I’m on several different Facebook groups, I even run a few. Connecting with other people in the industry is a passion of mine. Some of the online groups are geared towards yoga teachers while others are geared towards yoga studio owners. I’ve left many of them or blocked seeing members posts because of one thing: negativity between studio owners and teachers. Running a yoga business, whether someone is a teacher or a studio owner, already comes with it’s own fears and challenges and the last thing I want to subject myself or my business to is negativity.

How does the yoga industry get here? Aren’t we all supposed to practice ahimsa? Fortunately, I am blessed to have great teachers, but I have also hired some “bad” ones. There’s been teachers that used the studio without asking, let people come to class for free, didn’t honor their commitments, lied to myself and students, didn’t show up for their class, and frankly didn’t understand that the studio is for the benefit of the students not the teachers. I’ve also heard or met horrible studio owners, ones that: never paid teachers, changed pay, lacked communication skills, and some that were flat out jerks.

Here’s the thing: there are always going to be bad people: manipulative attorneys, dishonest politicians, uncaring nurses, angry customer service associates and uncaring yoga professionals. So let’s get over the fact, that no matter what we do or where we go, there’s going to people that suck. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s focus on what we can do create positive working relationships.

It all starts at the hiring process.

For both studio owners and yoga teachers alike, creating positive relationships starts during the process. People put their best foot forward at first dates and in interviews.

For studio owners: Be incredibly clear about what teachers should expect, this can include:

• What their pay is.
• Are the expected to grow their class on their own?
• What time they need to arrive before and after class.
• Is there any additional responsibilities?
• Are there any non-competes and what specifically that entails.

For yoga teachers: Do research in advance. It’s always helpful to stop by and take a few classes to see if you want to even work there. You may even ask the teachers if they like working there. Be mindful of any biases and look for objective answers not emotional ones.

Nobody is a mind reader

We all create stories in our own heads for what reality is. When we’ve been burned by someone who didn’t meet our expectations, our answer is “they should just know”. Yup, that doesn’t sound like a passive aggressive relationship at all.

For studio owners:  Outline everything that is expected. This can be a part of your employee handbook. Don’t get scared be the word “book”.  It can just be a few pages outlining pay and expectations. The expectations should be so clear that a 10 year old can pick up your sheet and be able to complete the duties. A word of caution, this may get dicey with the Independent Contractor/Employee laws so make sure people are coded appropriately.

For yoga teachers: Be mindful that studio owners have a million different things and expenses going on, most of which teachers never see. If something isn’t clear, make sure to ask and set up some time with them to go over things.

Training is everyone’s best friend

“Hey Sally, you know how to use MindBody right? Make sure you check people in before class.” Sally checks people in the way she does at another studio and surprise, she didn’t do it the way the new studio wants. Spending time to go over all of the details in the employee handbook ensures there are no questions and everything has been covered. When training someone it’s not a 15 minute let me show you the ropes and fly into excellence kind of training. Training should include: written procedures → Showing someone how to do it → Doing it together → doing it on their own. Then follow up with any constructive feedback or retraining.

For yoga studio owners: No one will care about our business as much the owner does. Honestly, who can blame anyone for that? Looking back at my career, I’m sure I cared a little bit less less than the founder of any of my companies. Training however, will help wake sure even if people don’t care about it as much as the owner does, there’s a standard and support to make sure things are running the way the studio wants it to.

For yoga teachers: Ask for training if it’s not provided. If something’s not clear, it’s likely because they think you already know. It will not make you look stupid to ask for help. Most studio owners will likely see this as a favorable trait that you care enough to do the job right.

Speak Up

This goes for everyone. Literally speak up for anything that’s sensitive. Don’t text or email. I get it: it’s easier to send a message when it’s uncomfortable. But honestly, it’s not kind to the other person. Imagine having a personal trauma like a death in the family and getting the text “I quit!” or “ Hey! The front desk is a mess again!” We never know what people are doing when a notification comes through their phone. Additionally, anything electronic has a higher chance of being misconstrued. If there’s something that can be perceived negatively then have a conversation in person. It may be harder, but it’s always the right thing to do.

Don’t be a jerk

There’s never a need for personal attacks, whether it’s directly to someone’s face or behind their backs. Practicing loving kindness and truth should be apart of all business exchanges. Here’s some examples of what not to do:

• Don’t talk about your employee/employers over social media.
• Don’t make personal attacks.
• Avoid starting gossip or engaging in gossip.
• Don’t make judgements about someone’s life based on what we see.

It’s not about you

Everything starts with us and how we manage ourselves, even if someone is being a jerk. If someone’s being a rude, it typically has little to do with you especially if there’s some sort of emotional response. Keep in mind, that’s not a free pass to say “This is all your shit and you need to deal with it!”. No. No. Not at all. What this means is it’s our duty to manage ourselves and practice non-attachment. Even though someone may have acted like a full on moron, it’s our responsibility to figure out how we may have contributed to this and what we can do better while practicing satya and ahimsa.

Melissa Leger

Melissa Leger is the founder of The Smart Yoga Teacher, an online resource and podcast for yoga professionals. She has an undergraduate in business and MBA and thinks most of that was a waste of money.  Experience and failure is where she learned about how to run a business. She loves cooking meals, traveling, and spending time with her dogs and husband.