Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Rose Cochran.
Hi Shane Rose, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I actually started promoting myself as a virtual, private yoga instructor in November of 2024. The idea didn’t necessarily strike me as an epiphany; it stemmed from the growing desire to stop working in retail and focus on trying to teach yoga full time. Currently, I do teach for a studio as well as one private yoga client as well as working evening shifts Monday thru Friday at a gas station in Pacific Beach. I am quite the independent woman, so I am working to support myself entirely, from rent to transportation, etc.
My first client was recommended to me through a mutual friend, and we worked together over the phone, FaceTime, for 6 months. His goals were to improve mobility in his shoulders, low back, hips, and knees, which are common areas of discomfort as we age. I had created a restorative yoga practice that we would do on the floor with blocks, pillows, and straps because he is very tall and stiff. He was always grateful for our sessions together.
After that client, an ex-boyfriend messaged me on Instagram asking if I was taking any more clients. We started working together in my own apartment in April of 2025, focusing on his low back and hamstrings, because his job requires him to sit all day with very little activity. So far, he has no intention of slowing down, and even told me that I helped relieve him of his pain. He even stands a little straighter now, according to me.
As of right now, I am working on buying my own online domain to create my own website to further my cause to bring live yoga to the masses. I want to make private yoga accessible to everybody, regardless of location. Instagram is a wonderful tool for marketing, but realistically I am learning on how to expand my knowledge of self-promotion.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest obstacle is my lack of knowledge. I am doing everything from scratch, and I have no idea what I’m doing! This process is not even a year into the making yet, but I noticed the thing that holds me back the most is my own fear of failure. Well, fear of failure is the root of it all, but fear has a way of expanding in my mind. Fear of not being good enough, fear of not making a difference, fear of not trying, or worse, the fear of trying with no result. My worst possible excuse is “I have no idea what I’m doing, so I won’t bother learning and/or trying.”
The next challenge is communication. I cannot count all of the times that I have promoted myself at my night job, with lots of enthusiastic people, only to never hear from them again. Or when I am in charge of communicating that I am a yoga teacher in the first place and pass up many opportunities to speak up. Communication, indeed, is a two-way street!
I almost passed up this opportunity due to my previously stated fears!
The fear being that since I’m an independent contractor of sorts, that no one will take me seriously reading this.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work two jobs. My primary job is cashiering at the Chevron in Pacific Beach at night 5 days a week. My other job, my passion, is teaching yoga at Island Yoga Coronado. Who cares about the gas station job? Let’s talk about the good stuff.
I have been teaching Bikram-style yoga for almost 9 years now. My first class was October 3rd, 2016. This is the style I am known for, but what I am most proud of is saving the money to attend online yoga school to get my certifications in Vinyasa Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Chair Yoga. I graduated that school with my certifications on October 25th, 2023, the night before my birthday. It was the best thing I could have done for myself! I do not plan on stopping, either. I will one day achieve my goals of becoming a certified meditation instructor as well as pranayama (or breathing) instructor. I want to continue to expand my knowledge and never stop learning.
I don’t know if I have anything that sets me apart from others, but I do have a few sayings near and dear to my heart that I repeat almost every single class I teach that I hope makes my classes inspiring. The most common one is one I use at the end of class, “Life is good food, good company, and good sleep.” It is something I came up with after learning about my Italian heritage (I am 1/4 Italian, but I like my sentiment just the same). Another one I use is “no yogi left behind,” which means that I don’t want anyone being left out, or feel ignored, and I obviously derived from “no child left behind.” I believe everyone can benefit from moving their body. The last one I use for the middle of class, when motivation starts waning, “if you fall out, laugh at yourself, and try again.” I believe that one is self-explanatory, but I truly believe that laughing at yourself can take the mental pressure off of trying to be perfect and just enjoy the practice of being human.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Ooooh, I enjoy all kinds of media, especially books. I have a love of fiction, suspense, or science-fiction fantasy, anything that gets me deep into my imagination. I remember my favorite book growing up was actually my sister’s book, called Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher, meant for 5th grade reading level, but I loved that book. The book I’m reading currently is Moxy by Heather James Pond, and because it is an emotional memoir, I am taking my time reading it.
As for podcasts, I right now only listen to two: Kallmekris’s true crime podcasts which she donates all of her earnings to organizations dedicated to victims and their families, and Mayiam Bialik’s Breakdown podcast which speaks about mental health in the acting field, and the various actors/actresses interviewed speak up about their struggles.
Mental health is something that a lot of people struggle with, including myself with my general anxiety, so it does help me realize I am not alone or not as awkward as I think I am. My anxiety shows up when I have a huge fear of not knowing what’s coming, but I am learning acknowledge it and not let it rule me.
Pricing:
- $100 per session
- $475 per 5 prepaid sessions
- $900 per 10 prepaid sessions
- $1275 per 15 prepaid sessions
- $1600 per 20 prepaid sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: shanerosestudios.my.canva.site
- Instagram: @shanerosestudios
- Other: (coming soon!!!) shanerosestudios.com
Image Credits
Paolo Paredes
Stephanie Anderson
Eric Applegarth
Myself
Monetta
