#127 - CHARLIE FOLLOWS - Building a yoga career in the digital age
What does it really take to build a sustainable, soul-aligned yoga career in the digital age? In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Follows, a wildly popular YouTube yoga teacher, whose calm demeanour and clear cueing belie the sheer grit, skill, and strategy behind her online presence.
This conversation is a rare behind-the-scenes look into the world of digital content creation—from managing energy as an introverted teacher, to filming solo in the wilderness with a camping trolley full of gear, to building a business that allows for both freedom and depth. @charlieafollows
WE CHAT ABOUT
From Burnout to Boundaries: Why Charlie swapped 20 in-person classes a week for a digital model—and how she protects her energy without losing community.
Lonely but Not Alone: The strange intimacy of online teaching, where an online community feels so close to you … but you’ve never met them.
Creativity as a Craft: Charlie’s self-taught journey through filming, editing, lighting, and audio—plus why she believes every creator should understand these skills before outsourcing.
Courageous Simplicity: Her minimalist yet potent philosophy on cueing, sound quality, and what it really takes to succeed online.
Business with Soul: Why yoga trainings don’t prepare teachers for business—and how Charlie wants to change that.
Growth through Critique: Her refreshingly non-defensive approach to online feedback (even the mean ones)—and what she’s learned from being “called out.”
Life Goals? Already Living Them: Freedom, learning, and choice—Charlie's markers of success are surprisingly modest, but deeply inspiring.
NOTABLE QUOTES
“I always say to people—prioritise audio over video. If it’s painful to listen to, no one’s sticking around.”
“Being a yoga teacher often feels like being a very low-paid counsellor. And there’s no filter—people just unload.”
“Even the harshest comments have helped me. They’re not always wrong, they’re just badly delivered.”
“Freedom is the success. The freedom to choose how I spend my time—that’s all I ever wanted.”
“I film alone, in the woods, with a camping trolley full of equipment. People always ask me what I’m doing. I just say—making yoga magic.”
“You can’t follow someone who started ten years before you and expect to play by the same rules.”
“There’s no other practice in my life that invites me to sit with myself, to ask—why am I feeling this? Where did that come from?”
“I just live a normal life… but I’m committed to the practice of studying myself. That’s the difference.”
PERKS FOR YOU
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25% off our online studio full of yoga, sound and meditation, with code HONEST25 (25% off single 12 month membership or reoccurring monthly membership until cancellation)
THE HOSTS
@adamhusler - Drawing from a variety of lives lived off the mat, Adam Husler brings a unique perspective to those who seek more from yoga than making pretty shapes. He offers creative, effective and clearly-sequenced teachings that focus on balancing flexibility and strength; physically and mentally. Educated by globally renown teachers, including Jason Crandell and Michael Stone, Adam specialises in a signature style of Alignment-Based Vinyasa— fuelled by a fascination with anatomy and a desire to ask ‘why?’.
Based in London, Adam teaches a robust schedule in one of the worlds top yoga studios, Triyoga, and world leading gym, Equinox. On top of this, Adam leads workshops, trainings and teaches festivals continuously around the world, leaving him with thousands of teaching hours under his belt and plenty of appearances in national and international media.
For workshops, trainings, events and retreats, find out more here.
@iamhollyhusler - From belting out original pop tunes at the London O2 stage to 20,000 people, whilst supporting Westlife, to singing healing mantras and playing magical instruments, to seas of sleeping yogis, at events and studios across the globe; Holly’s journey has led to a deep desire to help people find conscious connection and their own inner peace.
For trainings, workshops, music, events and retreats, find out more here.
