The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Yoga Business
Paul M. Jerard Jr.
The dark exists everywhere and so does the light. The dark side of human personality is in all of us. Unfortunately, Yoga teachers, priests, politicians, and police are human too.
With that said, there are many caring Yoga teachers who their spend time working with seniors, fibromyalgia groups, alzheimer patients, and many more people in need. They don't get front page billing on Yoga magazines or Time Magazine, for their efforts, but they do get gratification.
Very often, I advise Yoga teachers and Yoga studios in regard to disputes, between a Yoga teacher and the Yoga studio ownership. Each side will call the other self serving and greedy. Some Yoga teachers become a perceived threat for a variety of reasons, and find themselves out of a job.
The most common reasons for dismissal are: "Money is tight," the Yoga teacher was networking to steal students, or an ethics violation. An ethics violation is a "no-brainer" and the Yoga studio, ashram, or health club has to take swift action. Especially, if this were in relation to a potential harassment case, where the management would find itself in, the middle of, a lawsuit.
About Business: Yes, everything in this world is business, to some degree, but ethical business practice is much different from greed. Some thriving Yoga businesses actually contribute to many charities, help the community, and spread the word of living a quality life.
Personally, quality Yoga teachers are hard to come by, and studios should prepare for "seasonal slow downs." Below is some advice I recently gave a Yoga teacher who is very skilled, but was permanently released by an ashram, due to the "summer slow down."
"Your ability and creativity to use props is a valuable skill. Very often, in lectures, I refer to knowledge of body mechanics, as a major asset, and the ability to teach every student, who walks in the door as priceless. You have the ability to teach, any Yoga student, at any level.
Although, the director of your ashram overlooked your value, you should not be discouraged, at all. There is a saying: "knowing is enough." Keep developing your skills, help people, and good karma will help you.
The best we can do is, change the world for the better - one person at a time. If we can do more - that is good too. Don't be disheartened - always look at what good can be done, in response to any given situation. Your passion for Yoga can help everyone you come into contact with."
For those Yoga studios that worry about losing students to, a Yoga teacher, you could design a non-competition agreement, for your protection. I still do not have one at my center, but I do know what it is like to create an idea, find a teacher, advertise, and cultivate a class; only to have a teacher take the class home.
So why do I still not have a "contract" for Yoga teachers, on my staff? Did I learn from my mistake? Yes I did, but the relationship between studio ownership and independent Yoga teacher is all about trust, character improvement, and cultivating mutual respect. This is what makes it a bit different from the corporate world.
Lastly, if you are a Yoga studio or ashram owner that has been "burned," in the past, by staff or employees, it doesn't hurt to review your hiring process. Hiring good technical Yoga teachers is not enough, if you can't trust them.
We did overhaul our interviewing process, preliminary requirements, and hiring practices, without implementing a non-competition agreement contract. Make sure candidates are interviewed more than once, by different people. This will "weed out" those you can trust, from those you have doubts about.
About the author:
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at
Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga
teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts.
He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults,
and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right
for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career
as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org