Meet Gwendoline, a Yoga Teacher, Trainer & Business Strategist

Gwendoline Ferreira is an inspiring and experience yoga teacher. In addition to leading classes and retreats in Bali, she also has multiple six-figure yoga business in-person and online, and mentors other teachers on how to grow their business.

I love Gwendoline’s positive energy and her genuine heart for service— for empowering others in their careers in order to make an impact. Here are some words of wisdom from Gwendoline’s interview. If you’re a yoga teacher, be sure to take notes on this one!

When did you start teaching? What inspired you to become a yoga teacher?

I started teaching officially in 2014 at the request of my teachers to help them. I was a marine archaeologist in France and never expected to be a yoga teacher, to be honest. I was simply assisting my teachers in class or during their teacher training course as a senior student. When I started teaching, it all happened with so much ease, and I ended up teaching yoga full time by following the opportunities.

 What were your biggest challenges when you first started teaching? How did you learn, grow and evolve through the experience of your early days of teaching?

My biggest challenge was at first to satisfy the expectations of studio owners (hahaha!). It can be quite tricky to teach in studios as their own style of teaching can be different, or perhaps they use music or not or some studio even give you a set of sequences to teach. Another challenge was to fill up my classes and understand how I was supposed to make a living as a yoga teacher. What helped me was focusing on growing my confidence and building a community of students.

 What's your biggest advice for new yoga teachers?

Do not put all your eggs in one basket. If you teach in studios, start to build a private yoga business. If you already freelance and simply want to work for yourself, see if you can offer something in person and perhaps something online. Diversify your offerings!

 What led you to start your business and move into coaching? What do you enjoy about being a coach?

Even if I have a few coaching certifications, I will define myself more as a yoga teacher's mentor and business strategist. Coaching is a lot about helping others find the solutions that are already inside of them, and yes, this is a part of what I do, but the majority of the help I give yoga teachers that want to grow their own business is to offer strategy and implementation, so they get results with a proven method. As I have been a Yoga Teacher Trainer since 2016, I have been mentoring yoga teachers to help them after their 200-hour certifications to develop the career they wish to have. This mentorship was not focuses on business and marketing when it started, but the majority of the questions I was having were related to this. As I developed a multiple six-figure yoga business in-person and online, I started sharing my own method. This is where it all started, and I love sharing this. I love sharing anything that can help yoga teachers feel more confident and have a successful yoga career, whatever it means for them.

What did you wish you'd learned in yoga teacher training?

I believe that I absorbed all the information I was ready to receive at this stage. It is impossible to cover everything in a 200-hour yoga teacher training!

 What common challenges do you see with yoga teachers who want to increase their income? What helps them do this best? Is it a mindset shift or more tactical/practical action steps?

I think the biggest challenge is the resistance and fear linked with creating their own business. It is very rare nowadays to see yoga teachers teaching full time and not being burned out from it because to make a living from it, you are most likely to be running all over town teaching over 15 classes a week. Yoga teachers need to find new ways to serve their community to increase their income and reduce the actual class time. I would say that this is only possible through both a mindset shift and a clear strategy.

 What's your recommendation for someone who wants to build confidence in their life as a yoga teacher, a coach, or just in general?

Teach, teach and teach!

What are you working on now? What are some of your current projects or goals and why are you excited about them?

I am working on re-opening the doors to my revamped version of my 6-month Elevate Yoga Yoga Career Program, which helps yoga teachers refine their expertise, grow their community online and launch new yoga offerings that sell out. On top of that, I am working on a Done-For-You program for yoga teachers ready to launch the course they already created. I am so excited about these 2 as I know, yoga teachers will finally see how making an income online does not have to be so complicated!

What do you enjoy doing for fun? What helps you relax and stay balanced with your busy schedule?

I love freediving, so this is always my go-to activity (glad I am based on a tiny island for that!). This and spending time with my 3 years old boy.

To stay balanced, I make sure to keep my practice. I practice yoga six days a week, which has always helped me stay balanced and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Anything else you want to share?

Yes! If you are a yoga teacher in need of marketing and business help, join my free Facebook Group, Elevate Your Yoga Career.

Other ways you can connect with Gwendoline: Check out her website, yogablisslembongan.com, and follow her on Instagram @yogablisslembongan and @yogacareerwithgwen.

Thanks for sharing, and for all you do, Gwendoline!