For us new yoga teachers, traveling & teaching yoga around the world may be our ultimate goal or adventure.

I know, I know, traveling while teaching yoga (as a new teacher) sounds crazy. But I promise that if many yoga teachers, including myself, can do it, so can you.

I graduated from YTT at the end of 2015. I felt overwhelmed and puzzled about how to make my dream of becoming a traveling yoga teacher, a reality. If you want to become a traveling yoga teacher and aren’t sure where to start, continue reading. Please don’t continue reading if you’re not willing to challenge yourself, increase your self-confidence, and experience rejection.

Create a community:

Join Facebook groups dedicated to your interests: Travel & Yoga. Don’t be afraid to post in the group that you’d love to connect with anyone with “X” interests. Once you’ve  chatted back & forth, send them a friend request. Continue the conversation- not to market yourself but to create a friendship.

For example, want to know how Amanda from M.B.Om and I connected? We both commented on the same post in a Facebook group. We realized that we have the same interests (Travel & Yoga, go figure) and have kept in touch.

Focus on growing your presence on social media (Instagram & Facebook). If you’re trying to get hired by other people, say festivals or retreat centers, they often want someone who has a large following. They want you to bring your following to their event.

Don’t forget to create a yoga community at home too. There are so many ways to do this.  Creating rapport with your students and sign them up for your newsletter. Your newsletter should always include links to your social media. Meet other practitioners by attending local yoga meet-ups. Learn all about meet-ups & find one near you here. You’re a yogini, obviously you love hanging out where yogis hang out… at yoga studios. Explore new studios, types of yoga, & workshops. Go into these events with an open & joyful attitude. Make it a goal to connect with at least one other person. Tip: Go alone & make friends with another solo yogini.

Set the Intention of Traveling & Teaching Yoga:

While you’re creating your community, let everyone know that you want to become a traveling yoga teacher. Advertise it on your Facebook page, Instagram account, and during conversations. You can make a big deal out of it, or let it slip out naturally, whatever works. It doesn’t really matter.  Maybe they won’t have any opportunities now. That’s expected. In the future they may need a teacher to co-lead a retreat with them.  If a friend-of-a-friend knows of an event that needs a yoga teacher, they’ll think of you.  Set your intention of becoming a traveling yoga teacher and let it manifest itself while you work your booty off at home.

This is exactly how I found my summer teaching gig at a retreat center. Randomly, I received a message from an old friend explaining that someone they knew needed a substitute yoga teacher for the summer. I asked for the retreat center’s information & pitched myself to the center. Several months later, I moved to Tuscany to teach yoga. Booyah! It was that easy.

Work Exchange Platforms:

Have you ever used Indeed or other job search websites? Guess what, yoga has them too! You can use websites like Yoga Trade & Yoga Travel Jobs to browse jobs across the world. Both platforms have an annual fee to access job listings. These platforms are high competition, which make it challenging to land a job.  To ensure you have a shot at landing a job here is what you can do to set yourself apart from the crowd… Have plenty of teaching experience, a bomb resume & cover letter, and represent yourself well on social media.

Word of warning: this work tends to be for free or in exchange for a room & board. They can be a few months up-to a year or more. Before you spend your energy applying & interviewing for a job, here is what you need to consider… Can move abroad for that length of time? Can you afford to work for almost free? Would you be comfortable in that climate?

Resorts:

If you have an upcoming vacation at a resort, log onto Fitness Pro Travel. This website arranges for you to teach yoga while you’re staying at the resort. You’ll receive an accommodation discount as a compensation for your time teaching yoga.

What steps can you take today?:

I challenge you to advertise that you’re interested in traveling & teaching yoga on your social media platforms & website.

A challenge for the next month:

Activate your Ujjayi breath before you continue reading… All of these should be present on your website.

-A bomb resume (M.B.Om article on resumes & The Exploring Yogini resume example)
-Past student reviews
-Videos of you teaching

I know that this is all very intimate & scary. Keep in mind, you wouldn’t buy a car without first researching it. An organization wants to know that you’re a perfect fit for them, after-all you represent their brand & reputation.

New yoga teachers, know that you already possess the skills to become a traveling yoga teacher. It’s time to set the intention and work your booty off to make it a reality. If you’re still craving more tips on how to teach yoga while traveling, log onto The Exploring Yogini. There you will find: questions to ask yourself, questions to ask a future employer, how to record & send a video of you teaching, & confirming your work.

Jenna is the writer and creator at The Exploring Yogini. She quit her full-time job in 2015 in search of adventure as a digital nomad. Visit her website now to find the truth about traveling & maintaining a yoga practice, “How-To” Guides, & honest reviews.