"Who Are You?”
Three simple words. Difficult to answer.
This past weekend I had the fortune to work with 20 budding yoga teachers in Hong Kong at my annual #mentorshipworkshop. Apart from the adjustment skills and teaching feedback that you would expect in a #yogateachertraining, one thing the teachers didn't expect me to ask them, and keep asking them, is this simple question ""WHO ARE YOU."" Knowing the answer to this question will help you define your teaching and find your voice.
I have been asked so many times in the last few years, how to build a brand, how to stand out as a yoga teacher, how to promote myself as a yoga teacher, how to get more clients, how to work with other brands. Will being able to teach advanced asanas be enough to be a great teacher? Will having beautiful photos in my instagram be sufficient to attract other brands to want to work with me? How to build a name for myself? How to get more followers on Instagram?
All of those are valid questions. But without knowing who you are, without knowing why you teach yoga (or why you do whatever business you're doing), all those questions will mean nothing. It is easy to teach yoga classes, handstand, headstand. It is easy to fill your classes if you try hard enough. But without digging deep to find out why you do the things you do, you and your business will only go so far.
Knowing why you teach is like knowing your core values - so you and your business will have a personality. Knowing who you are gives you trememdous power to make the right decision and do the right thing - so you have courage and confidence. Knowing who you are will allow you to know your own worth - so you can charge accordingly.
So next time when you ask me, how to stand out in a saturated market full of yoga teachers. My questions back to you are: do you know who you are and why you teach?
Thank you so much @delia.indrayoga @reebiesw @jason.washbourne @charlztrevor @anthealook @vrikokwok for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Thank you @maryhoiwai @dennislu_stayfit @msaliceinyogaland @stellaaaron @janetpsl for without your help, this workshop wouldn’t have happened.