how to open a virtual yoga studio

when we're in yoga teacher training, many of us dream of one day opening a bright, sunny, successful yoga studio that students flock to.

then, we graduate, start teaching some classes, and discover that opening a yoga studio is a lot more challenging and complicated (and costs a lot more money) than we initially envisioned.

you need to think about renting a space, hiring teachers and support staff, insurance coverage, props, tech equipment like computers and sound systems, etc. etc. etc.

and, as quickly as that dream appeared...it begins to fade...

but, today we're really lucky. we don't need to have a physical brick-and-mortar establishment in order to have your very own yoga studio. in fact, one of the best, most profitable and FUN ways to open a "studio" is to create one online.

(mini-side-note: you hear me talk about multiple streams of income a lot. the reason being, in order to really make yoga your full-time gig, you cannot rely solely on teaching classes. you need multiple streams of money coming into your biz in order to make a living -- like public classes, private clients, workshops, teacher trainings, e-books, online courses, recorded meditations, online yoga studio, and the like. plus, the mega benefit is that a virtual yoga studio is open 24/7 and you don't even have to "be there" to make money!)

so, if that vision of a studio still lingers in the back of you mind, i want to encourage you think about crafting a sacred space for your teaching online.

there are a number of tools and websites available now that will enable you to share your teaching with students from all over the globe! and, in my opinion, why just be a local yoga teacher when you could have a global impact with your teaching?!

in today's video, i'm sharing a number of several resources (many of which are FREE!) that'll enable you to build an online "yoga studio" where you can share the teachings that only you can offer.

there are many different options that range from simple videos and audio teachings to complex member sites. but, no matter how "techy" you are, i guarantee there's an option that'll work for you.

have an online "yoga studio"? share a link to it in the comments below so i can check it out!

here are the resources i mentioned in the video: youtube, soundcloud, audible yoga, the yoga recipe, gumroad, udemy, optimize press (FYI -- the ONLY site for which i am an affiliate is optimize press. that said, i've used optimize press to build 2 of my websites and one of my courses and would highly recommend it whether or not i was an affiliate :-)

how to monetize your yoga blog

someone from the CALM biz community asked me this question:

"how do i monetize my blog & youtube channel?"

first off, i want to congratulate you on thinking about how to pull in multiple streams of income for your yoga biz and for wanting to take your business online -- that's awesome!

but, you're looking for money in the wrong place if you're hoping for a 1::1 ratio of blog readers/youtube watchers to online yoga students. (does that surprise you?!)

the thing is, having a blog, e-newsletter and youtube channel is super important for yoga-entrepreneurs, but they ARE NOT how the majority of teachers who are successful online make their money.

let me me repeat that just in case you missed it -- they ARE NOT how the majority make their money!

we have to look at our blog, newsletter, social media pages and youtube channel as marketing tools, not products to be sold.

your blog and (the majority of) your youtube vids should give students and potential students super valuable, *FREE* info that they can use to improve their lives. and, doing this will build trust, foster a genuine connection with you and grow your community. all of which is necessary for making money down the road.

they are a means to the end...not the end.

then...when it comes time to sell something, like an online course, meditation guide, primo video series, e-book, workshop or training, you'll have a slew of people who KNOW, LIKE and TRUST you who are ready to purchase whatever it is that you're offering.

that's where the money is, and that's how feel-good marketing results in sales!

so, it's not about monetizing your yoga blog on the front end -- blocking readers until they pay -- it's about cultivating community and offering awesome info so that your blog readers become product buyers at the end of the day!​

check out this week's teachings to hear my take on this topic first-hand :-)

what marketing tools do you have in place for your yoga biz?

post your youtube, facebook & twitter links in the comments below. i wanna check them out!