The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
204: What to Charge for Online Yoga with Shannon Crow
Description:
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many yoga teachers have moved their offerings online. With this shift from in-person to virtual yoga classes, a question that often came up is – how much should I charge for online yoga classes?
To answer this question, Shannon Crow shares her thoughts and insights around the factors to consider, not just when pricing online yoga classes but in-person classes, workshops, courses or other offerings. Shannon explains more about perceived value in pricing, the hidden costs of running a yoga business, and how undercharging for your yoga classes can impact the whole yoga industry. She also digs into money mindset issues that we may face, and shares some tips to challenge these restrictions we may place on ourselves.
If you have beens struggling with figuring out what to charge for your yoga offerings, this episode is a great starting point.
Key Takeaways:
[:53] Many yoga teachers reached out with questions around pricing their online yoga classes when the pandemic first hit.
[1:41] Before you ask how much to charge for online yoga, consider how much you're charging for in-person yoga.
[2:41] Shannon gives a shout out to Schedulicity.
[4:44] How do you choose a price for your yoga classes? Remember that perceived value is a big factor in your pricing!
[5:46] A good starting point to decide on a price for your yoga classes could be the prices other similar service providers charge.
[6:38] What are the hidden costs of teaching yoga?
[9:10] Money mindset can be a challenge for many of us.
[12:08] What impact does undercharging have on the yoga industry?
[13:05] Focus on your niche, and consider what it feels like to be receiving services.
[14:53] Take into consideration all of the factors before pricing your yoga classes.
[16:48] Please remember to increase your rates!
[17:06] You can create your yoga business in the way that you want and that is aligned with your beliefs and values.
Links:
Teaching Yoga Online
Pricing
Growing Your Yoga Business
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity.
Quotes from this episode:
"One hour in front of your students is not the same as an hourly wage job. This is not just one hour of your time." - Shannon Crow
"I want yoga teachers to be viewed as professionals." - Shannon Crow
"Take into consideration all of the factors that are part of this pricing." - Shannon Crow
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
203: Do Politics Belong in Yoga? with Chara Caruthers & Maria Kirsten
Description:
Politics can be a sensitive and divisive topic, and we may avoid talking about it even with our most trusted friends and family because it is often controversial or uncomfortable to talk about. However, in light of the current political and social landscape, it is important for us to be aware, informed, and engaged - and our yoga can influence that. Chara Caruthers and Maria Kirsten are back on the podcast to share their insights about yoga and politics, and how to navigate the current political and social climate through the lens of yoga.
Chara Caruthers is a registered yoga teacher (Yoga Alliance E RYT-500) and certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) who has been practicing yoga since 1993. She is the founder of Bliss Body & Soul, where she offers ayurveda Courses, workshops, and an Ayurvedic living Community, in addition to her work as a wellness coach. Maria Kirsten has been teaching accessible yoga to grownups and beginners since 2000. She is the founder of Yoga for Grownups, and is committed to principles of inclusion and to making yoga safe and accessible for everyone. Maria also does work in the area of yoga for mental health and yoga therapy. Together, Chara and Maria host the Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast, where they discuss how to live, age, parent, and “grow up” in a way that feels balanced and authentic.
How does your yoga inform your politics? Chara and Maria share their insights about where yoga and politics intersect sometimes in some surprising ways, and how the foundations and philosophies of yoga really ties in to all aspects of our lives. In these tumultuous times where we still have to continue in life with yoga classes to teach, and people looking towards us as community leaders and for guidance, Chara and Maria shed light on how we can find a balance between yoga and politics.
Key Takeaways:
[5:25] Shannon introduces her guests for this episode - Chara Caruthers and Maria Kirsten.
[6:59] What is the work that Maria and Chara do?
[9:55] Shannon shares a bit of context for the interview.
[11:31] Where do Chara and Maria live and how do they vote?
[13:48] How do politics, voting and yoga go together?
[21:01] Chara and Maria share more about ahimsa, yamas and niyamas and how they tie into our relation to others and ourselves.
[24:11] How are Chara and Maria bringing these topics into their classes?
[29:21] Where does the discomfort come from for yoga teachers who are trying not to be political?
[35:02] Politics can wind us up a bit. How do we find the balance between taking action but also taking a pause?
[43:27] Why is it sometimes difficult to engage in productive conversations with people who have different perspectives from us?
[46:00] How can you stay informed without getting overly triggered, particularly by social media or the news?
[51:07] Check out the Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast to hear more from Chara and Maria.
[51:28] What is Yogins United?
[53:15] Conversations are a powerful medium to share ideas.
[55:39] Chara and Maria share some closing thoughts.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity.
Quotes from this episode:
"I think yoga has a huge role in politics because it empowers people to sense what's right and good and safe and comfortable and what sits well with them." - Maria
"For me, my yoga has been a reminder of the way that I want to be in the world." - Chara
"Being human is a practice, and as part of that practice we have to be willing to engage with the world around us because it defines who we are and who we can be." - Chara
"It is our responsibility to ourselves and to our communities who we are a part of, who we are in constant relationship with, to take action, to be in action." - Chara
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
202: Yoga and Masks with Clare Kelley
Description:
One of the things we’ve had to adapt to recently in our yoga businesses is the COVID-19 pandemic. As public spaces like our yoga studios open up again and we transition back into in-person yoga classes, you may be wondering about how to approach using masks in your classes. Clare Kelley shares her expertise in this area and clears up some of the doubts and confusion around using masks in yoga, as well as how public health relates to yoga from a broader perspective.
Clare Kelley is the Founder and Director of Wild Wisdom, a platform that exists at the intersection of science, movement, nature, and lived experience. Clare has completed her graduate studies in both public health and health research and program design, monitoring, and evaluation, and has over 8 years of experience working as a health consultant. Clare’s work is helping people connect to their nature and the nature around them for the health of both. Via her Patreon, Clare shares live movement classes and nature therapy walks, meditations and visualizations, movement and relaxation videos, public health explainers, essays, and more.
Clare addresses the confusion about wearing masks at the start of the pandemic, and explains why best practices have evolved over time. She also shares insights about mask usage and safe distancing in yoga classes, and four types of risks involved. Clare tackles some misconceptions about mask-wearing, transmission of the virus and gives us some tips about how we can reduce risk as yoga teachers.
This episode is a useful resource to give you the information you need on this topic so that you can be empowered to make the right choices for you, your yoga business, and your yoga students.
Key Takeaways:
[6:31] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Clare Kelley.
[8:11] What does Clare do and who does she do it for? How does public health and masks fit into her scope of work?
[10:08] Clare explains how public health differs from medicine, and how it ties to individual efforts and actions such as wearing a mask.
[13:05] What is health science?
[16:29] There have been different messages around masks and best practices in relation to the pandemic. Clare explains why information has been constantly changing.
[21:40] Clare explains more about how the virus spreads and how mask-wearing can help reduce transmission.
[28:46] How important is mask-wearing in a yoga class? Clare explains the risk factors at play.
[33:00] Is it dangerous to wear a mask all the time because it limits oxygen to the brain?
[37:35] What is the distance we should be maintaining with other people?
[40:16] Clare shares more about the Swiss cheese model.
[44:57] What is Clare opting to do for her yoga classes?
[49:17] Clare talks about four concepts of risk.
[51:45] What do we say to people who are denying the pandemic?
[55:02] What is aerosol spread?
[58:19] Clare explains why it is important to create a sense of collaborative community.
[59:32] What are the Clare's recommendations for yoga classes with regard to safe distancing measures and mask-wearing?
[1:06:45] Find out more about Clare's work via Patreon.
[1:08:37] Clare addresses a question from The Connected Yoga Teacher Group - Why am I still getting sick if I took all the precautions?
[1:11:12] What will 2021 look like?
[1:18:04] Shannon shares some of her biggest takeaways from this interview with Clare, and gives a personal update.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity.
Quotes from this episode:
"Our own individual efforts protect us, but also how we look at health individually affects the community." - Clare
"No death is better than some death. Less death is better than more death. Less illness is better than more illness." - Clare
"This is a time to err on the side of caution. The masks are only one aspect of the mitigation of the risk. They're not perfect." - Clare
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
201: Leaning Into Hope Happy New Year with Shannon Crow
Description:
Happy New Year, Connected Yoga Teachers!
What a year 2020 has been for all of us, as people, as yoga teachers and as business owners. All of us have been profoundly impacted by everything that 2020 has brought. At a business level, we’ve had to completely reimagine our yoga businesses - by moving classes online, or dealing with teaching physically distanced yoga with restrictions in place. Some of us have faced closure of our yoga studios, or have fewer students. On a personal level, we may have had to deal with the loss of loved ones, social isolation, worries around finances, and the general anxiety and stress that comes with living through a year like 2020.
It’s been a tough year. But Connected Yoga Teachers, if you are listening to this episode, it means that you’ve made it through everything 2020 has thrown your way, and survived. And that is something definitely worth celebrating.
In this episode, Shannon shares an email from Gretchen Schutte. In her email, Gretchen shared a bit about some of her struggles in 2020, but more importantly, she took the time to share and celebrate what she has accomplished, despite everything.
What are you celebrating about 2020?
Key Takeaways:
[:12] Happy New Year!
[:40] What a year 2020 has been. Shannon reflects on 2020, and all the things that have happened.
[3:43] A shout out to the sponsor of the podcast, Schedulicity.
[5:27] Shannon shares a side note from Crunch.
[7:29] Gretchen Schutte sent Shannon an email towards the end of 2020 about her struggles and achievements for the year.
[10:25] Gretchen's email inspired Shannon to look at what she has achieved. What are some of the things you can celebrate about 2020?
[13:54] Go beyond looking at traditional accomplishments, and acknowledge all of the things you have been able to do. Celebrate that strength!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity.
Quotes from this episode:
"Surviving the pandemic and the crapshow that was 2020 is achievement enough for this year." - Crunch
"We all win the award for making it through 2020." - Shannon
"Despite all of the challenges, I'm still growing and moving forward." - Gretchen