If you’ve ever struggled with how to brand yourself––including writing a kick-ass bio––you’re in luck.

Because today I’m tag-teaming with my friend Jessica Boylston-Fagonde (AKA Jess) to help you take your bio and branding from embarrassingly DRAB to oh-so-FAB.

Before we dive in, just so you know who it is you’ll be learning from today, let me give you the skinny on Jess.

Jessica Boylston-Fagonde

She’s one of us––curiously passionate about both yoga AND business. She’s the founder of RuConcept and RuYoga Design, sister advertising and branding boutiques that have been serving small to medium-sized businesses, including yoga and wellness professionals, since 1997.

She will be speaking at our upcoming event, Abundant Yogi LIVE, where she’ll take you through a specially tailored version of her revelatory ‘Brand Thyself’ process––a thought-provoking, motivational conversation and identity brief that she crafted especially for yoga teachers after she became one herself.

This process will empower you to refine your offerings, own the stories you’re here to share, and authentically teach, brand, and market yourself from a place of personal integrity.

As for today, though, her guest post ought to give you a nice lil’ kick start on a bitchin’ bio. Enjoy!

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Simple Guidelines To Make Sure Your Bio Doesn’t Suck

by Jessica Boylston-Fagonde

In my “Brand Thyself” sessions, the bio is always the big whammy. It’s kinda like the foundation of the pose in yoga.

A kick-ass bio is one of the best selling tools a yoga teacher can have, and sadly enough, they’re usually not that interesting.

I promised Kris I wouldn’t let that happen to you, so here you go:

Follow the questions and guidelines below to get to the core of your offering and take your bio from drab to FAB.

One of your best selling tools: Your bio.

WHY? It’s a mini-trailer to your story, a condensed reflection of your offering, and a way for you to connect with potential students/private clients. We’ve all had that moment in a class when the teacher says something that resonates with you and you’re hooked.

Allow your bio to do the same thing especially if you teach at a studio where there are many teachers to choose from. A solid bio is an important differentiating tool for your website and promotional materials.

Questions to consider for creating a kick-ass bio that gets people to your class:

1) What situation/issue got you to take your first yoga class? (Connect back to that moment in time––pinpoint the issue.)

2) What aha awakenings did you have in that first class to drive you back for more? (A good portion of us showed up on the mat because we needed yoga more than yoga needed us. Some of your potential students are going through a similar situation. Your own shifts and realizations are important info because chances are, they’re exactly the same reasons why a student will keep coming back to your class. Remember, you’re the guide.)

3) What kept you coming back to the mat? (Why you showed up on the mat and stayed on the mat is a key insight to identifying your offering. Your process and what you’ve absorbed over time is part of your ‘understanding’ as a teacher.)

4) What’s the driving force behind you becoming a yoga teacher?

5) What is your mission?

After you take a moment to contemplate these questions, define YOUR philosophy as a yoga teacher. Base this definition on your understandings and experiences.

Take all of this information and turn it into 1 to 2 paragraph(s).

Guidelines:

• Be provocative – get their attention with your first couple of lines.
• Let your personality shine through: if you’re funny in class, allow humor in your bio.
• Every word counts: make sure words are potent and clear.
• Less is more. Simplify.
• No false advertising
• It doesn’t have to read like an English paper.
• Feel free to add more info such as trainings you’ve done or teachers/mentors you want to acknowledge or thank.

If your bio currently sucks, don’t fret. You’re literally minutes away from a major upgrade.

Answering these simple questions and following these guidelines should give you a sweet 1-2 paragraphs for a bio you’ll LOVE that will fill your classes and programs instead of putting people to sleep.

Start there, then I hope you see you at AY Live where we’ll take your marketing and branding to a whole new level!

You heard the lady.

Take the steps she listed off for you, give your somewhat sucky bio a seductive upgrade, then get your ticket so you can bring your yoga bootie to Abundant Yogi LIVE this October.

As always, thank you so much for every second you invest in yourself, your business, your happiness and this community when you read and interact with us here. If you got value here, dug something in particular, or learned something new, please let us know. “Like” the post, leave a comment, and share your thoughts. We love love love hearing from you.

Have a productive, fun-filled week and I’ll talk to you soon!

XO,