Let’s talk about the M-word that makes so many yoga teachers uncomfortable: Marketing.

I’ve watched countless talented teachers shrink at the mention of it. They’ll master a challenging arm balance, hold space for deep emotional releases, and guide students through profound transformations—but ask them to market themselves? Suddenly, it feels like they’re being asked to compromise everything they believe in.

Here’s what I’ve learned from working with yoga teachers and understanding this world from the inside: Marketing isn’t about being pushy, salesy, or inauthentic. At its core, marketing is simply about connection. It’s about making it easy for the people who need you to find you.

Think of marketing like creating a flow sequence—it needs structure, intention, and natural progression. And just like teaching yoga, once you understand the basics, you can build from there.

Why Marketing Feels Hard (And Why It Doesn’t Have To)

The resistance many teachers feel toward marketing usually comes from a few common misconceptions:

• “If I’m good enough, students will just find me” (Spoiler: even the best teachers need visibility)
• “Marketing is manipulative” (Only if you’re being manipulative—authentic marketing is just honest communication)
• “I’m not good at sales” (You’re not selling; you’re serving)
• “I don’t have time for marketing” (You don’t have time NOT to market if you want a sustainable practice)

The truth is, when you’re not marketing, you’re not just hurting yourself—you’re making it harder for the students who need exactly what you offer to find their way to you.

So let’s break it down into a simple, manageable flow. Three steps. That’s it.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Message (Know Your Why)

Before you post anything, write any copy, or create any content, you need clarity. Not on what you teach—but on WHO you serve and WHY you teach.

This is your foundation. Without it, all your marketing will feel scattered, inauthentic, and exhausting.

Ask yourself:

• Who do I most love teaching? (Be specific: busy parents? athletes? people healing from trauma? beginners who are intimidated? seniors?)
• What transformation do I facilitate? (Not “I teach vinyasa”—go deeper: “I help anxious professionals find calm” or “I guide people back into their bodies after injury”)
• Why does this matter to me? (Your personal connection to this work—this is what makes you different from every other teacher)

Here’s an example:

Instead of: “I’m a certified yoga teacher offering classes for all levels”

Try: “I help overwhelmed moms rediscover their strength and calm through yoga that fits into real life—no perfect poses or Instagram-worthy flexibility required”

See the difference? The second one speaks directly to someone. It addresses a real struggle. It creates connection.

Your action step: Write 2-3 sentences that clearly state who you serve, what you help them with, and why you’re passionate about it. This becomes the core message that threads through everything you do.

Don’t overthink this. It can evolve. But you need a starting point.

Step 2: Show Up Consistently (Build Your Presence)

Here’s where many teachers get stuck: they think they need to be everywhere, doing everything, all the time. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, a blog, a podcast, email newsletters, flyers, events…

No. Stop.

Consistency beats perfection. Presence beats omnipresence.

Pick ONE primary channel where your ideal students actually hang out, and commit to showing up there regularly. That’s it.

For most yoga teachers, this might be:

• Instagram (visual, community-focused, where many yoga students discover teachers)
• Email (direct connection, higher engagement, you own the relationship)
• Local community boards (if you’re studio-based and serve a specific geographic area)
• Facebook groups (if your ideal students are in specific community groups)

Here’s what consistent presence looks like:

• Post 3-4 times per week on your chosen platform (not 10 times one week, then nothing for a month)
• Share a mix of content: teaching clips, personal insights, helpful tips, class reminders, student wins (with permission)
• Be human—students connect with teachers, not perfect personas
• Engage with your community—respond to comments, comment on others’ posts, build relationships

The key question: What can you realistically maintain without burning out?

If you can genuinely show up on Instagram 4x/week, great. If you can only commit to one thoughtful email every other week, that’s also great. Just commit to it and follow through.

Your action step: Choose your one primary channel. Create a simple content plan—what will you share and when? Put it in your calendar like you would a class. If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen.

Tools like SutraSuite can help with this by managing your schedule and automating reminders, so you’re not juggling everything in your head. The less mental energy you spend on logistics, the more you have for meaningful connection.

Step 3: Make It Easy to Say Yes (Remove Friction)

You’ve clarified your message. You’re showing up consistently. Now here’s where many teachers lose potential students: they make it too hard to actually book a class.

Think about your student’s journey:

1. They see your post and think “This sounds great!”
2. Then what? Do they have to DM you? Email you? Text you? Hunt for your schedule? Figure out how to pay?

Every extra step is a place where people drop off.

Remove the friction:

• Clear call-to-action: Every post, email, or piece of content should tell people exactly what to do next: “Book your spot here” with a link
• Simple booking process: Ideally, they can see your schedule and book in 2-3 clicks (this is exactly why online booking systems exist)
• Transparent pricing: Don’t make people ask how much things cost—it creates an unnecessary barrier
• Easy payment: Accept multiple payment methods, make it seamless
• Mobile-friendly everything: Most people will find you and book on their phones

The goal: From seeing your post to being booked in your class should be as smooth as possible.

Your action step: Test your own booking process. Pretend you’re a new student. How many steps does it take? How many questions do you have? Where do you get stuck? Fix those friction points.

If you’re still managing bookings through text messages or DMs, it’s time to upgrade. Not because it’s “more professional” (though it is), but because it’s easier for your students and less exhausting for you.

Bringing It All Together: Your Marketing Flow

Let’s see how these three steps work together:

Week 1: You post on Instagram about helping busy parents find 20 minutes of peace through yoga (clear message). You include a short video of a simple morning sequence (valuable content). You end with “Join me Thursday at 6pm—link in bio to book” (easy call-to-action).

Week 2: You send an email to your list sharing a personal story about why you started teaching yoga for parents (connection through your why). You mention your upcoming workshop on yoga for stress relief (clear offer). You include a big button that says “Save My Spot” that links directly to your booking page (easy yes).

Week 3: You post a testimonial from a student about how your classes have helped them (social proof). You share what to expect in your classes (removes fear for new students). You invite people to their first class (clear action).

See the pattern? Clear message + consistent presence + easy booking = sustainable marketing flow.

What Marketing Isn’t

Before we wrap up, let’s clear up what marketing doesn’t have to be:

• It’s not bragging. It’s sharing how you can help.
• It’s not constant self-promotion. It’s providing value and building relationships.
• It’s not complicated. It’s clarity, consistency, and connection.
• It’s not separate from your teaching. It’s an extension of your service.

Start Where You Are

You don’t need a perfect website, thousands of followers, or a big marketing budget to start.

You need:

1. Clarity on who you serve and why
2. A commitment to show up regularly in one place
3. A simple way for people to book

That’s it. That’s the foundation.

Everything else—the fancy branding, the email sequences, the content calendars, the advanced strategies—you can build on top of this foundation when you’re ready.

But if you don’t have these three basics in place, nothing else matters.

Your Next Step

Pick one of these three steps to focus on this week. Just one.

Maybe you need to get clearer on your message. Maybe you need to commit to a consistent posting schedule. Maybe you need to finally set up that booking system you’ve been putting off.

Don’t try to fix everything at once. Marketing is a practice, just like yoga. You build strength and flexibility over time through consistent, intentional effort.

And remember: every time you market your classes, you’re not selling. You’re creating an opportunity for someone who needs what you offer to find their way to their mat, to their breath, to themselves.

That’s not compromise. That’s service.

Which of these three steps feels like your biggest challenge right now? I’d love to hear what’s working for you and where you’re getting stuck. Share in the comments—we’re all learning together.

P.S. If the booking and scheduling side feels overwhelming, that’s exactly what tools like SutraSuite are designed to handle—so you can focus on the teaching and connection, not the logistics. Because your time is better spent on your mat than managing spreadsheets.

Always in your corner, 

Alicia H. -SutraSuite Founder