How Much Do Yoga Instructors Make In California?

As a result, there are more yoga studios than ever before. And yet, there are still many people who get confused about what they can expect to earn as a yoga instructor.

Many people enter the field of yoga thinking they will teach for a few hours a week and make a lot of money doing it.

But, unfortunately, this is not the case. It is tough to break into the top echelon of yoga teachers. And those that do break in usually have to put in thousands of hours of practice and study to achieve that status.

This article will give you a simple formula that will quickly calculate how much you should be charging for your classes. In addition, it will enable you to decide if you should stay in business or not.

Is it possible to make a living as a yoga instructor?

The short answer: yes, with a lot of hard work, you can make a living as a yoga instructor. But it is not the easy path that many people think, and it will take a lot of sacrifices to get there. 

So here are some of the things you need to consider before going into this industry:

Online Presence:

Before we get into the math, you need to ask yourself how serious you are about making this your career. If you want to make a living as a yoga instructor, you’ll need to have a robust online presence.

People looking for a yoga instructor will go online to find one. And your website is the first impression that they will have of you. So if it’s not professional, you won’t be taken seriously as an instructor.

Your online presence should include A professional website: This is one of the most important things for your success as a yoga instructor.

You can get any number of templates for free or for a minimal fee. Just make sure it is clean and easy to navigate. 

Taking Paid Surveys:

A great way to get exposure for your brand is by doing paid surveys. People are more willing to sign up for a yoga class from someone they trust. And trust is something that you can earn through surveys. 

Many times, you’ll find surveys that are looking for instructors. It is a great way to build awareness about yourself and your class offerings. 

So take advantage of all the paid survey opportunities that you find, and don’t worry if it takes a lot of time or if the pay rate isn’t the most competitive.

Needs Dedication & Passion:

If you’re going to make a living as a yoga instructor, then you’ll need a deep-seated passion for yoga. Also, you need to put in a lot of extra hours that won’t show up on your paycheck. 

For example, many instructors will commit 30-50 hours per week to teaching, but they also dedicate another 40 or more hours per week to working on their websites and social media profiles. 

And that doesn’t even take into account the time spent reading books and online materials about health and fitness.

How do Yoga instructors make money?

The first step to getting started is figuring out what you’re going to charge for your classes. To do this, you need to look at your market and discover how much money people are currently paying for yoga.

It’s important to remember that every market has different needs and demographics. So you can expect to see some variation in rates within the same area. 

However, it’s also important not to get too focused on making a lot of money right off the bat because that could lead to burnout very quickly.

Cost of Living May vary:

You need to keep in mind that many of the big cities will cost more than some towns or suburbs will. For example, New York City is notorious for having sky-high prices for everything from rent to food. 

So if you want to live in a big city and make a living as a yoga instructor, you’ll need to be prepared for that lifestyle.

Class Rates:

To determine what price range you should charge for your class, ask yourself the following questions:

What type of class do I want to teach? Of course, as a competitive yoga instructor, you’ll want to come up with prices that will compete well with other studios in your area. 

But if you are more interested in offering something different, you can charge less than other studios would.

How technical is your class? If your class requires a lot of special equipment, you’ll need to pass on those costs to the students to break even. You should also expect these classes to have less than an average attendance rate.

The next step is setting the actual prices for your yoga classes. Here are some options to consider:

Classes Offered: 

Many studios offer free classes or have free nights or days where they do not charge for yoga. This way, they can build up a steady following of students and create brand loyalty. Once they have a stable base, they can start charging for classes.

Basic Class:

The highest amount you should charge for an introductory class is $20. You should also give discounts for multiple classes purchased in advance so that people will plan their schedules around your program. 

For example, you could offer a discount if someone buys three classes. It would allow them to take one at the beginning of the month and two more the next month.

Specialized Classes: 

These are usually the most popular classes and command high prices. To charge more than $20 per class, you’ll need to offer something unique or technical.

For example, if you are a yoga instructor and offer a program designed to help increase flexibility, you should charge an additional fee.

Cancellation Fees: 

Getting people to show up can be tricky if your classes are on a time-based schedule. Many studios will charge cancellation fees that don’t match the amount of money they lost through cancellations to encourage people to sign up for your classes.

This way, they can recoup some of their losses and lure some new students in. 

As a competitive yoga instructor, you should aim to keep the cancellation fees as low as possible so that you only lose money if someone shows up and cancels on them.

What are some steps to become a yoga teacher?

There are several steps that you could take to become a competitive yoga promoter:

Step 1:

If you want to teach yoga professionally, you need to get your basic certifications. Yoga Alliance is the organization that designates which credentials are legitimate.

So make sure your certificate is from a legitimate source. There are many options of basic certification programs that you can take:

Step 2:

The next step is to get certified as a yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. It will tell people that you meet the standards and requirements for being a professional yoga instructor.

The registration process is pretty straightforward and requires the following documents to submit:

Step 3:

If you want to teach more than one style of yoga, then you’ll have to get additional certification and basic training. However, you should also make sure that you are willing to work hard at marketing yourself. 

As a competitive yoga instructor, you need to ensure that your marketing is thorough enough to ensure that people remember your name.

Step 4:

Once you’ve been teaching yoga for a while, then it’s time to get business cards made up so that people know where you teach.

You should also print up some good-looking posters and take some high-quality photos of yourself in action so that people will remember you when they are looking for a yoga class. 

Also, make sure that your website is not too essential by using images and videos about what your studio offers. 

Step 5:

You’ll probably want to hang out with other professionals at different studios when you start teaching yoga.

It will give you more opportunities to meet potential students and networking opportunities. And it will also give you the chance to build contacts that can help get new students into your classes.

Step 6:

Finally, it’s important to remember that what makes you competitive is your ability to create a great business plan and stick with it through times when being competitive is hard. 

For example, if people stop coming into your classes one week, make sure that your marketing efforts are still getting people in the door the following week. 

Frequently asked Questions

How much do yoga instructors charge per hour?

While there is no hard and set rule, charging around $20 per class is usually a good idea. 

If you charge less than this, you may have trouble keeping your classes full. But if you charge any more than $40, you are not giving people much of a discount.

Can you make a living as a yoga instructor?

You can make a living as a yoga instructor if you are willing to go the extra mile and market your studio by attending events, getting their name out there, and advertising in local newspapers. 

In addition, many different websites charge instructors a monthly fee to get people into their classes. 

So if you get the word out about your studio, it could bring in some consistent income from students. 

Is it worth becoming a yoga instructor?

If you love yoga and don’t mind getting used to a lifestyle that isn’t conventional, then becoming a competitive yoga instructor can be very rewarding. You get to do what you love, and people see it as an inspirational act of self-improvement. 

However, if you are looking for some regular income or a way to make your living, you should try other careers first. Yoga will get looked down on in some cultures, so it’s not something everyone will find respectable. 

Why is it necessary to become a Certified Yoga Instructor?

It is essential to become certified before you open your yoga studio to make it easier for you to market your studio. In addition, without certification, people would have a hard time finding out about your classes. 

Yoga Alliance will help you with this and make sure that you meet the standards of being a yoga instructor. 

What is the average salary of yoga instructors?

The average yoga instructor salary will depend on whether they have their studio or teach in one. Instructors in their studios make more money because they have all the costs of the studio to recoup. 

Instructors at more extensive facilities make less money because they share the profits with other instructors. 

Conclusion:

There are a lot of extra benefits to being a yoga instructor. For one thing, you get to practice yoga daily.

You also have the opportunity to be an inspirational figure in someone’s life and give them the strength they need to live better lives. 

So if you love yoga, then joining the ranks of professional yoga instructors can be very rewarding.