177: The Hidden Emotional and Physical Labor of Yoga Teaching

As yoga teachers, we spend a lot of time talking about teaching techniques, sequencing, cueing, and professional growth. But there's another side of this work that often goes unnamed: the hidden labor of teaching yoga. In this episode, I explore the physical, emotional, mental, and administrative work that happens behind the scenes of a yoga teaching career. From building a business one class at a time to managing finances, marketing, commuting, continuing education, and emotional boundaries, much of the work that sustains a teaching career is invisible to students—and often unacknowledged within the industry itself. My goal isn't to complain about the profession or discourage new teachers. Instead, I want to name some of the uniquely challenging aspects of yoga teaching so that if you've struggled with them, you know you're not alone. I also share why I believe sustainable yoga teaching is possible, what has helped me maintain a full-time career in yoga for more than two decades, and the three essential ingredients I believe every teacher needs to thrive long-term. In this episode, you'll hear: Why yoga teachers are essentially automatically entrepreneurs  The hidden administrative work of managing taxes, finances, insurance, and policies Why networking and relationship-building require patience and resilience How commuting, class planning, and continuing education add to a teacher's workload The importance of energetic boundaries and why yoga teachers often lack adequate support systems The pressure many teachers feel to be constantly available Why loving yoga and loving teaching yoga are not the same thing What makes a long-term yoga teaching career sustainable The role that systems, structure, and social support play in teacher wellbeing What's Coming Next This episode is the first part of a larger conversation. In the next episode, I'll share practical systems and strategies that can help make yoga teaching more sustainable, including: A group class planning system A private client acquisition system A community engagement system A money management system A scheduling system If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the hidden demands of teaching yoga, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen, understood, and supported. Resources Mentioned: Yoga for Cancer and Tari Prinster The Mentor Session Sangha Working Families Party This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. The best thing about OfferingTree is you can get up and running in 10 minutes with no tech skills needed. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor, you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)!