How much do yoga teachers make?

If you love perfecting your poses and introducing others to the yogic path, a career as a yoga teacher may be for you. Many yoga teachers start out by teaching part-time in addition to another job, but some opt to make the leap to full-time. How much do these yoga teachers make? The average salary for yoga teachers was $68,837 in 2022.¹

Average Yoga Teacher Salary in 2022²

As you can see, there is a wide range in take-home pay for yoga teachers. Read on as we break down what influences the average yoga teacher’s salary and offer tips for boosting your income as a yoga teacher. This dog is going up!

How much do yoga teachers make per day?

How much yoga teachers make per day can vary just as widely. According to salary estimates from Glassdoor, yoga teachers earn between $15 and $40 per hour.³

However, the salary ranges above assume a teacher works 40 hours per week with no time off for vacation, which is unlikely in many cases. Each yoga class requires buffer time on either side — for talking to students, cleaning the studio, and travel. Due to these additional commitments, most yogis consider a full-time teaching schedule to consist of at least 20 classes per week.⁴ Some studios pay a flat rate for each class, which includes “buffer” time, while others pay hourly. Others pay based on attendance (a base rate + an additional rate per student over a certain number).

Where do yoga teachers make the most money?

The top three states with the highest average salaries for yoga teachers are:

• New York: Yoga teachers earn 26% more than the national average.
• Washington: Yoga teachers earn 22% more than the national average.
• Hawaii: Yoga teachers earn 20% more than the national average.⁵

The top-paying cities for yoga instructors include:

• San Francisco, CA: $38.28 per hour
• New York, NY: $36.42 per hour
• Los Angeles, CA: $34.48 per hour⁶

How much revenue can yoga teachers make?

According to Thimble’s recent survey of 1,000 small business owners, self-employed yoga teachers can make up to $50,000 in annual gross revenue. While the pandemic negatively affected their business as gyms and studios closed, the yoga teachers we surveyed feel optimistic about 2022. One teacher expects her annual gross revenue to grow by 10% this year and has no intentions of returning to the traditional workforce. “I like to have my own business and be my own boss,” she told us.

How to increase your salary as a yoga instructor

Yoga is all about self-inquiry and acceptance, but it’s also about hard work (one of the limbs of yoga is “tapas,” or self-discipline). Your ability and desire to hustle play a huge role in how much you earn as a yoga instructor. Here are a few tips for increasing your salary as a yoga teacher:

• Evaluate different studios – Different studios offer different pay structures and networking opportunities, leading to more private clients, retreats, and workshop opportunities. High-end studios like Equinox pay up to $75 per hour, according to Glassdoor, while the YMCA pays up to $30.⁷
• Expand your services – Even at the highest paying studio, you can only earn so much teaching studio classes as a yoga instructor. Consider adding other services, such as private lessons, private group classes for companies, or advanced workshops. These tend to pay higher rates.
• Build a following – Well-known teachers can earn upwards of $100,000 through event appearances, sponsorships, online classes, and merchandise.⁸ Create a niche for yourself and build a following through blogging, sharing YouTube videos, or posting on social media.
• Get certified – Most studios require you to have completed at least a 200-hour yoga teacher training course in order to work for them. However, a teacher with more certifications can demand higher rates. You can complete a 300- or 500-hour course to teach more advanced poses or get certified in teaching children’s yoga or prenatal yoga.⁹

How much does it cost to run a yoga teaching business?

The highest cost of running a yoga teaching business, in terms of both time and money, is getting your Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification with the Yoga Alliance. Once you’re certified, however, the day-to-day costs of being a yoga instructor are more manageable. These include:

• Transportation – Whether traveling between studios or jet-setting around the world to yoga retreats, you’ll need a reliable way to get to and fro. Invest in a car and auto insurance, or plan your routes on public transportation.
• Tech equipment – Social media is a top marketing channel for yoga teachers, even among those who don’t run their own business. Pull the drishti (focus) to you with a ring light and a smartphone with a good camera. You may also want to budget for a microphone and stock music if you plan to post your videos online.
• Business insurance – When you’re dealing with people’s bodies, there’s always a risk for injury. Yoga teachers are exposed to significant liability, so you’ll want to purchase Yoga Teacher Insurance even if you work for a studio. Studios don’t always adequately extend their business coverage to the teachers who work for them.

What do yoga teachers do?

Yoga teachers teach yoga, of course. But what that looks like is as individual as the instructor. They may teach yoga classes at multiple studios, offer private one-on-one or group classes, or live an on-the-go lifestyle by leading workshops or seminars at yoga retreats. Some teachers get certified in numerous types of yoga, while others choose to specialize in one.

When they’re not leading people through a series of asanas, yoga teachers take care of administrative tasks, such as scheduling their teaching sessions, checking students in, and cleaning the studio. Many yoga instructors fill their non-teaching hours with marketing, whether they work for a studio or solo. They promote their upcoming classes and workshops, post content on social media, or film or livestream classes to post on their website or YouTube.

From prana to profits

Teaching yoga can be a fulfilling profession. Let the energy (and money) flow by building out your services and certifications, developing your social media presence, and shopping for the best pay rates at studios near you. Then, protect yourself with Yoga Instructor Insurance from Thimble. It’s comprehensive coverage that’s as flexible as you are. You can purchase coverage by the job, month or year in minutes. Om.

Sources:

1. Glassdoor. Yoga Instructor Salaries.
2. Glassdoor. Yoga Instructor Salaries.
3. Glassdoor. Yoga Instructor Salaries.
4. YogaBaron. How Many Hours Do Yoga Instructors Work (and How to Earn More)
5. Indeed. Yoga Instructor Salary in United States.
6. Indeed. Yoga Instructor Salary in United States.
7. Glassdoor. Yoga Instructor Salaries.
8. Well+Good. Yes, It’s Possible to Make $400,000 a Year As a Yoga Teacher—Here’s How.
9. Yoga Alliance. Yoga Teacher Designations.