If youâre interested in my current yoga offerings, skip to the very bottom!
For the longest time, I resisted thinking about the *business* side of yoga, let alone marketing.
I had this yucky feeling around the word âbusinessâ, because that's where my background was, and it's also where I burned myself out.
Yoga was my refuge, and I didnât want to compromise that safe space.
But, do I have to actively avoid my background to teach yoga? Probably not. My business background is quite useful for my teaching jobs.
For example, I like reading contracts including T&Cs in tiny fonts (used to write contracts), and I am really good at spreadsheets (did financial modeling). I also like solving problems through writing (wrote tons of emails and memos).
I learned these skills the hard way and I can apply them into my yoga business â why should I ignore everything and start from scratch? I just really have to reframe my business in alignment with yogaâs teachings and who I am as a teacher.1
To do that, we have to go back to the beginning, where business and yoga were all jumbled together.
This is the story of how I began my yoga journey.
Thereâs no athleticism in my DNA.
I was that kid who was always chosen the last to play team sports. I was laughed at by a PE teacher because I couldnât do jumping jacks ârightâ (teachers, please, donât ever do that to your students).
Movements brought too much stress and insecurity, so I avoided them at all cost. My weight fluctuated too, so I felt even more uncomfortable in my body.
Fast forward to my 30s, I was working an 80-hour week in tech. I was experiencing neck-shoulder-arm-leg numbness. Doctors couldnât figure out exactly what was wrong, except telling me that I was too stressed and working too much.
When someone told me yoga might help, the first thing that came to my mind was âwould I be embarrassing myself again?â I never went to my corporate gym because of that exact reason.
So I decided to go to a yoga studio, at a time where not a lot of people would show up â 6:30am.
I still remember my first class. Very dark room, the sound of Om â all I had to do was breathe and move.
Everyone was doing their own practice in broad synchronicity.
When movements got challenging, the teacher encouraged us to stay in the practice in various shapes and forms. I didnât have to look like how others looked.
For the first time, I didnât feel insecure.
If you feel burned out and overwhelmed by daily grinds, and donât want to be in your head all the time â I totally feel you.
If you donât enjoy being at the center of attention, yet love to learn in a supportive environment â me too!
I know what it feels like to be that awkward kid.
I understand both the need and the dread to show up to a group class where everyone seems to know what theyâre doing but you donât.
I know the struggles to learn something later in life since I played 0 sports growing up.
As a yoga teacher, my goal is to cultivate a space of inclusivity and acceptance â a space where my students are free to express their true selves without the burden of conforming to Instagram worthy images.
In my classes, I aspire to break away from the conventional, 'cookie-cutter' method, encouraging my students to honor and celebrate their authentic selves.
By holding a non-judgmental environment, we all can be free from the pressure to perform.
Please join me on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
In Part 3, I will talk about whatâs been going on in my teaching journey.
See you in two weeks!
đ§ MY CURRENT OFFERINGS
Hereâs my current group class schedule.
I also teach privates (both in-person and zoom) â if youâre interested, letâs chat and see how we can work together.
If the above two options donât work, or youâre just a bit shy (I am shy too!!!), please reply to this email â Iâll send you my recorded class.