You’ve graduated from your 200-hour YTT (maybe even your 300-hour too) and decided you want to teach yoga or improve your teaching skills. There are tons of courses available for continuing education, but pre-recorded videos don’t quite feel like enough. You crave accountability and real-time conversations where you can ask questions and get tailored advice.
The solution? Skip the courses, workbooks, and freebies, and invest in a mentor instead. This often-overlooked learning style is what ancient yogis relied on to pass down teachings. Just because modern yoga training and teaching have evolved doesn’t mean this method isn’t incredibly beneficial.
What Does Mentorship Do for You?
The beauty of mentorship is that it’s not one-size-fits-all, you can create a truly personalized experience based on your needs and goals. However, the flip side is that finding the right mentor can be more time-consuming. But that’s no reason to dismiss this path!
Mentorship typically comes in two forms: one-on-one or group programs. Here’s how they differ:
- One-on-One Mentorship: Highly personalized, focusing on your unique goals. This could include building confidence, refining your sequencing, finding your teaching voice, improving cueing, landing your first teaching gig, or growing your yoga business. It could be a combination of anything related to your skill as a teacher or yoga business owner.
- Group Mentorship: These programs may center on specific skills or take a broader approach to help you grow as a teacher. This is the less traditional approach but doesn’t mean its not great!
The simple answer to what yoga mentorships do for you is that it depends. One mentor may be just what you need or you could end up having different mentors with specialties in specific areas. There’s no “right” approach to mentorship.
Ultimately, mentorship helps you move forward as a yoga instructor in the direction you choose. A mentor isn’t like your YTT teacher who tells you exactly what to do. Instead, they guide you, offer suggestions, and support you through the technicalities and mind-stuff (chitta vrittis) that come along with starting and evolving your hobby or career as a teacher.
The Good: Yoga mentorship is flexible and personalized.
The Bad: Not all mentorships are created equal.
The Realistic: It takes time to find the “right” fit.
Signs You Should Consider a Mentor
You’re never wrong for not wanting a mentor. But if you’re reading this and wondering if mentorship is for you, it’s likely you’re searching for support. Let’s be clear: you don’t need a mentor. However, mentorship can be a game-changer in how quickly you grow as a teacher and how supported you feel.
A few telltale signs that mentorship is right for you now or soon in the future:
- You’re researching continuing education options, hoping they’ll finally make you feel ready to teach.
- Your self-doubt keeps shutting down your dreams of teaching.
- You crave the connection and support you had during YTT and want someone to bounce ideas off of.
- You’re overwhelmed and unsure about your next steps as a teacher or which skills to focus on.
- You struggle with holding yourself accountable.
- You’re starting out as a yoga teacher or want to expand your offerings.
Mentorship covers a wide range and can be curated for wherever you are in your teaching journey – from just starting to teach, to building your yoga biz, or refining your teaching skills.
Realistic Costs of a Mentor
Before diving into mentorship, ask yourself: What do I want to gain from this experience? If working with a specific person is your priority, the cost might feel irrelevant. But if your goal is to grow your yoga business, a larger investment may be required.
Courses on specific teaching techniques may seem more cost effective but if you take several, the total cost could add up to the same amount. The point: Be clear about what you’re looking for.
Having someone look over your sequences and give feedback is so valuable and offers way deeper insight than someone simply sharing their favorite tips and tricks for sequencing. Just like working on the mind-stuff, the chitti vrittis, that arise when beginning your teaching career requires a mentor who’s more like a coach – which is a completely different set of skills you’re seeking in a mentor. The price will differ based on the skills of a mentor, along with their experience and time.
Mentorship on average can cost $500 to $8000+ (yes, those numbers are real!). I’ve spent more money than I initially wanted on mentorship, but saw the value and still feel it’s worth to this day. Only you can decide how much a mentorship is worth to you.
I will, however, encourage you to practice with a mentor before committing to one-on-one or a group program because their energy and style will most certainly influence yours.
The Good: Mentors exist for all budgets, but options can vary.
The Bad: Mentorship isn’t always accessible due to financial or time constraints. (Pro Tip: Offer an exchange! I’ve done mentorships by trading services before.)
The Realistic: Mentorship is an investment, just like your YTT was.
How to Find a Yoga Teacher Mentor
Start with the teachers you loved in YTT as many yoga trainers also mentor students. Your fellow graduates may have recommendations for mentors they trust and admire too.
Look to teachers you already enjoy practicing with, whether at a local studio or online. I found my yoga mentor by accident and ended up being invited to join a mastermind she was hosting after I trained with her. It was perfect timing as I was seeking support while transitioning to a new phase in my teaching career. Sometimes it happens that easily; other times, you’ll need to reach out and ask about mentorship opportunities. Not all mentors advertise their availability and only take on students who seek out their mentorship.
Use platforms Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs. A simple “yoga mentor” will yield plenty of results! Instagram is especially helpful for getting a feel for a mentor’s vibe and whether their offerings align with your goals.
What’s next?
- Get clear on what you want from a mentorship. This will help you pursue a mentor that’s a perfect fit.
- Start your research phase to understand what options are available for you and the skills you are looking to work on, for example, group or 1:1. You can use my 1:1 coaching & mentorship program as a jumping-off point!
- Not sure what exactly you want but know you could use some direction? Claim your free Ditch the Doubt Breakthrough session with me!
