yoga marketing: how to grow your business in 2024

Being a yoga teacher is about so much more than just teaching yoga, it all hinges on yoga marketing. You are creating a business centered around your yoga skillset and it’s your responsibility to put yourself out there to ensure you succeed.

It’s about cultivating a community, nurturing relationships, and contributing meaningfully to the world of yoga.

In this article, we will outline key steps that yoga teachers should take to engage with a broader audience, share their skills, and unlock their full potential.

Key Takeaways

1. By implementing effective marketing strategies, yoga teachers can expand their businesses, attract more students, and create exciting new avenues for sharing their knowledge and making a positive impact.
2. Define your personal brand and niche as a yoga teacher to differentiate yourself from others. Your niche becomes the driving force behind every aspect of your yoga profession.
3. Social media is a powerful tool for yoga teachers to connect with yoga enthusiasts and students. Choose the right platforms and be authentic with your followers. 
4. Having a well-designed website enhances your credibility and serves as your online home. Ensure it’s user-friendly and professional to attract potential students.
5. Despite the rise of online yoga, there is still a call for in-person teachers. Don’t be discouraged by the change in pace, embrace it and find the marketing strategies which help increase class numbers. 

Why do I have to do yoga marketing?

It’s rare for financial gain to be at the heart of a yoga teacher’s motivation. Most pursue the path because they have a deep love for the practice and a desire to share that passion. 

However, in order to sustain this passion professionally, both new and experienced teachers must devote time and effort to mastering the art of effective self-marketing.

By implementing successful marketing strategies, teachers can expand their businesses, attract more students to their classes and workshops, and create additional avenues for imparting their knowledge and making a positive impact on lives. 

What is my personal brand in yoga marketing? 

Before you get ahead of yourself with your marketing strategy, it’s important to figure out your personal brand; your niche as a yoga teacher.

What are you passionate about, and how does what you offer set you apart from other teachers?  Your niche serves as your yoga identity, defining the specific style or type of yoga you’re truly passionate about teaching. 

It becomes the driving force behind every aspect of your yoga profession, shaping your teaching approach, influencing the design of your website, and inspiring the creation of transformative workshops or rejuvenating retreats.

By fully understanding and embracing your niche, you align with your true purpose and establish a profound connection with your ideal audience. 

When you have a clear and focused target audience in mind, your marketing efforts become more impactful and purposeful, reaching those individuals who deeply resonate with your authentic yoga offerings.

Do I have to become an Instagram influencer? 

In short, no, you don’t have to strive to become an influencer for your marketing to be successful. Influencing is a job in itself and requires a huge amount of time and investment to make work.

When we talk about marketing yourself as a yoga teacher we are referring to ways to enhance your following and entice more people to take your current offerings.

Of course, as you become more apt in social media techniques you may find yourself wanting to offer more, but at the beginning take baby steps and think about advertising the skills already in your arsenal. 

Social media yoga marketing

Social media can be a powerful tool for yoga teachers to connect with yoga enthusiasts and students, build a community, and promote their offerings.

Here are some helpful tips on how to effectively use social media to engage with more people:

Choose the Right Platforms

Identify the social media platforms that align with your target audience and teaching style. Instagram and Facebook are popular choices for yoga teachers, but you can also explore creating a YouTube channel or TikTok account for video content.

TikTok, for example, relies on trends and is most popular with a younger audience. So if you feel you could create snappy, niche videos that that demographic will engage with, you might see yourself thrive.

Share Inspiring and Educational Content

Create and share content that inspires, educates, and entertains your followers. Post yoga poses, sequences, or tutorials to provide value and guidance.

Share insights, tips, and reflections on the philosophy and benefits of yoga. Use visuals like images or videos to make your content more engaging.

Be sure to show where you struggle too, don’t make your content seem unrealistic.

Be Authentic and Show Your Personality

Let your unique voice and personality shine through your social media posts.

Share personal stories, experiences, and challenges related to your yoga journey. This helps create a genuine connection with your audience.

Engage with Your Followers

Respond to comments, direct messages, and questions from your followers. Show genuine interest and appreciation for their engagement.

This interaction helps foster a sense of community and builds stronger relationships with your audience.

Collaborate with Others

Collaborate with other yoga teachers, wellness professionals, or influencers in your niche. This can involve guest appearances on each other’s social media accounts, co-creating content, or participating in joint events or challenges.

Collaborations can help you reach new audiences and create mutually beneficial relationships.

Use Hashtags

Research and utilize relevant hashtags to expand your reach and attract new followers.

Popular yoga-related hashtags like #yogalove, #yogainspiration, or #yogateacher can help your posts be discovered by a wider audience.

Promote Your Classes and Events

Announce and promote your in-person or online classes, workshops, or retreats on your social media platforms to enhance the success of your yoga marketing.

Create visually appealing graphics or videos with details about the event, and provide clear instructions on how interested individuals can sign up or register.

Share Student Testimonials and Success Stories

Feature testimonials or success stories from your students to highlight the positive impact of your teachings.

This social proof can build trust and encourage potential students to join your classes.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key on social media. Develop a content schedule or posting plan that suits your availability and stick to it as part of your yoga marketing plan.

Regularly show up and provide valuable content to keep your audience engaged and interested.

Remember to use social media as a tool for connection and inspiration, rather than simply self-promotion. It’s about building a community, sharing knowledge, and spreading the joy of yoga.

Do I need a website to market myself? 

Having a well-designed website is a huge bonus for any yoga teachers hoping to take their businesses and yoga marketing to the next level.

A website is your online home; it’s where people will come when they want to learn about you, your class schedules, your teaching style, and your background. You can compile all of your experience in one place and really showcase your personal brand. 

Furthermore, a professional website enhances your credibility as a yoga teacher. Being active on social media is one thing, but a website demonstrates your commitment to your craft and creates a sense of trust among potential students, as they can easily access information about your qualifications, experience, and background. 

User-friendly yoga marketing

One of the most important elements of creating your website is ensuring it’s user-friendly. There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a disorganized and clunky website and for potential students, it may be the reason they don’t book your classes.

Take the time to ensure it is easy to navigate and looks professional to attract as many new faces as possible.

How do I market in-person yoga classes

There are lots of ways for you to market in-person classes both online and offline. Ideally the studio you’re teaching at will do some promotion of your class, but you should always make the effort to do your own promotion too. 

Here are some tips for promoting your in-person yoga classes: 

Define Your Target Audience

Identify the specific group of people you want to reach with your class. Consider demographics such as age, gender, location, and interests. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts to resonate with your target audience.

Create Compelling Content for yoga marketing

Develop engaging content that showcases the unique benefits and experiences students can expect from attending the class.

This yoga marketing could include captivating descriptions, testimonials from other students, and visually appealing images or videos that highlight the atmosphere and energy of your classes.

Partner with other Local Businesses

Partner with local businesses or wellness centers to cross-promote each other’s services. Offer to teach a free class or provide a discounted rate to their customers, and in return, ask them to promote your classes to their audience. This can help expand your reach and attract new students.

Host Events or Workshops

Organize special events, workshops, or themed classes to generate excitement and attract new students. Collaborate with other yoga teachers or wellness professionals to create unique experiences that stand out and appeal to a broader audience.

Offer Introductory Packages or Discounts

Encourage new students to try your classes by offering introductory packages or discounted rates. This incentivizes them to give your offerings a chance and increases the likelihood of them becoming regular students.

Engage with the Local Community

Attend local events, festivals, or community gatherings where you can network with potential students. Distribute flyers or business cards that provide information about your classes. Consider offering a short demonstration or mini-class at these events to showcase your teaching style and build connections.

Offer Free Trials and Yoga Packages

Offering new students deals is a great way method in your yoga marketing to entice them through the door for the first time.

You could discuss free classes with your yoga studio or explore the idea of a discounted class bundle. People like to feel special and offering deals is a great way to cater to this and show that you’re interested in making sure they are happy.

Encourage Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Provide exceptional experiences to your current students so they become enthusiastic advocates for your classes. Encourage them to bring friends or family members by offering referral incentives or rewards.

Create a newsletter to enhance your yoga marketing

Stay connected with yoga students through engaging email newsletters as part of your yoga marketing campaign. Share upcoming events, provide motivational tips, and offer special discounts.

Design visually appealing newsletters that reflect your business’s essence, and try to differentiate yourself in the competitive fitness industry.

Remember, consistency and authenticity are key in your marketing efforts. Stay true to your unique teaching style and values while effectively communicating the benefits of your classes.

By utilizing a combination of online and offline marketing strategies, you can attract a steady stream of students to your in-person yoga classes.

What if I don’t want to teach yoga online? 

It may feel like the future of the yoga industry is uncertain with technology and social media bring about so many digital changes in such a short space of time, but don’t be discouraged.

There is still a call for in-person yoga teachers, you just have to use all of the tools mentioned in this article and get creative with your marketing campaigns.

When it comes to marketing your classes first think about who your target audience is; where do they live? How old are they? What social media platforms do they use?

If your students will be older, think about a more traditional approach to reach them, perhaps flyers in the yoga studio where you teach or around your local area.

Continue to make the effort with yoga marketing

It may sound old-fashioned, but you’ll be surprised by how many people value a teacher who makes an effort to connect with people offline.

Even if you don’t want to teach yoga online, consider your social media presence and how it could help increase your in-person numbers.

Yoga studios love employing people who will draw in new clients with their own followers, from a yoga marketing perspective, it’s free advertisement.

Try not to be discouraged by the industry shift, see it as an opportunity to be more creative. 

Online review management for yoga marketing

Online reviews and the way you interact with them are an essential part of any business. As a teacher, as part of your yoga marketing, you must make an effort to engage with people online and be seen to care about your students and their queries.

Similarly, as a yoga studio, incorporating an online review strategy into your marketing plan is essential to establish trust with potential customers.

The way you interact with reviews speaks volumes about the quality of your customer care.

Showing gratitude to clients and attentively addressing their feedback demonstrates your commitment to exceptional customer service. This fosters loyalty and encourages new students to join if they had been on the fence.

Embracing online reviews as part of your yoga marketing approach can significantly impact your business’s success.

Conclusion: yoga marketing

Yoga marketing may not sound appealing, but try to be open-minded and see it as an exciting opportunity to enhance your business.

Don’t feel like you have to tick every box to succeed, take it one step at a time and see where it takes you. You may discover you love creating TikToks, or you might find solace in the fact that you know online teaching isn’t for you. Use this as an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not just to fit the mold of the modern Instagram yogi. Be unapologetically you and you’ll find people are drawn to your authenticity and genuine teaching