Hi there,
This weeks blog is aimed a yoga and Pilates teachers but is also useful to anyone that teaches in the health and fitness industry. I have been asked quite a lot lately by fellow teachers that if I hear of any teaching work that comes up to please let them know and to put a word in for them at various studios I work at. Whilst I’m happy to do that it as I think it’s great to help each other out, it did make me wonder what teachers who don’t have enough work are doing to get it. I have found that whether working in the fitness or yoga industry the only way to get work is to be very proactive and to keep your foot on that gas! Freelance teaching is like any other freelance work, you have to constantly put the energy in until you are happy with what you have. Work will not fall into your lap if no one knows about you.
So what can you do? There are loads of ways to advertise your business for free (all freelancers are a business, yes even yoga teachers).
Here are a few tips:
Get a logo. If you can’t afford to have one designed see if any clients would like to design one for you in return for one or two free one to one lessons.
Get your CV out there. I put mine of www.gumtree.com when I first moved to London and had my first class within a few days. Email it out to all the yoga schools, health clubs, colleges you can think of. Many work places are offering yoga top their staff now too so consider writing to various companies that have the space for a small class. Explain the benefits, less sick days, increased productivity etc. Get a friend to proof read your CV before you send it out.
Always have business cards on you. You can get these free at www.vistaprint.com
Advertise your services for free on some of the many yoga listings websites. There are loads of these out there now but I find the best ones to be:
www.yogafinder.com and www.yogapages.co.uk
Facebook. If you have a FB page that you want to use for work, ensure it is just for work. No drunk pictures or friends tagging unprofessional pictures 
Twitter. I’m just getting into this myself but am finding it useful. To save time you can connect it with FB so whatever you ‘tweet’ goes through to FB and vice versa.
Find a local business to connect with. Why not ask a local beauty salon to keep some of your cards in return for adding a link to their website from yours?
These are just a few ideas and there are many more. I would love to hear of any ideas you may have or things that have and haven’t worked for you so please email me at info@sallyparkesyoga.com so I can share. Thank you.
Have a great day!
Nameste
Sally
