QUESTION from Nicola: I’ve just made the break away from my marketing career to build a business that’s more aligned and has yoga central to it. Looking ahead with a completely blank sheet - if you were to build your yoga business again from scratch now with all the knowledge you’ve gained, how might you approach it and how is that different to how you did set it up? 

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Katie maps a safer path from a marketing career to a sustainable yoga business, focusing on smart transitions, low overheads, and the power of a clear niche. We share why studios are risky now, how to avoid burnout, and how to build reliable income across classes and online offers.

• planning a phased transition with income buffer
• why bricks-and-mortar studios struggle in big cities
• using gyms and studios to build reach and cash flow
• limiting weekly classes and travel to prevent burnout
• diversifying revenue with 1:1s, courses and workshops
• choosing a focused niche to stand out online
• building a simple online pathway and audience

QUESTION from Renee: How do I get started with Instagram? I'm right at the beginning of this. 

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Edwina provides a comprehensive guide on how to start and optimise an Instagram account, particularly for personal brands in the wellness and yoga space. She emphasises the importance of setting up a creator account, optimising the bio, using clear usernames, and planning content strategically to attract and engage followers. Edwina also discusses the significance of personal branding and offers insights into effective marketing strategies for spiritual entrepreneurs.

Takeaways

• Set up a creator account for personal branding.
• Choose a clear and specific username.
• Optimise your bio to reflect who you are and what you do.
• Include your name and location in your bio.
• Use links effectively to guide potential clients.
• A clear profile picture builds trust and connection.
• Plan foundational posts to introduce yourself.
• Instagram functions as a search engine; optimise for search.
• Engage with your audience through consistent content.
• Consider joining supportive programs like the Yoga Business Accelerator.

QUESTION from @yourbrightbeginning on Instagram: I would love to understand why I’ve had my best performing reels over the summer period (I’m terms of number of views) but not had any new followers, actually lost followers, during the same time period. I’m so close to 1000 followers (so I can start doing lives again finally since they brought that rule in). Does the algorithm make things harder for some reason as you near these milestones?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

We unpack why reels can surge while follower counts dip and show how to turn fleeting attention into trust. We share a clear profile audit, debunk the milestone myth, explain healthy churn, and lay out steps that convert views into real growth.

• what views signal versus what follows require
• the summer scrolling effect and passive engagement
• wide reach versus deep relevance on reels
• how to audit bio, pins, and first nine posts
• designing series and clear calls to action
• separating vanity metrics from revenue drivers
• platform bot cleanups and healthy follower churn
• staying consistent while building trust pathways

For those of you that are listening to this, we go really deep into you know how to do all of this, how to get create create great content, how to get new followers, all of this stuff we talk about in the Yoga Business Accelerator. There’s a whole module in the Shakti Roadmap based on authentic social media. We actually work in real time in creative labs where we get down and dirty with our content and we work it, we analyze it, we do all of that. So definitely check out that if you’re up for getting really good at your content so you can sell your offers.

QUESTION from @tracyryan_healthcoach on Instagram: How to start a membership platform? What to charge and how to create something that leads to membership?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Katie unpacks how to design a membership that creates recurring revenue without overwhelming you or your audience. We share pricing strategies, planning rhythms, and why a warm email list beats social vanity metrics every time.

• the case for recurring revenue as stability
• using one flagship deliverable each month
• flexible scheduling over rigid calendars
• quality over quantity in content
• example of a high-ticket, single-class model
• planning month by month with clear comms
• building a warm list before launching
• starting with freebies and low-cost offers
• using funnels to grow email and trust

We cover all of that in the Yoga Business Accelerator, how to build (we call it a funnel) that brings people into your world and builds your email list and builds your audience, which definitely can then eventually lead to a really successful membership.

QUESTION from Gabriela www.milanamyoga.com: I feel stuck in terms of online offerings. It seems a lot more difficult to sell online offerings. Where should I be taking my focus?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE  🎧

Katie answers Gabriella’s question about why online offers are harder to sell and map a path that works now. The heart of it: build real community and lead with passion, using AI as a tool, not a voice.

• why information no longer sells on its own
• making community the core product, not an add-on
• human-to-human touchpoints across Zoom, WhatsApp and voice notes
• live coaching as a driver of trust and conversion
• choosing topics from passion and lived experience
• translating deep interests into clear, relevant promises
• using AI for notes and admin, not for ideas or voice
• structuring programmes for accountability and momentum

QUESTION from Gemma: I am planning to offer yoga from my garden which is weather-dependent, how can I navigate this?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Edwina provides insights on how to successfully run outdoor yoga classes while navigating weather challenges. She emphasises the importance of having backup plans, such as utilising sheltered spaces, community halls, or even transitioning to online classes when necessary. Edwina shares her personal experiences and practical tips to help yoga instructors create a flexible and profitable teaching environment.

Takeaways

• Running yoga classes outdoors can be a beautiful option.
• Always have a backup space for weather challenges.
• Consider using community halls for yoga classes.
• Online classes can be a great alternative in bad weather.
• Utilise sheltered spaces for outdoor yoga.
• Moving furniture can create space for indoor classes.
• Local community resources can be cost-effective for yoga.
• Having a WhatsApp group can help communicate with students.
• Flexibility is key in teaching yoga outdoors.
• Planning ahead can ensure a smooth yoga experience.

QUESTION from Gemma: What level and which company for insurance do you recommend? 

ANSWER: I am with GSA who I have found to be very good. You can email them here [email protected] they are the recommended insurers from Yoga Australia. More info can also be found HERE. I strongly recommend becoming a member with Yoga Australia because they offer so much support and guideance around this type of thing.  

QUESTION from Aline www.yogawithaline.co.uk: As a yoga teacher and student, I feel drawn to share the more subtle aspects of Yoga, like chanting, share about the Koshas or the Sutras. But there's a voice that goes 'Who am I to share this?' Not because I don't think I understand about it enough, but more out of a sense of respect and feeling like I'd love to share these aspects with my students in a way that honours the Yoga tradition and lineages.

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Katie unpacks how to share chanting, sutras, and the koshas with integrity, drawing on Krishnamacharya’s three pillars for ethical teaching. Love, practice, and lineage become a clear permission slip to teach the subtle work without appropriation.

• service as the foundation for teaching
• embodied practice over performance
• why struggle creates better teaching maps
• naming sources and honouring lineage
• cultural sensitivity in subtle teachings
• practical ways to introduce chanting and koshas

QUESTION from Gabriela www.milanamyoga.com: I would like to create a longer program for women or a community online - The Wise & Wild for women reaching perimenopause and menopause who need more Shakti in their life. Any advice?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Edwina provides valuable insights on creating a supportive online community for women in perimenopause and menopause. She emphasises the importance of engaging with the audience to understand their needs, structuring programs that fit their busy lives, and leveraging lived experiences to foster connection. Edwina also discusses the significance of thoughtful naming and marketing strategies, as well as the steps to successfully launch a new program.

Takeaways

• There is a need for supportive communities for women in midlife.
• Polling your audience can provide valuable insights.
• Audio formats are effective for busy women.
• Start with smaller programs to test the waters.
• Lived experience is crucial in connecting with your audience.
• Community engagement is key to program success.
• Unique naming can help differentiate your program.
• Building trust is essential for launching new offerings.
• Short, digestible content is preferred by midlife women.
• Utilising social media can help capture interest and build an email list.

QUESTION from @giannis.promise on Instagram: How would you draw 'new' people to your online services? People that haven’t come to your in-person classes. In other words, how do you make online offerings such as asana, breathwork or meditation appealing in marketing online?

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

Edwina discusses strategies for yoga teachers to attract new clients to their online services. She emphasises the importance of identifying a niche audience, creating engaging content, and offering free resources to showcase their expertise. By focusing on specific demographics and addressing their unique challenges, yoga teachers can effectively market their online offerings and build a loyal client base.

Takeaways

• Growing a business online opens up to billions of potential clients.
• Identify your target audience to tailor your offerings.
• Niche down to serve specific demographics effectively.
• Create content that resonates with your audience's challenges.
• Use social media creatively to showcase your unique approach.
• Engage with your audience through relatable content.
• Offer free resources to allow potential clients to experience your services.
• Intentional marketing leads to better client engagement.
• Utilise reels and other formats to reach a wider audience.
• Collaborate with others to refine your online offerings.

QUESTION from Vasudha: Looking for advice on the best way / ritual / practice to address a lifetime ingrained issues of lack of self worth and move into confident prosperous expert mode :

ANSWER:

LISTEN HERE 🎧

We explore a grounded path from low self-worth to confident action by making the work about service, not self. Then we confront money blocks with practical tools that align values with prosperity and turn purpose into income.

• using service as an antidote to self-doubt
• adopting a WWI-inspired action mindset
• reframing imposter syndrome into offering value
• identifying cultural and family money blocks
• applying Rachel Rodgers’ strategies for earning (read her book 'We Should All Be Millionaires' - it's free on Spotify Premium)
• learning from Denise Duffield-Thomas on pricing and ease (listen to her podcast)