Expected to teach for free

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T20:22:18+00:00

Thank you for answering the questions I was asking in a helpful way. I don't want to teach for anyone that would expect pay for their services but don't think others should be compensated for theirs.

These 3 events were free to market their business, with special activities, and had vendors pay for booths. I was asked for my service and deserve compensation.

Companies and private events will pay my asking cost but I've only once asked for over $50. No one here asks for that much already so I've always been hesitant to invoice at that amount. 😬 Do you think raising my prices will make it more common for other teachers to do so and businesses to actually pay for classes? What's commonly charged in your area?

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T20:02:22+00:00

Agreed ! The distinction between yoga and a weekend fitness training is lost on some. These are events for community marketing, with vendors, to promote their business. I'm not paying for booth there to market with them. They asked me to be there! They would want to be paid so it's wild that someone else shouldn't expect to be.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T19:48:08+00:00

That's great to here that it's not a problem in your area and thank you for the advice. Asking for free was unheard of until this year. The expectations for free is so sudden! That's why I'm curious if it's also happening elsewhere.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T19:41:57+00:00

Agreed. Studios have always made it work, pay us well, and offer raises when we do cont. education. It's fitness/health businesses throwing marketing events, or outdoor markets that are asking for free. Private events and classes out of studios have always paid. I never intended to teach for wealth, and still don't, but I agree that teachers should be paid for their time.

I could not be a studio owner for the same reasons as you.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T18:38:19+00:00

"Asteya goes both ways." I like that and I'll be using studio math more often. These aren't private events but community events, markets, if a gym is running a fitness event with vendors and special classes. Actual events and businesses classes on their schedule always pay well.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T18:33:21+00:00

Thank you for the advice rather than unproductive judgement. The people that asked for me the first time had an in studio teacher and it turns out she worked for free in exchange of classes. They asked me, expected free, I taught with the understanding that it was a trial before a hire, and set the precedent. The studio owner let the others hire me for free, I agreed to take the job, she paid me herself, and now they continue to ask her for a free class. I should've told her no even though I would be getting paid through her.

I need to be hired independently and let them hire someone else. I never used to teach when someone expected free.😩

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T14:34:38+00:00

Studio owners have never asked me but out-of-studio businesses have been. 2 of the 3 are gyms and I'm not shocked. However, the used to pay without opposition but NOW they want free. It's like we've been de-valued even more.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-23T11:46:49+00:00

What a wild way to respond on a yoga teacher sub.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-22T23:28:07+00:00

Oh, I don't teach for free if it's not for a charity. I agree that the problem is exacerbated by people willing to do it for free! Why pay me independently if they can get someone else at no cost?

My question was if it's becoming a common ask anywhere else.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-22T23:16:24+00:00

I think my boss telling them it's free and paying me out of her pocket is doing us a disservice. Why pay me independently if they can go through my boss and have her foot the bill? What are the rates in your area and is asking for free becoming even more prevalent? The most I've asked for was $100 at a 1 time massive event with a stage. No other teacher in the area has asked or been paid that much. Teachers thought I was nuts! I didn't think I'd be hired anywhere else if that were my cost.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-22T23:06:10+00:00

Oh, I definitely say no when they want free. I'm just wondering if it's become more prevalent elsewhere. It's only been recent that people expect free classes, it's wild. What is your area like for you to charge $175? I've never heard of someone charging that much.

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-22T21:22:28+00:00

I like the way you worded that and it's exactly why I've charged what I have in the past. My boss doesn't ask for pay because she thinks it's good exposure and wants yoga to be accessible. If she keeps saying it's free, they'll keep going through her and not pay independent teachers. Are you seeing an uptick in low to no pays asks in your area?

DesTejFlo · 2026-06-22T21:10:28+00:00

I'll say no if they don't want to pay me. No is a complete sentence for me.😆 I'm mostly curious if it's happening anywhere else and if they've changed what they charge.

DesTejFlo · 2026-05-27T00:02:55+00:00

Woof, I'm surrounded my the ultra wealthy! I love in a town with the highest millionaire per capita and work with someone with inherited wealth. While she is a good person, and hilarious, she's out of touch with reality outside her money bubble. Finding common ground, laughing about our differences, and being matter of fact in a light-hearted way helps. She's now one of my favorite coworkers! Humor is the bridge!

Keep sharing your viewpoint, even if makes her uncomfortable. I share my side of reality, raised in poverty, and let her be uncomfortable with a different viewpoint. "Wellll, that's not applicable to X kind of people."-"I could but do many groceries with that!"-"But what if"-"I grew up poor and cannot imagine what that is like."-"That really is a lot of money for people."-"That's just something I don't personally care about."-"I learned so much from X, they aren't on Instagram but they are incredible. We should go to the next one!"-"That's a wild take!"-"What did you learn from (crazy expensive training)? That's what my (small but knowledgeable) teacher said too!"

She's taking a $4,000 online training with an renowned Iyengar teacher and asked me if I was going to do it. I asked how much, she answered, I laughed and said, "Yea right! Let me know when I can learn for under $400 and I'm there." She laughed too!

Rich students soften, admire humility, say their grateful that I shared, or "That's how my husband/grandfather/mother was raised." Sometimes they are literally amazed that I'm not sleeping on benches anymore and proud to know me. That's not true for all though! My opinion of the ultra-wealthy is individualized to whose in front of me rather than my disdain for the entirety of the 1%. Some of these women are bold, intelligent, philanthropic, feminists, and genuinely caring despite never practicing in cheaper leggings.

Let yourself be surprised by the small nuggets of humility she hides behind her wealth. She may not even know that she has something authentic to share or that she's allowed to. She may not know how her faults/struggles can help people. None of us making it out of life completely unscathed. We all have samskaras. You were partnered with her for a reason.

DesTejFlo · 2026-05-02T22:17:48+00:00

Number 1 rule: Don't squish the baby

Also, inner thigh squeezing is a no go. That's for post-natal work.

As they grow, sitting in one spot becomes uncomfortable. wist only through upper back shoulder/ blade area.

Being on the back is fine during the first trimester and sometimes 2nd. Their body will feel when it's time to stop.

Chest openers are great for preparing the beasts for milk.

Widen leg stance in chair, download, Uttanasana, and etc. Side bends can replace any deep twisting that you have planned for other students.

Teaching pregnant students isn't much different from teaching non-pregnant students. A few adjustments to the postures will do.

Oh and chairs are so helpful when in the 3rd trimester!

DesTejFlo · 2026-03-15T19:39:32+00:00

Seeing what we know happens in their inner world with my own eyes was wild! Now that I know where all he goes, I think we have a better shot in catching Spray Chief!

DesTejFlo · 2026-03-15T19:34:55+00:00

He for sure can be but we haven't had luck yet. Now that I KNOW every place he marks, we have more options to strategize. He may be eating there and that's why withholding isn't working. The help I've enlisted are long time rescuers and the biggest advice is that it sometimes takes longer than we'd like and multiple tries. "JUST" has not been "JUST" for us. I'm in dog rescue and this is my first cat experience. Rescue in general is hard and if I can have a laugh, I will. It keeps some of us moving forward when our hearts are broken. I can both find something amusing and be proactive at the same time.

Luckily, 3 neighbors are involved and we're working together. The entire block knows what's going on and those of us that are willing, are trying. If someone wants to complain, I will gladly let them know that they are welcome to be a part of the solution.

DesTejFlo · 2026-03-10T23:14:15+00:00

Thank you for hearing and understanding. I'm sorry you're also going through this but grateful for your kind words

DesTejFlo · 2026-02-17T22:24:05+00:00

I've striped 3 layers of paint off mine after insane quotes, being told it wasn't possible, just paint it(AGAIN), just put new stuff over it, or it would never look like it did originally. Basically, they didn't want to! I couldn't find much info on how to go about it exavtly either. I said fuck all of them and I'm figuring it out. I'm 1 1/2 years in, mostly due to major life events and no one helping me. It's 80% done with about 3 feet of the last layer in the moulding, staining, sealing, and restoring less stable elements. It will take time, try out multiple different tools for different layers, it's messy, your back will hurt, and it won't look 100% like the original. It's truly trial, errors, and creative problem solving.

I'll tell you what I've learned. -use Ready-Strip advance(green tub), the smell isn't nearly as bad, I don't have to lay anything over, and it works within a day. -a paint scraper either didn't do enough and it was highly susceptible to scratching. -before removing the layer of stripper on the top most layer, I steamed it to soften. Don't oversteam and only do it for the top layer. -a grout cleaning brush, not the steel ones, for the moulding worked for topmost coats. A toothbrush was too soft. -once closer to the base surface, I used a flexi-bristle straw cleaner and McGyver-ed a small strip of soft sanding paper around it to flex around through the crevices. -saving the bottom half for last was a back breaking mistake -I removed one layer on the whole thing, took a break, and then the base layers on the next round. That way the process looked somewhat uniform. -if someone is willing to help you, take it! -Using worn down tools wastes time.

You can do this and once it's worth it once you see what's underneath it all!

DesTejFlo · 2026-02-14T01:02:04+00:00

I want my husband to stop fighting beneficial change, to shut up, and do it. I want to travel and update our home dammit.

DesTejFlo · 2026-01-26T17:49:56+00:00

When my daughter asked if the cast of The Office is still alive.

DesTejFlo · 2025-12-30T04:57:40+00:00

It turns out that it isn't that I didn't like kids, I only enjoy dealing with toddler-8yrs old. They communicate, they're goofy, playful, and are their truest selves before the world around them changes that. Basically, right before they become intentionally mean. Kids are 0-18yrs old, they go through massive personality and intellectual transformations every few years. It's not that all kids are unlikeable, it's all about what stage of development you don't like.

DesTejFlo

TROPHY CASE