How to Find Your Niche as a Yoga Teacher

Long ago, in a culture much different to our own, yoga was mostly only practiced in India. People rarely discussed 'teaching specialties' and 'ideal student-types'. During those days it was merely practice with an instructor - nothing more, nothing less. Nowadays however, amid this ever-changing world of ours where needs vary so greatly than they did before, practitioners' reasons for practicing yoga can also differ drastically; hence why different approaches are often encouraged by teachers today.

If you’ve completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training course or even a 300 hour advanced yoga teacher training course, you’ve probably been given the advice to "find your niche " when it comes to teaching. While this may initially sound limiting, there are many important benefits of doing so: a guiding thread for your teaching practice; greater clarity and focus; and organised instruction that will aid you in helping more people rather than just “helping everyone” with all kinds of skills. As I'll demonstrate in this blog, you'll see how valuable specialising once you complete a yoga teacher training can be.

Finding your special ‘yoga teaching niche’ will allow you to attract students who really connect with you. It can also help them to stay consistent with their practice too so it’s important we break this down. To help pinpoint the right speciality for you, here are some helpful tips!

What is a Niche?

To determine our niche, we must first understand the true significance of this word. Simply put, for yoga instructors, your particular area of expertise is how you plan to teach classes and any additional services that might be associated with it. To define your niche effectively; three vital elements need to be considered:

1. Yoga is much more than just asana (I know you know that!) - there are many aspects to explore, such as philosophy, meditation, and pranayama. You can become a yoga teacher without having to teach asana each week or even in the studio setting! There's so much potential when it comes to delving into this ancient practice.
2. Your special abilities, which do not need to be closely related to yoga. Maybe you have incredible wit, you’re able to bring people together or you have a knack for storytelling.
3. Your unique passions, for example, your desire to understand anatomy, a love for exploring the world, or your deep interest in nature and the seasons. 

Examples

1. Meditation + storytelling + an interest in nature and the seasons = guiding your students on a sensory walk on a crisp spring morning through the practice of meditation.
2. The philosophy of yoga + incredible wit+ love for exploring the world = funny, educational video content on the ancient philosophy of yoga around the world.
3. Asana + the ability to bring people together + interest in anatomy = a science-based approach to asana that’s easy to understand and inclusive.

Inspire Yourself Through Other Yoga Teachers 

To understand what your niche is, we can also inspire ourselves from what’s already out there. Here are some of the teachers I know, learn from, and follow, who are using their passions and skills to teach yoga the best way they know how..

Dr Timothy McCall is both a yoga teacher and a Doctor. Combining his expertise in body mechanics and the human form with an age-old practice, he leads others to discover the power of yoga through concise instruction. He creates workshops and delivers them around the world. His most popular, Yoga as Medicine’ workshop became the foundation for a series of well-respected weeklong yoga therapy intensives. 

Luvena Rangel is a passionate Indian yoga instructor who values justice and ethics, as well as anatomy. Her teaching strategy helps students from all backgrounds, shapes, sizes and colours to feel welcomed on the mat - it equips them with the tools they need for self-advocacy in their practice of yoga. Her classes are built around inclusivity. 

Eva Lotta-Lamm is a yoga teacher, visual thinker, speaker, and teacher. Eva-Lotta teaches companies, teams and individuals around the world how to use the power of visuals to think through problems, explore possibilities, and communicate concepts in an engaging way. I love her for the yoga stick man illustrations. She is somebody I often talk about when I lead a 200 hour yoga teacher training course because she helps students to memorise sequences and makes learning more fun. 

Connect with Your Students 

Yoga teachers have the extraordinary opportunity to use their skills and passions to inspire so many lives. Not only do they teach, but they also share a profound experience that touches hearts and minds on an intimate level. When yoga teachers choose to give of themselves in this way, it has an even greater impact on the lives of their students.

Not only do good yoga teachers have a shared set of skills and interests, but they also recognise the difficulties their students face in mastering yoga (and life). Knowing how you can meet your niche's needs once you've identified your own passions is an elemental part of success. 

The more you know and understand the yogi that you want to serve, the easier it will be to help them. First, you need to identify the problem that you are solving for them. From there begin to build relationships with them cantered around helping them with their problem. You will be able to connect with them better if you understand their emotions. Think about what makes them frustrated, angry, sad, but also valued, confident and happy. Try to relate to them on a human-to-human level. Not just a teacher-to-student level. 

Don’t Be Afraid To Be Yourself 

As I was starting to teach yoga, my mind overflowed with ideas of what kind of classes I wanted to teach, what content should go on the website, and which posts I would share on social media. Despite that excitement about those concepts, a part of me kept questioning whether this really is the essence of yoga or not? 

The word 'Yoga' can't be defined by a single person. It's important to remember that the one thing that connects us to our practice is intention and focus. Through meditation, pranayama or even studying Yoga philosophy we gain concentration and were able to let go of anything unnecessary (not serving us) to come back into the present moment. Whether you teach Vinyasa Yoga, Yin yoga or any other style of yoga, asana's goal is also to assist us with connecting within so we can reach a meditative state more easily when needed. In my opinion, whatever brings you back into the present moment could be considered as 'yoga'. 

Be yourself. Be bold. Be brave. 

To learn more about our 300 hour advanced yoga teacher training course and how it can help you stand out in a competitive market, click here.

 Alternatively if you’d prefer to study a shorter course like a CPD, click here.