Alice Willenbrock completed her accredited yoga therapy training with the Yoga Therapy Institute just over twelve months ago. What happened next is a masterclass in how to build a confident, sustainable yoga therapy practice from the ground up.
Before her training, Alice was already an experienced personal trainer with qualifications in exercise science and nutrition. But yoga therapy changed the way she works entirely. As Alice puts it — “It’s not about stringing poses together in a yoga class anymore. It’s about touching the client on a deeper level that is really beneficial to them and their experience.” She can now target sessions precisely around each client’s individual needs and wellbeing outcomes – something general yoga teaching simply couldn’t offer.
Alice gives every client a personalised practice they can do independently between sessions. “The benefits of yoga are not just felt during the class but long after the session has finished — and it’s something they can keep doing for life. That’s where the real benefit of yoga therapy lies.”
When it came to building her yoga therapy business, Alice was smart and strategic. She started with a stress management workshop – a topic broad enough to attract a wide audience but specific enough to demonstrate her therapeutic expertise. It sold out within 24 hours. From that workshop, clients naturally progressed into three-session packages, and then into ongoing one-to-one consultations.
Her marketing strategy is refreshingly simple. She uses social media not to sell, but to share useful information her audience genuinely values. Shares and word-of-mouth do the rest. She also carries business cards everywhere – a low-pressure way to introduce herself to potential clients without anyone feeling pushed into a decision on the spot.
Twelve months after graduating, Alice has a thriving client base, clear professional boundaries, strong client retention, and a practice that grows organically as her clients do.
This is what yoga therapy training makes possible. Watch the full interview to hear from Alice.
Author:
Trina Bawden-Smith is the founder and director of the Yoga Therapy Institute, which has trained over 420 Yoga therapists. She has been overseeing the development of the Yoga Therapy Institute’s Accredited Yoga Therapy Certification since 2012, has conducted 8 Yoga therapy conferences and directed numerous professional development programs for Yoga therapists and Yoga teachers since 2003.
Whether you’re already a practicing yoga therapist or a yoga teacher exploring your next step, this conversation is filled with wisdom, practical insight, and gentle encouragement.
For more information on becoming an accredited Yoga therapist see our Accredited Yoga Therapy Certification.
