AnastasiaA lot of inspiring entrepreneurs whom I meet in my life happen to be avid yoga practitioners as well. This trend doesn’t surprise me: entrepreneurship and yoga path do have a lot in common. Ultimately, both are the paths of freedom and self-discovery, just obtained by different means.
Many yoga teachers and practitioners share the same story, where at some point in their life they took a decision to quit their corporate jobs and start a business of their own. My personal story is no different.
I’ve been working with online businesses since 2011, but interestingly my deeper focus on the practice and the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey coincided. When I decided to take full responsibility of all aspects of my life, the exact way I spent my days, the source of my income and the end goal of my work took a very different meaning. The way I wanted to lead my life was only achievable if I became an entrepreneur, and so I did.
Throughout the years I tested different online business models, trying to find what works best for me and my personal life goals. (If you want to learn from my experience on a more technical level, I shared it in a structured way in a short course “Which Online Business to Start and How”. If you are just curious about ideas, then keep on reading this article). Yoga is one of my greatest passions and a huge part of my life, so inevitably I explored many opportunities that yoga niche has to offer.
To run a yoga-related online business you don’ need to be a yoga teacher, even though many business owners in this space do teach yoga for a living. What you truly need is the qualities of an entrepreneur and a true passion for the service or good that you offer.
The online business ideas on this list have two things in common: they can be run remotely and they are meant to be ethical in nature. They might require completely different skill sets, but as a matter of fact, yoga practitioners come from different professional backgrounds. Hopefully, these ideas will be a source of inspiration and you can find something that works for you.
1. Become an Instagram influencer
Becoming a popular media person might sound like an obvious and easy business idea, but easy it is not. Yet, if it is done right, it can give the freedom and satisfaction that so many entrepreneurs long for. You’ll need to be able to produce high-quality content, including original images and texts. After building a dedicated following you’ll be able to collaborate with brands of your choice or sell the products of your own. The key to long-term success is to do it without shortcuts and to stick to your values, even if it takes a longer time to get established and grow. In other words don’t become like a famous vegan YouTuber who’s been selling wellness programmes that she wasn’t following herself, due to health issues. If you promote others’ products, do so if you (would) use them yourself.
2. Teach yoga online
If you are an experienced yoga teacher, the rise of online education in all areas created plenty of business opportunities for you. You can either create and sell your own yoga courses, join an established online yoga school as an instructor or even teach people individually. If you decide to design and film your own programs, it will require a good amount of technical knowledge or a partner with appropriate skills. To start teaching one on one, you’ll just need Skype (or an alternative) and a good internet connection. The key here is to be able to find your customers, namely students, which should not be a difficult task if you are an established yoga teacher.
3. Develop a clothing line
“Yoga Pants/Leggins” is one of the top searches in Google, related to yoga. While there are a few very known big brands that design yoga wear, big manufacturers are often questioned about their values and unsustainable practices, that are not aligned with the values of the yoga community. Small, local and ethical brands, that support a healthy body image, are preferred by yoga practitioners, and demand exceeds supply. As a practitioner yourself, you’ll also be able to understand what is really needed for fellow yogis.
4. Build your own media
Building your own media can be as simple as starting a blog, growing it and slowly turning into an online magazine with multiple authors. Now, that I wrote it, it sounds quite overwhelming, but many famous online media outlets started exactly like that – with a blog. Even if you might think that there are way too many yoga and mindfulness blogs and magazines out there, I’ll dare to reassure you, that people are always hungry for high-quality content. Yoga and meditation are also subjects that can be approached from different angles, and you can cover the one that is closer to your heart. Editorial and creative talent, as well as research experience, would be of great help if you choose this path. And in case you wonder- yes, you can blog for a living.
5. Start online shop with yoga accessories
While you absolutely can do yoga even without a mat, certain accessories still make yoga practice easier and more enjoyable. If you follow Iyengar teachings, for example, then you know that different props are even a necessity for many asanas. Yoga accessories can range from blocks and mats to fashionable Japa Malas. Luckily, today you can organize this type of business without pre-ordering huge amounts of inventory and renting a storage space – for example, by following a dropshipping model (I cover it I detail in my course about building online businesses). Creating an online shop can also be done very easily without any technical knowledge, thanks to platforms like Shopify, where a shop can be set up literally overnight.
6. Offer social media and writing services to yoga studios and teachers
Many professional yoga teachers are great in teaching yoga, but the administrative and marketing side of running a yoga studio, no matter how small, requires a completely different set of skills. Many teachers are seeking support to run their social media accounts and websites. In this niche, the true passion for the subject (yoga) and understanding of it is often more important than technical skills. This offers a fantastic opportunity for a niche, service-based business, that will be ready to serve yoga teachers in need.
7. Create journals and digital planners
Yoga and mindfulness go hand in hand, in fact, some might call them synonyms. A lot of people who start the journey of living consciously, do so by starting a journal. It can be a simple notebook, or a creative tool with quotes, ideas, reminders, bits of wisdom and inspiration. Some prefer to keep a journal where they write by hand, and some appreciate the possibility to do it in a digital form. If you are a creative mind, this is a great opportunity to apply your imagination and artistic skills.
8. Become a sustainable products reviewer
Yoga is not just an exercise for a healthy body, it’s a way of life and a way of thinking. More and more yoga practitioners are trying to use products in their daily life, that are good for our planet in the long run, and it refers to all aspects of their life. There is a growing demand for natural and recyclable materials, produced in an ethical way, without harming humans, animals or the environment. Many of these products, however, are produced by small companies in different corners of the world and are not easy to come by. As a reviewer you could bridge this gap, sharing your honest opinion. If you are unsure how this will turn into a business, check out some inspiring stories of top reviewers on YouTube.
9. Get involved with yoga retreats
Yoga retreats are becoming extremely popular among not only experienced yoga practitioners, but also among the complete beginners. The length and formats range extensively: it can be a week of intensive practice with a famous yoga teacher, or a relaxed holiday with occasional classes. Regardless of the format, organization of any retreat requires similar services, many of which can be done remotely. You can either work with the retreats promotion and general administration or start assisting yoga students, by helping to find the right offers for their needs.
10. Create tools for daily meditation and yoga practice
If you are tech savvy, and/or have a great idea in mind on how to make practice easier (you can always find a partner or hire a tech person), then be brave and work on the digital tools of your own. To give you some inspiration: a famous meditation app Headspace hit 1 mln subscribers last year and continuously gets raving reviews from people who love it and use it daily. A great app doesn’t need to be complicated and involve advanced logic. Some of the most popular tools, for example, cover yoga anatomy, and mostly include simple explanations and 3D figures – think of it as an interactive book.
This list offers just a few general ideas of how you can create your own income online and stay involved with the yoga community, even if you are not a yoga teacher yourself. Being able to turn your passion into a business is a blessing, and if you are reading this article, it means you are already on the path towards it.