The Business of Yoga
The Business of Yoga,
Let me start off by saying that I’m not a lawyer or for that I never went to college this is what I have learned about business when I threw myself into business. A resource that was very useful to me was Light on Law by Gary Kissiah one of the best $20 I spent. I will add a link to the book at the end of this. I hope you enjoy my journey up to this point.
You are in one of two camps; you are either in the Business of yoga or in the Yoga business. But why, can’t we be in both? Ultimately that is the goal, to be in both. But why is it so hard? Well I actually think that the reason is easy, we go into business to make money, and I just don’t think that many if any go into yoga thinking they are going to be rich; it’s just not going to happen, for 99% of us.
To be a yogi is to be of service, to the (a) greater “good”
To be in business is to be in the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce.
Know your why? Why do you want to operate a business?
I was sitting right here in this room, while laying in Savasana and a seed that was planted years before blossomed. “I want to own a yoga studio.” I thought to myself but why I said “I want to have a place where everyone feels safe to grow and not be ashamed of the process” I cried that day in class if my memory serves me right. I left class that day and wrote an email to the previous owner of this space, I want to say it took me longer to write the email then it did for him to reply.
I knew my why It was to be of service, although at the time that’s not what I would have called it. I now know that, that’s really what it was. I didn’t know where it would take me or if it would even work, but I wouldn’t let anyone in on that fear with a few exceptions. Although my fears were and are very much still instinctual and basic, they are still 100% very real. The fear of letting myself and others down and of course the fear of failing. I had to come to the realization that, that was going to happen that if I wanted to be in business that I was going to let others down and that I was going to fail at times but most importantly I had to be okay with that. That took a while and is still to this day the hardest part of the job, if that’s what you want to call it.
As a young yoga teacher, and by young I’m talking about experience in the world of teaching yoga. I was pitched and I bought in to the idea that teaching yoga was going to a very lucrative job with few hours worked and the thought of being a woke human. They didn’t mention the amount of hustling that one had to do in order to make $30 dollars for one yoga class (fresh out of teacher training I made $30 a class). I very quickly learned that public classes alone weren’t going to be enough to maintain a living, but I still tried for a while teaching up to 20 classes a week, which if you think about it is way over 40 hours a week. When you include the amount of time it takes to plan your classes and to get to the 4 to 5 studios that I was teaching at and not to mention my own practice.
If you want to make it as a yoga teacher you have to place your talents in a few places, and studio classes is just the beginning, but if you wish to move and evolve your business you’ll need to bring on a few private students, workshops, and maybe even a retreat one day maybe even a Teacher Training or at least be a part of all of that. That’s just the reality of things, and not to mention you have to be your own marketing department and content creator. I strongly suggest that as soon as you find your voice you start to share it, be you, be authentic and unapologetic. Create free content online for people to find you, and create a website or at a minimum a landing page for people to find you and connect with you. There are many tools out there that can help with that including myself.
Employee or Independent Contractor
Let’s talk business, know your rights and know what kind of teacher you want to be. Chance are you may need to be both employed (w2 employee) and an independent contractor (1099 contractor) Because even spirituality comes with a side of taxes.
So, what is the difference?
A w2 employee means that the business takes out and pays taxes in your behalf and at the end of the year you get a w2 to file taxes. This is the same as most jobs that you have ever worked at.
A 1099 contractor means that you are your own business and that you are solely responsible for paying your own taxes and in most cases that’s 30% of what you make. Let’s look at the $30 class, that is now $21 because the $9 of that is going to government.
From the very first yoga class I led, and they told me that I was an I.C. I knew that, that just wasn’t right. I didn’t have to go to tax law school to know that it wasn’t right. At least that’s how I felt. What makes you an employee vs an independent contractor?
Let’s look at the ABC’s of being an independent contractor based on California law.
(a) that the worker is free from the control and direction of the hirer in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact; and
(b) that the worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
(c) that the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.
What does that mean in yoga terms? Well it means (a) a studio cannot ask you to do anything outside your contracted work and (b) you are performing work a service that is not offered at the studio and (c) you are free to perform your service anywhere.
Let’s take a look at what it means to be an employee.
You must follow all reasonable policies that are laid out to you, that usually comes in a form of an employee handbook. For example; when to show up, what to wear, to the use of studio props, and in some cases covered at least partially by the business insurance.
Should I use a legal entity?
Well that depends on a few things. If you are just teaching public classes and are employed, I don’t see a reason to go out and spend the money on a legal entity. If your business and you start to take on privates and your risk grows you will want to think about establishing a legal entity like an LLC vs a solo proprietor. Easy way to look at that is an LLC creates separation between you and your business when a SP does not.
If you are opening up a studio or working as an IC, you should 100% open up a legal entity. I would chat with an account or lawyer about what is best for you. Again, as your risk of lawsuit rise is when you want a legal entity.
Protect yourself and your company because no one else will. How can you protect yourself? Make sure that everyone that enters your class has a signed waiver, and make sure that you have insurance that covers you against personal injury claims.
Let’s take a look at a three-limbed strategy. Provided by Light on law by Gary Kissiah.
1. All students must sign a well-drafted waiver and release of liability that releases both the studio and its teachers from liability. The release should be used for work- shops, retreats and teacher training programs.
2. The yoga studio and the teachers must have effective insurance coverage.
3. The yoga studio and the teachers must use appropriate and careful teaching strategies to minimize the risk of harm to the students and the potential for a claim or a lawsuit if they suffer an injury in class.
Although we can’t shield ourselves from lawsuits, all we can do is better prepare for them. If you follow these simple strategies, you will be better protected in the event.
If you are an employee you do not need to have your own waiver, but when you start taking on privates you will want a waiver and a media release form especially if you want to promote using your students’ image.
Agreements or Contracts.
Never ever, have oral agreements. Always protect yourself by having everything in writing. Agreements/Contracts are there to protect both parties if something ends up going wrong. An agreement are terms that both parties agreed to when everyone was happy. Does it have to be legally done? No, an email or even a text work just fine, and if you don’t have any of that available at the time grab a roll of toilet paper and a crayon write the terms and have both parties sign.
Anytime that we are doing anything outside of your teaching agreement get it in writing. especially what and when you are going to get paid.
Marketing
It is so important to the success of any business and a yoga studio is no different. Here are a few key items to think about when implementing a marketing campaign.
Know your audience, what’s your niche?
Have a set of core values, a promise, and what’s your personality? Have a tagline and a logo.
Core Values;
Education, Wellness, Community, Family.
Our Promise;
We promise to be our very best of who we are, today. We promise to bring our drive, passion, integrity, and talent to each and every moment.
We promise to put our community first. We promise to support you, the student, to reach your yoga goals. We promise to listen to any communication you have to offer. No concern or question is too small. We promise to always
BE ALL IN.
Our Mission;
Here at Seattle Yoga Lounge are mission is to cultivate a welcoming inclusive community that inspires and betters’ individuals through the practice of yoga. We welcome all races, all religions, all countries of origin, all dreamers, all sexual orientations, and all genders.
You are safe here.
Tagline
Seattle Yoga Lounge and Café, Coffee, Yoga, and You
Have a website!
Not just any website but make sure that it’s a on brand with your brand personality. Class descriptions, class schedule, easy navigation, Q&A and very clear way that people can communicate with you.
The Power of Social Media and Free Content
There is no better marketing then the kind that is free and organic. The most successful social media post are the ones that are engaging and authentic. Speak from your heart and talk to your audience make them feel seen and heard. Use the Core Values alongside the promise and mission to be inspired on what to post. Set up a blog or a vlog to provide free content to your audience.
Cross-Promote
Find a few like-minded businesses and become part of the community.
Final advice
Know that you are not alone and remember that you are not the only person with this dream or even goal. Find others business that have already experience what you are going to, or currently going through. We are not reinventing the wheel, yet. Surround yourself with people who you trust and great teachers. Be willing to adapt and be willing to change.
Link to light on Law
http://garykissiah.com/light-on-law-essential-information/