zen girl in maui

Hello Anonymous,

Your family is correct in some ways - the majority of yoga instructors do not make very much money. 

However, if you are creative, ambitious, and know what you’re worth, teaching yoga can be a very lucrative job. 

Favourite Tip: Get Paid What You’re Worth

Alot of yoga instructors get caught up thinking that making money off yoga = bad for spiritual reasons. They feel bad asking people to pay them what they are actually worth. They aim low when setting their price, and end up living paycheck to paycheck.

Why not aim high when negotiating your pay? If you have a high quality service, it will sell. Be confident and offer yourself up at a competitive rate in comparison to the studios around you - or even higher if you think your services set you apart! 

Don’t Let Naysayers Get the Best Of You

If you feel like something is truly worth pursuing and is a viable option for you, do it. Sure, it may take a few months to get going, and you may or may not need a second job at first, but you will be surprised how fast your momentum builds speed and your clientele base grows. Word of mouth can spread like wildfire, and next thing you know all the people who were negative Nancys will be envious of your energy and progress.

And honestly, they are probably just against it now because of fear of the unknown or jealousy which are 2 huge roadblocks to serious success. 

How much will I make?

I don’t know. This is in your hands. Some people are happier than clams to work at a rec centre 4 times a week for $40 per class, while others teach privates for $100 per head. Some settle for 60/40 commission splits, others for 70/30. Some charge per head with a minimum, others per class.

Be creative, and try to maximize your profits and minimize your hours as much as possible. Personally, I think its better to teach a few high paying classes per week than a bunch of low paying contract jobs that make you commute throughout the city, wasting money on gas, where there is little negotiating power on your end.

But this might be where you start - and all the power to you! You will learn what you are comfortable with - just throw yourself in there!

I must say though that if you are making less than $35 per hour long class, you are selling yourself short. I know very few people who teach for less than this - and the ones that make a comfortable living off teaching yoga are above $60 - 70 per hour. However, this is in Canada in a city, not in a rural city with a population of 2,000.

But who’s to say you can’t be successful in a small town? I know an instructor who monopolized a town of 10,000 people, and runs a class each day that is filled to the brim with dedicated students.  

Myself?

Currently I have 2 jobs - a full time university student and yoga instructor. Teaching yoga has been a great job to have being in school, especially if you don’t want to be a waitress or barista. I graduate this December and will be pursuing teaching yoga full time (my version of full time) and expanding my business, and this will be my only source of income.

I cannot think of any other job I would want to do at this point in my life. I want to dedicate myself to my students and spirituality, and make a comfortable living doing it.

My teacher once said that from a spiritual perspective, you need to make enough money to be able to take care of those around you. I know that you can do this through the art of teaching yoga - be confident, creative, and know what you’re worth!

Most of all, if your teaching comes from a source of presence and love, success will only be a natural outcome. 

Please do not hesitate to ask me further questions,

Natasha