We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gillian Gossow. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gillian below.
Gillian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?
After I completed my very first 200 hour yoga teacher training I was at a loss for where to begin. I knew I wanted to create a buisness and a brand but did not want to stick to working for a studio. I needed to do my own thing. I was living in Manhattan at the time and realized that private in home yoga sessions would be the best way to begin targeting clients as there are so many huge high rise apartment building with hundreds of people living in each one. I started to post in all of my friends buildings that I was offering a complimentary yoga session for residents. Many people took me up on this offer and most of them bought packages after the initial free session. Posting in one building marketed to hundreds of people at a time on a personal level. I realized that to start a business you have to be willing to give your services away for free at first. This of course depends on the business and what you can afford to sacrifice, but it is the best way I know of to market yourself. If you believe in what you do, it is a sure fire way to book clients. All it takes is for someone to give you a try and a free session will encourage many people to do that. Had i just advertised I am a private yoga teacher and am selling sessions I doubt I would ever have gotten my start.
8 years later I moved to Charleston and realized that the dynamic there is different than in Manhattan. It is a city filled with tourists and people on group vacations, more specially bachelorette parties. That is what gave me the idea to start Bad Girls Yoga and our signature class, Namaste then Rosé. It was incredibly successful and fun working with these groups. Bad Girls Yoga quickly grew and we are now located in Charleston. Nashville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. My advice is to know your audience. What is the market in your city? How can you target what you do to vibe with the environment? Go with the flow. Don’t try to create a new market at first. Use what’s already there and let the business grow naturally.
Gillian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
GILLIAN GOSSOW Meet our Founder!
I began my teaching journey in 2014 in New York City as a way of quieting the noise of the fast-paced stressful energy that a Manhattan lifestyle entailed. I loved teaching my students who needed a good sweat, stretch, and a healing mental break from their busy lives; but wanted to skip the serious vibe that some yoga classes call for. My dream was to create a class that gave all the benefits of a classic yoga practice while incorporating the best of pilates and strength training, and ending with aromatherapy, massage, and a relaxing savasana. (You know, everyone’s favorite pose where you lie flat on your back for rest and reflection.)
That’s how Bad Girls Yoga was born. The term “bad” is used to insinuate a rebellion against the idea that yoga can only be done one way and if it’s not, it’s incorrect and not authentic. In easy to understand terms, simple to follow movements and some incredible music, we can make our time together a true escape from everything else in your life. My hope is that everyone who takes a Bad Girls Yoga class leaves feeling peaceful and full of joy because yoga should be joyous!
Let’s have fun and be a little bad because at the end of the day, it’s all good!
Why Bad Girls Yoga?
Bad Girls Yoga came from the idea that yoga isn’t only meant for green-juice-drinking, chakra-centered, chanting-loving people. Yoga can be for a person looking for an escape and a pathway to finding joy in your workout! It is suitable for anyone who’s looking to explore the practice of yoga in a new and lighthearted way.
Bad Girls Yoga is designed for private sessions, bachelorette parties, girls’ weekends, weddings, and private events. In our sessions, I come to wherever you are and together we flow through a yoga combo class to build some heat, followed by a deep assisted stretch, meditation, and savasana massage to find some calm away from the noise of everyday life. Once we namaste we’ll toast to a celebratory practice because no matter what, yoga should be joyous!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
I feel you need to have a fake it till you make it mentality when you are brand new to teaching to build confidence. When you finish your initial certification you feel like you were just hit with 100lbs of information and know nothing. It’s incredible overwhelming, Practice until you could lead a class blindfolded. Practice on friends and family. Practice on yourself. Offer free sessions to potential clients and walk in with confidence as if you have been teaching for years. After some time you become that teacher you were inspiring to be. Once you have that confidence down you can go to the next stage which is creating a business model for your services.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I moved to Charleston after 13 years in Manhattan I knew no one and left all of my clients back in New York. I was truly starting my life from scratch. I couldn’t go into Charleston with the same plan that worked in NYC. You have to be flexible and let your business flow naturally with the environment around it. Starting from scratch can be overwhelming and many people might give up and find a desk job somewhere to cover the bills. I found a new market that fit in with the vibe in Charleston and changed directions in my teaching. I refused to give up on the career I was passionate about simply because I had to start from scratch. Make it work. Don’t give yourself another option.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BADGIRLSYOGA.com
- Instagram: @badgirlsyoga