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On this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Thai massage teacher and best selling author, Shai Plonski. Shai is the founder of the Still Light Centre, and has been teaching and practicing Thai massage for over 15 years.

Shai shares how he got into Thai massage, how he has grown his business, and how Thai massage can expand a yoga teacher’s business offerings. We touch on how Thai massage can expand your offerings in privates, help you to become more comfortable offering adjustments in your regular classes, as well as how you can use Thai massage in your regularly scheduled classes (think head massage in savasana!). We also touch on how Thai massage gives you an opportunity for a new workshop offering, and how, overall, it can help yoga teachers make more money in a really fulfilling way.

I left this episode feeling inspired to learn more about Thai massage, and I hope you do too!

Enjoy!

Business Lessons from this Episode:

• Thai massage is just as beneficial to the person who is giving it as the person who is receiving it
• Metta = loving kindness and compassion
  • This is a practice of discovering the love that already exists in our body and bringing it out and sharing it with the world
• The thai massage industry is growing a lot and there is really good uptake within the industry
• Work hard every day
• Believe in what you do
• Make relationships with people
• Thai massage can allow you to expand your business offerings, make more money, and control your schedule
• Thai massage gives you a whole other skill that you can offer in privates – $90 – $120/hour
• You learn how to be more comfortable with touching your students
  • This directly applies to teaching yoga, as Thai massage helps you to become more comfortable with adjustments
• There is an opportunity to add Thai massage to the end of your yoga class while your students are in savasana
• “How slow can you go? How high can you fly” – Thai massage philosophy on adjustments
• Great adjustments
• Thai massage is a great opportunity to add privates
• Thai massage is an untapped way to make more money as a yoga teacher
• You can offer Thai massage as a group class, and you can develop workshops that are based around Thai massage and yoga together
• Make sure you ask if the program is accredited and if you can get insurance from it!
• Identify your clientele who is going to take to Thai massage
  • Who is the kind of person that you want to work with?
  • Is there a real need in this particular group?
  • Does this group have the funds? Will they be willing to spend?
  • Find influencers in within your clientele that can help you build your word of mouth
  • Offer up free massages to grow your business
• 50/30/10 pricing model – offer your returning clients a discount
• There will be times when you have more business coming in and times where there is less business coming in
• Dedicate a specific time in a week to giving Thai massage – if you don’t have x hours a week of Thai massage clients, what are you going to do to grow your business with that time?
  • Build these habits into your life and then it will become easier going forward
• Reach out, put yourself out there, and say “yes” to opportunities!
• And much more… Here’s the episode!

Connect with Shai:

Still Light Centre

Compassionate Touch: Giving Massage for Optimal Health, Thriving Relationships & Spiritual Awakening

Check out Shai’s guest blog post on M.B.Om here!

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Fitbizzle! Fitbizzle is a simple booking and payment system for yoga teachers. It’s an affordable alternative to MindBody because with Fitbizzle, you only pay for what you use instead of a large monthly fee. For a 1 month free trial click here!

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by YogaBossBabe! YBB is a monthly lifestyle subscription box for passionate and motivated yoga instructors who want to build and grow their yoga business. When you sign up for your box, use promo code MBOM and get $5 off! Sign up here.

I’ve also launched a private community on Facebook for yoga teachers who want to learn more about business. Join me here!