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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

Helping yoga teachers to stay connected to information, entrepreneur advice and a community of supportive yoga teachers and professionals.
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Now displaying: February, 2020
Feb 24, 2020

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

157: Horse Wisdom Yoga with Fotini Chandrika Walton

 

Description:

You may have noticed that there has been a trend in recent years surrounding yoga and animals - puppy yoga, cat yoga and even goat yoga. These are variations of yoga where animals are present during the yoga  practice. Fotini Chandrika Walton offers her clients something unique - Horse Wisdom Yoga. 

 

Fotini Chandrika Walton is the Founder of the Big Red Barn Creativity and Wellness Centre Inc., a non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada where she offers an Equine Guided Wellness modality, Horse Wisdom Yoga®. Fotini was introduced to the Yogic lifestyle at 6, and officially began her yoga practice in 2004. Through a journey of personal transformation, Fotini uncovered the power of yoga in combination with the ancestral wisdom of Horses, where the non-predatory nature of the Horse and the principles of Yoga bring to life the ancient history of horse-human connection.

 

This is a very specialized form of combining time with horses and yoga. Fotini shares how it is more than just doing yoga with horses grazing in the practice area, and explains what a session with her and the herd might look like. We also dig into the challenges around describing what your unique yoga offering is to someone who has not experienced it before, and how Fotini approaches marketing in a very novel way.

 

This was a fascinating interview to learn more about how one yoga teacher is incorporating unique elements into their offering of yoga, and finding a niche that sets them apart.

 

Key Takeaways:

[5:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Fotini Chandrika Walton.

[7:21] Where did Fotini's yoga journey begin?

[10:42] What is the work that Fotini does now, and who does she do it for?

[14:40] How did Fotini really start working with horses and yoga in the same modality?

[16:45] It is difficult to describe the experience that Fotini offers and to explain what she does to someone. She shares more about how she explains it to others.

[19:34] How does Fotini explain her special niche in yoga to others?

[24:14] What "structured" marketing does Fotini do to get the word out about her business?

[28:10] How do Fotini and her horses work with clients?

[32:33] Fotini shares more about the training sessions she has lined up.

[33:02] Fotini outlines what an initial session would be like for a client. 

[37:57] Shannon and Fotini discuss what could come out of a session of Horse Wisdom Yoga.

[40:31] How often do clients work with Fotini?

[42:02] What are Fotini's prices like?

[43:52] What is Fotini's recommendation for yoga teachers who are interested in learning to facilitate Horse Wisdom Yoga?

[46:19] Learn more about Fotini and her work at her website.

[47:30] Shannon shares her experience with Horse Wisdom Yoga.

 

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020

 

Quotes from this episode:

 

"I feel like everything is yoga."

 

"I am really authentic in how I present myself to the world, and I think that has been my greatest asset when it comes to 'marketing' my business."

 

"Your biggest job is to take care of you."

 

"Abundance is not always going to show up in the form of a monetary exchange." 

 

"I do believe that people become more intuitive the more they listen."

Feb 17, 2020

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

156: Define Your Brand with Rachael Kay Albers

 

Description:

What is your brand? Hint, it’s not just about the colors or images on your website. Figuring out what your brand is all about can be confusing, and it can be hard to think about how to differentiate yourself from other yoga teachers (especially if you don’t feel you serve a very specific niche). Branding expert Rachael Kay Albers has some tips on how to define your brand and stand out with your branding.

 

Rachael is a digital strategist, and Founder and Creative Director of RKA Ink, a branding, web design and digital marketing studio based outside Chicago. She helps thought leaders and visionary entrepreneurs all over the world stand out online with unforgettable brands. Apart from her work crafting epic brands, Rachael also hosts Awkward Marketing, a business comedy show blending fun-sized business advice with storytelling and sketch comedy.


From what your brand actually means, to why yoga teachers may struggle with a branding problem, Rachael has a wealth of information on finding, defining and sharing your brand. She also talks about the concept of reverse niching, how we can use that to find our ideal yoga students and how to stand out by taking a stand.

 

Whether you have a clearly defined brand identity or your brand is still a work-in-progress, this episode has lots of strategies to help you craft and refine your brand.

 

Key Takeaways:

[6:13] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rachael Kay Albers.

[7:55] What does Rachael do and who does she do it for?

[10:26] Rachael describes herself as a rule-breaker - even when she got married!

[11:41] Why do "woo businesses" need to work on their branding? Rachael explains what branding means for yoga teachers.

[14:06] Where do "woo businesses" have a problem with their branding?

[19:34] How can yoga teachers deal with having to sell people what they want without being slimy or salesy?

[23:02] Rachael shares an example of how she helped her client figure out her ideal client and how that relates to the messaging and copy.

[26:46] Shannon and Rachael walk through an example of an ideal client for a teacher offering restorative yoga.

[30:58] How would knowing the ideal client translate into copy for social media or on a website?

[33:17] Rachael addresses the worry and concern that many business owners have about writing copy for specific people.

[35:20] Rachael recommends using your copy to direct your design.

[38:49] What is reverse niching?

[44:23] Branding has two jobs - to attract your ideal clients, but also to push away the wrong people.

[46:57] What other aspects of branding should yoga teachers think about to stand out?

[51:16] Rachael shares an example of how to turn a complaint or a pain point into positive content that serves your audience.

[54:35] The brands that really stand out are the ones that are willing to ruffle feathers and take a stand.

[1:00:45] Shannon and Rachael discuss the idea that there's a market out there for every kind of yoga teacher.

[1:02:51] Find out more about Rachael and the work that she does at her website.

[1:03:55] Shannon shares her takeaways from the interview. What was your biggest takeaway?

 

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020

 

Quotes from this episode:

 

"At its heart, your brand is how your customers remember you and experience you."

 

"At the end of the day, you don't get to say what your brand is. Your audience says what your brand is."

 

"The cardinal rule of branding and marketing: Sell them what they want, give them what they need!"

 

"Who am I not a good fit for?"

 

Feb 10, 2020

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

155: Yoga Teacher Q&A with Shannon Crow



Description:

This podcast was created to serve you, and to help you connect to information and feel supported as you navigate being a yoga teacher and an entrepreneur. On this special episode, Shannon answers some of the questions YOU have asked!

 

Courtney Butler Robinson has a question about burnout. Despite loving what she does, she feels like her schedule is overfilled and she is approaching a state of burnout. Shannon shares her own experiences with burnout, as well as some strategies to manage and avoid it.

 

Jessica Saunders has chosen to focus on growing her online yoga business. However, she needs some help in figuring out how to effectively engage her online audience, as well as how niching down can help her stand out online. Shannon has some tips on specialization, why the online space can be tricky to navigate, and some strategies to set yourself apart.

 

Do you have a question for Shannon? Leave her a voice message or send her an email!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:39] This episode is a Q&A based on questions asked by yoga teachers from the community.

[7:44] Courtney Butler Robinson asks what Shannon's experience is with burnout and how she manages it.

[11:19] Shannon shares some strategies that can help avoid burnout.

[17:12] Check out Schedulicity's hot tip of the week.

[17:57] Jessica Saunders asks: What techniques are effective in engaging an online audience? Shannon shares more about how niching down can help you stand out.

[22:29] Marketing yourself online means that you have access to more people, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's easy. That's why specializing is particularly useful.

[25:40] Ask yourself: What do you want to be known for - for now, not forever?

[28:59] Shannon would love to hear your feedback on this type of episode.

 

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Consultation with Shannon

 

Quotes from this episode:

 

"One thing to remember as the entrepreneur, as the yoga teacher - you are designing your own business."

 

"Start before you feel 100% ready to go."

 

"We are so much more likely to give a referral when someone is specialized."

 

"We have to really feel connected to something to make that our niche."

 

Feb 3, 2020

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian

 

Description:

It’s the middle of the tax season in the US and Canada, and it can be intimidating to think about getting your books in order, filing your taxes correctly, or choosing the right people to help you with this aspect of running your business! Bookkeeping and tax preparation expert Kelly Christian has some helpful information, tips, and tricks to manage some of the finer aspects of bookkeeping. 

 

Kelly is the owner of Kelly Christian & Company, and a Certified Professional Bookkeeper and Tax Preparer. She has over 18 years experience working with all types of small business owners and focuses on helping them create custom technology systems around their money to get their “money system” in place and their books under control. With a variety of packages from step-by-step help to custom set up, training and guidance, Kelly and her team help clients forget about their bookkeeping so they can focus on their business.

 

We dive into where to get started with sales taxes, what expenses you can write off in your business, and even the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant. Kelly also has some easy ways you can use technology to simplify and streamline the money side of your business, and some of the software you can use to make this aspect of running a yoga business easier.

 

Whether you already have your books in order and taxes filed, or if you’re worrying about how to get started on them, this episode will be a good resource.

 

Key Takeaways:

[5:44] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kelly Christian.

[7:28] What got Kelly started in the bookkeeping industry?

[9:54] What does Kelly's business look like now? She shares a bit more about her team.

[11:13] What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

[15:44] What are some things yoga teachers can do on their own to get their bookkeeping under control?

[18:50] When do you need to start charging HST (Harmonized Sales Tax for Canada) or GST (Goods & Services Tax for USA)?

[21:03] It is important to keep track of online payment methods to ensure payments, taxes and fees do not "get lost".

[25:07] Kelly shares her recommendations for Canadians looking for alternatives to Quickbooks, as well as some free options.

[29:57] What are the expenses yoga teachers should be tracking?

[34:16] What counts as expenses and what doesn't? Shannon and Kelly dig into some common expenses that yoga teachers ask about including yoga clothing, fuel for travel and home office expenses.

[42:54] It is important to find a bookkeeper or accountant who will be able to work with you in your particular business.

[46:11] Get in touch with Kelly via her website.

[47:44] Kelly has some final words of advice for yoga teachers thinking about their accounting and bookkeeping.

[49:25] Shannon shares an update on what she changed in her business regarding accounting and bookkeeping.

 

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training

 

Quotes from this episode:

"That's what you're ideally looking for - someone that has a bit more breadth than just someone that's just doing data entry. But if not, make sure you've got a really good relationship with your accountant or tax preparer."

 

"I would rather people use [a simple software] than nothing, but know that as you grow, you're going to outgrow it."

 

"Tracking is better than nothing."

 

"Get some solid systems. Don't unnecessarily move into a piece of software, a good spreadsheet works great."



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