How to Hire a Corporate Yoga Instructor
How to Hire a Corporate Yoga Instructor
Today I teach yoga, but once upon a time I worked for a hedge fund where we had a poorly attended weekly yoga class.
If you’re reading this, you might already know how important employee wellness is to a company’s bottom line. The CDC estimates that nearly 75% of healthcare costs are attributable to chronic disease – and chronic diseases are preventable!
Whether you’re a corporate yoga instructor or a human resources director or even the founder of your own company, here are 7 tips to ensure your company’s yoga class will be a hit!
1 – Scheduling: classes in the middle of the day are better attended. Yes, the work day will be interrupted, but a 6pm class will lose a segment of your workforce, namely parents and people who can’t stand being at the office for 10+ hours a day. My lunch hour classes have always been the most popular.
2 – How to pitch the class: Is it presented with as much fanfare as a complimentary flu shot, or are you actively selling how great this instructor is and why s/he is the perfect match for your company? Ensure a win by making sure top brass attends the first class – employees of all tiers need to know it’s okay to leave their desks to participate.
3 – Pick the right instructor: This is so important. Your instructor should be relatable, compassionate, conscientious and familiar with your organization. They should be adept at working with diverse ability levels, and be able to modify around injuries. They should also take a keen interest in participant engagement, and work with you to tweak the class in the early days (time of day, duration, class theme) to increase attendance. A corporate background can also be helpful in reporting metrics to upper management.
4 – Equipment: I always advise companies to make a small investment in mats, blocks and straps instead of relying on the instructor to bring these items in. You will save so much time in set up, as some employees like to arrive early, and you’ll be able to maximize teacher/student interaction during class time.
5 – Consistency: Whether you’re hiring an individual yoga instructor, or going through a corporate wellness company, make sure the contract stipulates you will get the same instructor for the duration of the engagement. Subs should be used only in the case of an emergency.
6 – Certification: It goes without saying that whoever is teaching your employees should have at least 3-5 years of teaching experience and be certified through an accredited yoga teacher training program. Don’t be afraid to ask a corporate wellness company about their roster of teachers, and make sure you are engaging an experienced one.
7 – Liability Insurance: Most fitness instructors have a liability policy but it’s always good practice to ask.
When as many as 55% of employees attribute workplace wellness to their overall well being, isn’t it time to hire a corporate yoga instructor? Follow these 7 tips and your yoga class will be a success!
Catherine Tingey
Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 31 years and teaching privately for 11 years.
About the Author
Catherine Tingey+ Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 31 years and teaching privately for 11 years.
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