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When people come to a yoga class, they know on some level that it’s not the same as going to a Crossfit or circuit training class. Even a new or casual student has an intuition that yoga is something deeper. Yoga is not an exercise regimen. The eight limbs of yoga provide a spiritual way of life designed to unite us with all of existence. Teaching yoga online flips the script and gives you full control over marketing, pricing and class size.
In the West, there is a tendency to focus on only one part of yoga, an asana or a pose. While engaging in yoga on one level is undoubtedly beneficial, as a teacher you want to authentically embrace the entire spiritual system if you want to serve as an example to your students.
Want to learn Yoga? Want to become a Yoga trainer? Start your journey today!
9 Ways Your Life Improves When You Teach Yoga Online
1.Freedom to Roam
Say goodbye to cold winters in Minneapolis or skyrocketing real estate prices in San Francisco. Imagine basking on the sun-kissed beaches of Bali or finding peace at a charming farmhouse in Idaho—the possibilities are truly endless.
2. Travel on Your Terms
Forget the constraints of traditional work schedules, whether it’s a 9-5 or teaching in multiple studios. When you set your own schedule, you’re no longer limited to just two weeks of vacation, the occasional long weekend, or the same vacation everyone else takes.
Imagine hopping on a spontaneous flight to Miami, hosting a pool lesson, or taking a mid-week trip without having to ask for time off. When you teach online, you become the master of your time.
3. Customized Work-Life Balance
Embracing an online yoga business opens the door to a more flexible work-life balance. You no longer have to stick to fixed working hours in the studio, you can shape your work schedule when the toddler takes a nap or welcome the day with the sunrise – the ability to design the ideal work-life balance is in your hands.
Whether you want to tackle financial goals directly or simply want more control over your working hours, online learning gives you the freedom to make decisions. You can set your own pace and teach as many lessons as you want, creating a schedule that suits your unique needs and aspirations.
4. Escape the Daily Commute
Rush hour drudgery, public transport or treacherous weather conditions will be a thing of the past. No more driving through rain, snow or icy roads to find only a handful of students waiting for your class (because no one else wants to drive in the rain, snow or ice either).
Online lessons take the hassle out of commuting and allow you to teach your lessons from the cozy comfort of your chosen space. It’s a transformational shift that will not only simplify your professional life, but also increase the quality of your life.
5. More Quality Time
Chances are you’re very, very passionate about yoga, but we’re guessing you also love spending time with the people you love and doing the things you love.
Teaching yoga online gives you the gift of extra time—time you can spend cuddling your pets or immersing yourself in a riveting novel that will enrich your life outside of the yoga mat.
Want to learn Yoga? Want to become a Yoga trainer? Start your journey today!
6. Earnings Reflect Your Efforts
In the world of a traditional yoga teacher career, your income often depends on the number of classes or students, leaving you at the mercy of factors such as studio location and marketing. You may be the best yoga teacher ever, but your earnings may still not reflect your true worth as a teacher.
None of us became yoga teachers to get rich, but it’s nice to be rewarded for our hard work. Online yoga classes flip the script and give you full control over your marketing, pricing, and class size (with a little awesome magic, of course!). As a self-employed online instructor, your pay is directly linked to your efforts, promising a fairer return for your dedication.
7. Teach Your Passion
Has your studio ever taken you to a class that you don’t feel qualified for? Or to be honest, you don’t want to teach?
With online learning, you regain the freedom to choose exactly what sets your heart on fire. Whether you delve into niche areas like pregnancy yoga or the soothing embrace of restorative yoga, online classes allow you to explore and share what really makes you glow, even if it’s not readily available in your local studio’s repertoire.
8. Say Goodbye to Sweaty Gym Bags
Done with your class? You can simply walk into your bedroom and effortlessly toss your sweaty workout clothes straight into the bin. No more struggling with packing different outfits or the embarrassment of showing up to social events still in yoga pants.
9. Freedom to Choose Your Classroom
Even if you stay teaching in your hometown, you won’t stay teaching in the studio on that perfect beach day. The beauty of online learning is that you can take your practice to the coastal air, the mountain retreat you’ve been dreaming of, or even your own backyard oasis. It’s up to you!
The Pros and Cons of Teaching Yoga Online
Here are some of the benefits of learning yoga online:
- It’s a huge time saver for me and my clients. Making a similar commitment to practicing yoga five times a week would be impossible for my client if she had to travel to a teaching studio, especially in New York. It would take her 3-4 hours every day, which is not realistic. And I don’t have to go to clients’ homes either.
- It’s a great alternative when in-person yoga classes aren’t readily available. I have been able to work with students online from all over the world, sometimes from very remote places that don’t have many options when it comes to yoga.
- It is very convenient for both the teacher and the student – we can both do it from home in our casual clothes.
- It creates the illusion of a student doing her personal practice, but under the watchful eye of a teacher. Since I don’t demonstrate any moves unless absolutely necessary, my online students don’t have to look at me all the time; they rely on my voice for instructions.
- You can do it from anywhere. I was working with my client while I was in yoga therapist training in California; she took me on vacation to Florida, Turkey, England and so on. We adjusted to the time difference and drove on. It means we don’t have to interrupt our session when he travels. It can be especially useful during physically demanding travel. For example, she had a lot of trouble navigating the cobblestones and steep hills in Istanbul, so we used tailored yoga exercises to address those issues.
- You can do it under any conditions. When I was in my last trimester of pregnancy, I taught her from bed; when she broke her wrist and couldn’t get to the floor, she did it from the bed. If I catch a cold and I’m still able to teach, it celebrates the fact that I’m not contagious via the internet.
Want to learn Yoga? Want to become a Yoga trainer? Start your journey today!
Here are some disadvantages of online yoga classes and how you can work around them:
- Online yoga is not the same when it comes to connecting people. One of the most important aspects of individual work is the therapeutic relationship we build with our clients. It’s easier to make and maintain that connection in person. This is why client and usually try to visit each other at least twice a year to practice in person.
- Internet connection can be spotty at times. It’s usually not a big deal with a client you know well because you both expect it and can work around it, but it can be frustrating when you’re working with a new client. So you can usually assure your new clients that if the internet doesn’t cooperate on a particular day, we can always reschedule our session. This usually takes the pressure off and allows us both to relax into our work. It’s also good to have a variety of connection options, as some services may work better than others on any given day. We will talk more about the options available later in this post.
- You have to rely on your voice when editing. This is not always easy, especially if you are used to being hands-on in your teaching, or if you are working with a student who is new to your teaching style, or if your new student has little body awareness. Ultimately, this works best because the student is encouraged to find their own way into the pose and learn to rely on their own internal feedback rather than external tactile and visual cues from the teacher.
- You can’t walk around watching your student from every angle, which means you can miss some important mistakes in body positioning. To avoid this, I have no qualms about asking my students to turn their bodies one way or the other in different positions, or move the camera up or down depending on the positions they are in. Of course, you need to make sure that these exchanges do not compromise their security and disrupt the flow of the session. After many years of teaching online, you can prefer the angles of the pad in relation to the camera, which allows me to see better. For example, you may prefer to have the student stand in front of the camera in supine and prone poses so you can see her from above and judge the symmetry of her body as she moves. But for standing positions, you also prefer a side view.
- Some people have very little space to practice, which limits how much you can see. If this is the case and there is no possibility of moving to a larger space, usually simplify the exercise and improve the movements that the student already knows well with some specific hand or leg adjustments. Variants of chairs can also be useful. This ensures that the student stays safe while still getting the benefit they are after.
Want to learn Yoga? Want to become a Yoga trainer? Start your journey today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started with online yoga teaching?
To start your online yoga teaching journey, you’ll need a stable internet connection, a quality webcam, and a platform like Marvelous to host your classes. Once you’re set-up, you can create your schedule, design your classes, and start connecting with students from the comfort of your own space.
Is online yoga teaching suitable for beginners?
Absolutely! Teaching online is accessible to both experienced instructors and newcomers. The flexibility it offers in terms of schedule and class content makes it a great option for those new to teaching yoga.
Can I teach yoga online and still maintain a personal connection with my students?
Absolutely. Online teaching allows you to build a strong rapport with your students through live interaction, chat, and video. With Marvelous, you also have the option to offer an online community for your students, leading to meaningful connections between you and your students, but also among your students. Many instructors find that online students are just as engaged and committed as those in physical classes.