While the general income and salary for yoga teachers depends on the region of the country and the type of environment where one teaches yoga, the good news is that yoga is becoming more and more popular. As the interest in yoga increases, demand for yoga instructors is rising.
Certified Teachers

Yoga teachers who have received a general certification are in high demand. While a non-certified instructor can be an expert and have several high-paying private clients, most instructors are certified. Certification is not only a prerequisite for the vast majority of yoga instructor jobs, but it also provides a wealth of experience on top of the instructor's own yoga practice.

As with most career fields, the more qualified you are for a position, the higher your salary will be. Certified yoga instructors often earn more than non-certified instructors. In addition, a specialization such as in yoga for kids, often increases the salary. The number of hours in a yoga teacher training program also has an impact on the salary one can expect to earn.

Reputation Affects Price

The popularity of yoga among movie stars and other celebrities makes yoga instruction a lucrative field if you can build up a reputation in the right circle of people. Yoga instructors for the rich and famous can charge basically any price they want if they have a fantastic reputation that precedes them. In these circles, the going rate is usually around $250 per private session.

While this salary is certainly not the norm, it is something to keep in mind. The right training, expertise, and attitude could make this high salary a possibility.

More Information on General Income and Salary for Yoga Teachers

While $250 per session is certainly an income that most people could appreciate, the reality is that most yoga instructors earn much less than this. In general, income and salary for yoga teachers depends on the region, the type of studio where you teach, your experience and training, and the number of classes/students you teach.

In metropolitan areas, instructors in private studios will earn more than in private rural studios, because of the high ratio of students and a more expensive class fee. Depending on the type of studio, one can expect to earn $20 to $40 per class. More experienced teachers can sometimes earn more than this.

If you have a private studio and a lot of students, you can earn more than this, too, but don't forget to figure in all of the costs of renting the studio, maintaining it, and paying for utilities and insurances.

If you teach at a college instead of a studio, you can expect to earn an average salary of $30 per class. Having a specialization in therapeutic yoga, prenatal yoga or children's yoga can make you an even more attractive employee, in which case you might be offered a higher salary.

Tips for Increasing Your Salary

As you prepare to become a yoga teacher, follow some simple tips in order to have the best chances of earning a high salary.

Specialize in one type of yoga or just a few; most studios offer classes within one yoga type, such as Iyengar Yoga. The more training you have in one style, the more able you are to work in such a studio.
Get broad training if you want to teach all kinds of general yoga classes; for example, at a fitness center. If this is the environment you want to work in, broad training can be beneficial. However, the salaries are, generally speaking, lower than in specialized studios.
Get advanced formal training. Certification and hours of practice are necessary.
Learn to network. Depending on the region where you live, networking may be necessary to let others know of your abilities. In a large city, you may be able to simply apply for a great job once it has been advertised. In smaller areas, you can consider getting into a studio at a low level, teaching one class per week, and increase your hours and salary as your experience and continued training grow.
Keep all of these factors in mind as you try to evaluate the general income and salary for yoga teachers and what path you'd like to pursue.