How to Start a Home Yoga Business

Practice yoga inside or out.

Begin a home yoga business by completing a teacher certification program. The origins of yoga lie in India, but several American yoga studios offer teacher trainings. Each yoga teacher training varies; choose a program that works with your schedule, skills and interests. Traditionally, yoga students study individually with their guru (teacher). Most American teacher trainings occur in group settings with other students. Determine what kinds of classes or private sessions you want to offer. Find support people for aspects of your business that do not interest you, such as housekeeping, accounting or scheduling.

Things You'll Need

• teacher certification
• liability insurance

Instructions

Teaching yoga

1. Find a yoga studio with a teacher training program that offers certification. Yoga Alliance is an organization that oversees various teacher training schools. The benefit of a Yoga Alliance school's training lies in the fact that you can register and accumulate continued yoga teacher trainings. This organization can also provide members with reduced-rate liability insurance. Complete your program's written component and teaching practicum before taking on private clients.

2. Choose a quiet space inside your home for your yoga practice. Include an altar, posters or other teaching materials in this room. Yoga teachers have the option to decide what will work best for their students, given the weather and climate, privacy and ability to focus without interruption. Some teachers choose to practice out of doors. Consider where you will store your props, how many students you can accommodate and what time of day you will conduct your practices.

3. Require your students/clients to complete an intake form with personal contact information and health considerations. Ask for feedback from your clients about their experience with you. Engage your students in their own process of discovery while offering guidance---not by making demands. Be generous with your time. Many yoga classes require extra check-in and closing time; do not try to overschedule your time.

4. Grow your business mindfully. Donate your professional teaching skills to local nonprofits or yoga studios. Volunteering may not be an option for every yoga teacher; in this case, work with studio owners to teach a few classes in their practice space. Teaching at a local studio gives you the opportunity to take other instructors' classes for free. Expand your home business by attending other instructors' courses. Ask questions about places to teach during your teacher certification.

5. Work with individuals according to their requests and specific needs. Private sessions are important to your home business and the development of your teaching techniques. Take private clients at a set rate. Remember to negotiate your time wisely. Clients will appreciate that extra five minutes of silent meditation. Give yourself plenty of room to change direction with each client's practice. Allow props and modifications for clients who need more therapeutic support.

Tips & Warnings

• Start small, and throw away any expectations. The key to strong yoga practices lies in cultivating a space of passive acceptance.

• Be gentle with your work, and acknowledge your own limitations. If certain areas within teaching yoga create discomfort such as tantric practices, guided imagery meditations or health conditions impede your ability to assist a particular client, locate another teacher for that student.

References

• "Yoga in America;" ed. Deborah S. Bernstein and Bob Weisenberg; 2009

Resources

• Yoga Alliance Schools