5 important steps to take with a new private yoga client
As a yoga teacher, few experiences are more fulfilling than developing a consistent relationships with private clients. Because yoga is more than just a physical practice, it is important to get to know your new client and understand what their goals are for their practice.
It is important to understand a bit about this person’s journey, why they are seeking private yoga lessons, and what goals they have for your time together. Because the space between you can become so vulnerable during a lesson, both parties should feel a certain level of safety before you begin.
Here are five steps that I take in a new client relationship:
1. Get to know your new client.
Getting to know each other prior to the first session is a good way to create a safe space, and there are a few ways to approach this.
I use an online form for this. I ask basic questions about their health and and then go deeper with questions like, “What draws you to a yoga practice?” and “What is your primary goal for private yoga classes?” This gives the student a chance to reflect on their decision and gives them time to formulate their answers.
Another way to get to know your new client, is to meet in person for coffee or tea or set up a time to talk over the phone to learn more about each other and discuss their goals.
2. Talk about expectations and communicate your boundaries.
As you get to know your new client, it is a good idea to communicate what you are and are not as a yoga teacher. For example, if your student expresses that they want to practice yoga to heal from a traumatic experience, it is a good idea to explore what they need prior to your first session.
If you have no training in trauma awareness, it may not be a good fit for you to meet with this client. The same is true for physical afflictions such as spinal or neck injuries, torn muscles, and chronic pain. It is not to say that you should turn these clients away, but it is important to understand what they need and communicate your boundaries. As you probably already know, practicing yoga can lead to some intense emotional experiences, too.
Asking yourself if you are ready to hold space for people in an emotional capacity as well as a physical capacity is an important part of understanding who you are as a private yoga teacher. Wherever you land, be clear with your client about that information from the beginning.
3. Discuss prices and schedule your first sessions.
It’s a good thing to be clear on what you are charging before you move any further with your new client, and hopefully they already have an idea of the cost before they reach out to you.
With new students, I recommend encouraging them to book at least two sessions with you or make the first session longer than one hour. These first few meetings allow you to see your student’s strengths and areas that may need more attention in their developing practice. With this in mind, you may want to consider offering your student a package deal for multiple sessions to incentivize a longer commitment or suggest a longer session at a lower price as an introductory offer.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure to communicate your “normal” price if you expect them to pay more for subsequent sessions.
4. Find the best location to meet both of your needs.
Choosing a location for your sessions with your new client can be a challenging step if you don’t have a studio or designated space to teach yoga. This, however, is an opportunity to be creative with the needs of your client.
If it is important for your client to connect with nature, consider teaching this person outdoors if the weather allows. If they want to develop a home practice, consider teaching them at their house if you are both comfortable with it.
I generally see clients in my home studio. It is not perfect - I have two nosy, friendly dogs, but I communicate that with my clients ahead of time to make sure that they are okay with the occasional interruption. Most welcome it!
It is important that you both feel safe and relatively focused in the location that you choose. If you need to pay for a space to meet (such as a studio or room in a community center), be mindful to build that into your pricing.
5. Maintain a relationship with your new client.
One thing that I’ve found to be true with all of my clients is that they tend to forget what they’ve learned between sessions.
A powerful way to maintain a relationship with your client and help them stay connected to their practice is to occasionally communicate with them between sessions. Maybe you take a couple of progress photos during your session to send them (with permission, of course) or record a quick 5-minute flow for them to practice before your next meeting.
Perhaps you want to check in on something they mentioned during the session, like an upcoming job interview or a sore ankle. This can be a great way to deepen your relationship, but first make sure that they are comfortable with communication between sessions and that you have the capacity to add those extra steps.
At the very least, sending an encouraging reminder text for your next appointment is a great way to keep in touch and help your client know that you care.
Sometimes it can be tricky to know how to best begin with a new private client. I’ve found that taking these five steps can help pave the way for a meaningful and lasting relationship with new students.
Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or would just like to send us your favorite golden milk recipe, write to us at: info@align-labs.com.
If you are a certified yoga teacher, visit align.yoga to register for a preview of the Align Yoga app.
