Should Yoga Teachers Be Marketing Themselves?

Is marketing Yoga unethical? Is it wrong to make money by teaching Yoga classes? Is it wrong to be teaching Yoga as a career? In a "nut shell," the answer is "no." How can you exist without making a living?

The whole concept of Yoga teachers, refusing money for their services, is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone, who performs a service of value, should be paid for it. Anything of value is worth something. It is a fact that Yoga teachers spend a lot of time and money on training.

What do Yoga teachers bring to their students? Let's look at a short list of examples: Happiness, tranquility, less stress, less pain, self-confidence, less anger, better physical health, improved emotional health, and better mental health.

There are many books on the benefits of Yoga, so my list is quite modest. Let's look at just one benefit of Yoga. Would you rather have more pain or less? Pain is the relationship you never wanted. Once you have pain, you only want to get rid of it.

Some people gladly pay anything to get rid of pain. So, now I ask, "Is Yoga still worthless?" The answer is: Yoga is not worthless - of course not. Why would you listen to anyone, who tells you so?

Therefore, if you are a Yoga teacher, or thinking about becoming a Yoga instructor, marketing is part of the job. Whether we like it, or not, we market ourselves everyday. In fact, everyone markets themselves at work, home, or play, so we may as well do a good job of it.

© Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html