The Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Teach Yoga Online
You’ve been practicing yoga for years. You know the corpse pose from the hand scorpion pose. In fact, you can do them both effortlessly, as well as meditate and breathe like a fire dragon.
Have you ever thought of sharing that journey with anyone else?
Maybe you’ve eased a friend’s sciatica by showing her exactly how to do the downward-facing dog. But could you take it further and make a living out of it?
Of course! Here’s why you should teach yoga.
Why Teach Yoga?
1. To create a community
In a scattered world where we all stay in touch through technology, creating in-person or virtual communities is our new way of life.
We all have an inherent need to belong, and we are happiest when we connect in groups of like-minded people.
Imagine doing that straight off your porch or from your bedroom.
Depending on the type or level of yoga you teach, you can create a group (or a couple of groups) of students where they can get to know each other and learn from each other - all in the pursuit of the elusive formidable face pose.
Because yoga has so many health applications, you could teach yoga by creating groups based on their needs - such as women in menopause, low back pain sufferers, or other groups such as moms with babies or dads-only classes.
That way you bring people together with similar interests/circumstances, at a time when we all need it most.
2. To be a better student
Many tutors and teachers who have immersed themselves in their subject find they learn more about it when they start teaching it.
Not only through spotting the grey areas where their knowledge is lacking, but also from observing students.
Learning by teaching is shown to help improve your efficacy, confidence, and communication skills.
One study confirmed that when we ‘bring to mind’ what we’ve previously studied (through teaching), we understand the topic better and remember it for longer.
When you teach yoga, you’ll also learn more about people. This is especially valid considering that every person reacts differently to instructions on how to perform a pose.
You’ll learn how different body types respond, and how long it takes for a therapeutic result to take effect in people of different genders, sizes, ages, and health states.
All this makes you a better yoga teacher and a forever student.
3. To improve others’ health
It’s no secret that regular yoga practice has enormous health benefits to those who practice it. Let’s take a closer look at what the studies say.
In a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2017, the study featured a group of military vets who completed a 12-week yoga program to see how it would affect their (then chronic) lower back pain.
At the end of the program, all participants had less low back pain and better quality of life, compared to those who had opted for meds, physical therapy, and exercise.
Interestingly, once they had completed the program, only 8% of the vets in the yoga group used opioids to control their pain. That is in comparison to the 22% who used them at the beginning.
Now if that’s not a market ready to tap into, your mere desire to help the millions of people with lower back pain should be.
Another fascinating point is that the NCCIH is sponsoring an evaluation of the feasibility of at-home telehealth yoga for treating chronic pain.
So rest assured, you’re on the right track and you’re in good company with your quest to teach yoga.
4. To support yourself financially
Let’s take a look at the numbers.
In 2017, a report by the NIH showed that 14.3% of the adult population practices yoga in the USA (up from 9.5% in 2021). It also showed that one in 12 kids between 4 and 17 practiced yoga.
In a survey conducted over 6 countries with 7,500 participants, 79% believe that wellness was important, and 42% said they consider it a top priority.
The global wellness market is estimated at more than $1.5 trillion, with a growth projectile of 5-10%.
Combine that with the stay-at-home effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which has changed our working circumstances for the foreseeable future.
From this, it is easy to see that there is a greater demand for online learning, as more and more people are using at-home exercise regimes.
In terms of rates, yoga teachers are charging anywhere between $20 to $80 per class. What you charge depends on your level of expertise, the class size, the length of the session, and your location.
Our recommendation is to start out small, build a loyal base, refine your virtual yoga teaching skills, and take it from there.
Also, read our Marvelous advice on How to price your online classes for expert tips.
5. To let the inner teacher loose
If you’re the type of person who loves to teach and/or heal people, and you know your yoga moves inside out, there can be no nobler profession.
All that’s required is organizational skills to set up and stream your online yoga classes and manage your students.
And then, of course, the ability to clearly communicate complicated moves in simple language. If that screams you, then you should definitely start teaching yoga!
6. To find yourself
Yoga is not only a set of poses; it’s a philosophical and ethical lifestyle system. It incorporates everything from meditation, worship ceremonies, and chanting to the study of asana, scripture, and breathing techniques.
One of the world’s greatest leaders and teachers, Mahatma Gandhi, was a daily practitioner of niyamas and famously said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”
It’s one of the secret rewards of the simple act of sharing knowledge to improve lives. Teaching yoga is for you if you believe in making a contribution and helping to impart your knowledge to others.
Conclusion
Teaching yoga has an array of advantages. It will give you purpose, a financial income and it will benefit those you teach yoga to.
Marvelous is a brilliant platform that can help you choose bespoke tech that caters specifically to yoga instructors to host their online classes.
The online streaming software provides the perfect platform for you to teach your lessons and take payments all in a single solution.
We offer all the tools you need along with the freedom to customize your online studio as you like to control the vibe, energy, and aesthetic - without any tech nightmares.
