Paddle Time
Grab some chocolate and your fave paddle, and let’s meet at the water.
Promise we’ll keep you in the loop!
How to Chose a Yoga Festival as an Instructor
Teaching at a yoga festival is a great experience. It can also jumpstart your personal brand as an instructor. Here are some things to consider.
Yoga festivals can be amazing! And an excellent way to jumpstart your personal brand as a yoga instructor. Admittedly, I’m new-ish to yoga festivals. My first was Wanderlust the last year it was held at Squaw Valley. Janet Stone was the headliner.
It was electric … and show-y.
I wasn’t sure if I was excited or disappointed. And I definitely didn’t know whether I wanted to take a Janet Stone teacher training. I still get her newsletter and with each one, I flashback to 200+ people under a white tent with Really. Loud. Music. I couldn’t get away from the noise to quiet my thoughts enough to participate in my practice. I was an outsider in my own body. (Side note … I have yet to meet Janet Stone, but her teachings and commitment to the yoga community are nothing short of extraordinary.)
But there was community in the village that was *buzzy* and alive … and I really like that.
Since then, I’ve been a lot more selective about the yoga events I attend. I prefer intimate gatherings, sound baths, and impactful yoga experiences. I don’t need loud music and microphones. I’m the girl that sets up her mat as far from the audio speakers as I can get.
Pick a yoga festival based on its location.
Looking at Yoga Alliance’s 12 must-attend yoga festivals, I would consider Bend, Oregon, Sedona, Arizona, and Telluride, Colorado. I want a place with a connection to nature, where I can walk barefoot, breathe fresh air, and swim naked. (Can you say “designated hippie?” Yep!)
When I’m choosing a festival to attend, the lineup doesn’t matter as much to me as the type of classes offered. My day-to-day practice is mostly power vinyasa because I LOVE Mary’s classes and Yoga Box. But at festivals, I want something I don’t get at home. I also want to reset and recharge.
When choosing a yoga festival where I’d like to teach, I want to make sure the vibe is consistent with my brand … and in our case, would be a place that would offer SUP yoga. 😉
Look at the workshops, not the lineup.
The workshops are where the nuggets are — whether you’re attending or teaching!
As an attendee, I want to push my limits, experience different perspectives, or reflect. Once I find a workshop I want to attend, then I snoop around on the instructor’s bio page. Just because someone doesn’t have a Janet Stone-like resume doesn’t mean they’re not excellent at what they do. Everyone has a first day.
I pretty much do the same thing if I’d like to teach. Checking out past workshops is a great way to see if the festival is in-line with your goals as an instructor. For example, if every workshops is based on the spiritual aspects of yoga and your focus is on anatomy, it’s likely not a great fit. Also, it’s unlikely you’ll earn a teaching spot at a festival outside your wheelhouse.
Nonetheless, keep a beginner’s mind to get the most from the experience … whether your attending, teaching, or both!
Find your first instructor’s gig.
There is a multi-step process to landing your first instructor’s gig.
- Define your personal brand.
- Build an instructor’s website.
- Create a video.
- Network.
Your personal brand should reflect who you are as a person and yogi, your unique yoga style. No two teachers teach alike. Lean into your way of being. Your personal branding will eventually become your signature. The Tahoe Floats brand is geared toward women who want to get out on the water, paddle, have fun, and so a little yoga. We use blues and oranges to reflect the water and sky. They also happen to be complimentary colors (bonus!).
Create a personal website or, at the very least, an instructor’s bio page. Although, I strongly recommend a personal website that reflects who you want to be — your personal brand. Your site should highlight your specialty. Use video to showcase your teaching style. Remember, you’re amazing because you’re you … not because you’re emulating someone else.
Once you’ve done these things, it’s time to find a yoga festival. Make a list of the yoga festivals where you want to teach with a focus on those local to your area. Many festival organizers want a local feel and are more likely to take a chance on someone new. Hone your networking skills and attend the festivals with the goal to meet the people you need to and to decide if it’s the kind of festival you (your brand) wants to represent.
Here’s a quick note on volunteering: Volunteering can be a great way to meet event organizers, but there’s also a challenge with this strategy. Volunteers are often viewed as just that … volunteers. If you decide to volunteer in hopes of gaining a teaching spot, be clear that’s your goal from the beginning and express your desire to teach in subsequent years. Ask for jobs where you can show event organizers your value as an instructor and leader.
You got this!
If you have any questions about launching your yoga biz, I’m happy to help! You can schedule a 30-min introductory call. I promise you’ll get something out of it! Just type “call” and give me a few details about your plan! I’ll send you my calendar and we’ll be off to the races … so to speak 🙂
And … if you’re looking for a local yoga festival in Tahoe, check out Wild Lotus Yoga Fest. It’s July 13, 2024. Tahoe Floats will be there teaching three SUP yoga classes. Be sure to stop by and say “hi” to Jamie! Plus, we have a special gift for you: 20% off when you enter PRESENTER (all caps) at checkout.