Best Tips On How To Build Your Community

You’ve completed your trainings! You’re officially a teacher! You’re eager to share everything you’ve learned! But, wait- How do you go about sharing your knowledge and gifts with the world? Where do you start? 

Whether you’re just beginning or you’re a seasoned instructor, the benefits of community go way beyond the mat. Here are six tips to build your yoga community today, tomorrow, and for years to come-

Tip #1: Give more value than what you’re asking for in return

Always be thinking “How can I give more than I can get?” Donation based classes are a great example of this, especially when you’re first starting out. They work, they offer value, and it’s asking for something in return that someone can actually afford. But ultimately, it’s about serving your community, it will get more people to come, and it will eventually lead to other things. 

Think: yoga challenges on Instagram, hosting experiences or workshops, especially in a public setting like a park or a beach.

Tip #2: Be a visionary

Create things that don’t exist in your community. Start there. But, know that you don’t always have to recreate the wheel. Is there something that someone is offering that you feel inspired by? If it is in alignment with what you are called to do, if it feels right, and you’ll offer it authentically for you- then the “copy cat game” is okay. How many full moon yoga classes have you seen for instance? Don’t step on anyone’s toes of course (if it’s the same town or same park or same day, etc.) have a conversation with that person, but there is abundance for everyone. Share it within your own community, and put your own twist on it.

Tip #3: Collaborate 

In your community, is there a local business that you frequent that makes you feel good? Think of your favorite juice bar, restaurant, or a wellness center- could they enhance the experience for your students? If so, reach out to them and ask for a collaboration! Maybe they can bring free samples of drinks, or food, or maybe they want to sell something. Co-promoting gives both you and the business an opportunity to reach an audience you may not have been able to reach, and it gives you a bit of status. So don’t just send a cold email- go in there! Buy something, and ask the question, “I’m a local yoga teacher, is this something you’d be interested in?” 

Tip #4: Figure out what you love to teach

Think about what you love to teach. Then, think about who that's going to serve. Who are they? What do they like to do? Where are they spending their time? Where do they shop? Where would they want to go for a retreat? What kind of workshop would they be interested in? Think about all of these things in order to find the people who love what you love to teach, then share it directly with them and bring them value. 

Don’t waste your time creating something that doesn’t feel authentic just because you need a little bit of money. That’s not going to build community, it will build burnout. Stick with what you love- and do that. 

Tip #5: Stand out by being uniquely you 

An essential key to building a community is how you show up. Whoever you are in real life, be that same person on the yoga mat when you’re teaching. If you’re quirky, or serious, or spiritual, or have a funny sense of humor, or love yoga philosophy- let who you are shine, because you’re going to attract the people that like that. Be authentic and genuine, and people will resonate with you. 

If someone goes on your yoga retreat, they want to be with YOU. On the mat, off the mat, on a hike, or an excursion. Don’t be two different people. Be the same one. 

Tip #6: Chess not checkers

This is one that will bring you a lot of success, and you should always be doing this. When you decide to create a yoga experience: think 3 moves ahead. Where does this experience that I’m creating for people take us to next? Before you finish a retreat, you should already have the next retreat lined up. Same with workshops, or classes. Never create a one-off experience because it’s not a great use of time. You’re creating a funnel of people who love what you offer, genuinely want to hang out with you, have made friends there, and want to come back and bring more people. So the more you listen to what your students are asking for and serve that to them, it’s going to be fruitful for you and beneficial for them. Keep making things happen, and they will keep showing up- over and over again.

Give yourself time

Don’t be hard on yourself that your community isn’t built in a few months, or a year, or multiple years. As long as you are teaching what you love and sharing authentic things- you’re going to keep leveling up. You’re going to keep learning and getting confident, and as you’re sharing your knowledge, your students are learning more, feeling better about themselves, and connecting more with you. Give yourself time and space to walk this path. Give more value than what you ask for in return, and it will all come back to you.

To listen in for more advice follow along on the Next Level Yoga Academy Podcast on Spotify HERE. Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE.