you. You will walk away with a written summary – a compass in a way – for your future navigation as well as a plan of action for the year to come.

​The structure is a mix of 1 hour zoom calls and tasks for you to complete, brief follow-ups and an open door for questions and thoughts throughout our time together. I estimate your total work effort to around 30 hours. You can apply any time. In the application process you define when you would like to begin. My aim is to meet your request.

Framework of program:

• Week 1: OPENING | Your background, your needs and starting point. Tasks and follow-up
• Week 2: IDENTITY | Foundations of a strong yoga teacher brand, why it matters and how it applies to you. Defining you. Tasks and follow-up. 
• Week 3: PURPOSE | Your why and your core values are only yours. What this means. How to package it. Tasks and follow-up. 
• Week 4: TARGET GROUPS | Closing in on your primary and secondary target groups. How to keep them forever. Tasks and follow-up  
• Week 5: OBSTACLES | What's in your way? Why? What to do about it? Action plan. Tasks and follow-up.   
• Week 6: CLOSING | Wrap-up. You'll be presented with a written summary of everything presented along with suggestions for the coming year.  

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What others said about the program

Amie Evans, Union Yoga Ramsgate, UK
Emilie Hallgard, GingerEm Yoga Malmö, Sweden
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Price & how to apply 

Price: €900

Included: 

• 6 individual and private mentor talks of up to 60 minutes each (scheduled as agreed weekdays, daytime Central European Time)
• Follow-up/summary of each mentor talk and tailored tasks and challenges for next session (depending on your needs, this could be practical tasks such as video for feedback or bigger questions to sort out) 
• An open door for questions throughout the 6 week program
• A final customised document to serve as your compass in the future
• Possibility to register 30 YACEP hours with Yoga Alliance
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