As yoga teachers, we are responsible for creating our own work schedule. This can be really rewarding and it also can be challenging! Building and maintaining a teaching schedule that pays the bills and allows us to keep our sanity can be quite the juggling act! If you think you might have one too many classes on your schedule, this video is for you.
It can be uncomfortable to consider letting go of a class that we love teaching. I just had to do this, so I totally get it. In this video I recorded live inside of my Facebook group for yoga teachers, Elevate, I talk a bit about my process as I decided to give up a group class, and I’ll share a formula to help YOU decide what to do if you have in the same boat.
In the video, I mention this podcast episode which will offer you a chance to dive deeper into the topic!
thank you, Francesa for this video! Really helped me think about one of my classes. My ending thought on this one class is….. I know it might not be a class I have much longer but I am willing and able to give it a year and then reevaluate. Also, this video made me think about is there a formula to know if it’s time to pick up a class? I am currently not teaching in a public studio space. I am doing privates and corporate organizations while going to school online to finish my bachelor’s degree and working part-time. So time is tight! But I can’t shake this feeling like I need to be in a public space to build community so that one day my teaching can support me fully. Thank you for listening and all that you do for fellow yoga teachers! Peace- Nicole
Hi Nicole! These are great thoughts and questions, thank you for sharing! I think it is great to teach an open class in a public space! The question is– do you have time right now? Do you have at least one whole day off? A day when you have no work, no teaching and no school classes? If you don’t, it might not be the right time to put more on your plate. Let me know what you think and any other questions that come up!
I’m glad to have stumbled on this right now. For 6 months I have been a teacher of Gentle Yoga, which I wasn’t particularly interested in when I applied for the position ( that class has been filled by another teacher). I will always love my students dearly no matter where I go (.8 pts). These students want to attend class for stress relief, for an alternative to down dog heavy vinyasa, for a practice while recovering from injury. Some students have very large bodies. So I’m constantly VERY / almost too challenged to create suitable classes for the group and think of modifications for each student’s limitation (1 pt ) . There are about 8 students and they rarely come on the same day – the most attended during one class is 5. The class is from 4:30 -5:30 Thursday eve, a time slot that can be difficult to fill for a developing studio (.5 pts) . I don’t mind the drive ( .65). Besides a chair yoga class, this is currently my only group class. …Now for the clincher: I’m beginning to very much dislike being around the owner, and the vibe of the studio itself is “eh” – a family gym ( .2) . In the past 2 months she’s become fearful for her studio’s success and so, she’s micromanaging and power struggling with me on everything teensy thing I do. The other stuff is pretty good. It pays very well (1 pt) and could pay more if attendance was consistent. It feels like golden handcuffs with the pay rate, students, learning, average commute, & one of only 2 classes. — My score was 4.1 / 6. Stick around for 6 more months? Or say Sayonara? thoughts please!
Hey Laura,
I’m glad you found this video at the right time! I’m wondering though- if things have changed enough in the last few days that the gym is closed now? Sending lots of love. <3
also in addendum to my last message~ I teach a monthly Yin / Nidra class that is very well loved by the studio community.