Yoga can be enlightening, restorative, and grounding. It is widely practiced across the world because of it's many health benefits.
Training to be a yoga instructor takes time, dedication, and a lot of hard work. The hard work does not stop when you complete yoga teacher training. You need to market yourself, find a suitable space to teach, and think about how best to serve your students.
But what about insurance?
Most people opt to become yoga facilitators to share their love for the practice, so some teachers can forget to prioritize business aspects of the profession. However, you should be aware of the various complications that can arise when you begin teaching.
The good news is that getting yoga instructor insurance is simpler than learning how to handstand when you have guidance.
Who Is Yoga Insurance For?
As yoga continues to grow in popularity in Canada, a more diverse background of students will join your classes, so you need to be prepared for all abilities.
While it's not the norm for Yoga practice, injuries can happen during class and in the studio. No matter how good an instructor you are, you cannot prevent all injuries.
There are many different risks when holding a teaching space, so you need to cover yourself for all eventualities. Common injuries in yoga classes include:
- Wrist strains
- Neck injuries
- Lower back injuries
- Shoulder injuries
So, if you teach yoga, then you should have yoga insurance. There are different types of yoga instructors. All of these instructors need coverage:
- Yoga studio owners
- Freelance yoga instructors
- Online yoga instructors
- Employees
If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you need to have your own insurance. Always check with your yoga studio or space to know what is covered. Often you have to have yoga insurance before you can rent a studio or class slot.
What Does Yoga Insurance Cover?
There are different types of yoga instructor insurance to protect you from liability risks. The yoga asana practice continues to grow with new adaptions of yoga styles and other grey areas, such as yoga therapy or acu-yoga. So, there are some factors to consider when looking at insurance:
- Location of teaching
- Additional services such as massage
- Yoga type
- Risk management assessment
- Frequency of teaching
Take the time to do a risk management assessment and consider the risks for your teaching. The main focus of yoga insurance is to protect you from standard risks, such as malpractice and injuries that can occur in yoga spaces. You could be held liable if a student gets injured, even if it was not your fault.
Some policies focus on the number of hours you teach, but it depends on the policy. Write down a list of items you think you need in your plan, and compare insurance options to see what suits your role best.
Types of Yoga Insurance
While there are some differences between yoga instructor insurance packages, most packages cover several risk categories. These are common risks for yoga teachers and essential categories for a yoga teacher to address. You can inquire with the insurance company regarding specific package needs.
Professional Liability Insurance
What happens when a student feels you did not give the service you advertised? It could end up with more than a poor online review. Professional liability insurance covers you if a student pursues claims around negligence, misconduct, or failure to provide a service as advertised.
For example, if you give a student cues to manage an injury or fail to cue at all, and the injury worsens, you could be liable for a negligence claim. These claims can quickly escalate to expensive legal bills to cover fees and damages.
Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, can help you avoid this risk and resolve the situation without damaging your business. Plus, you often need this coverage to teach in studios, so invest now and open up many more teaching opportunities. It can also cover you if an emergency comes up and you lose earnings from missing a class.
General Liability Insurance
Sometimes, a yoga injury does not happen in balance poses or during class. Sometimes injuries occur in the studio, such as slips and falls.
Regardless of the injury cause, you need to have this basic cover to prevent the many possible risks running a yoga space brings. This is why you need general liability insurance.
When running a studio, you could be at risk of property damage or third-party bodily injury claims, so general liability insurance helps cover legal and medical fees. Even if you are found liable, this basic coverage can make a significant difference to costs.
Risks will be higher if you lease your own space, so general liability insurance is essential. However, even if you are in a different type of space, you must have sufficient general liability insurance.
Contents Insurance
Yoga teachers around the world spend billions on equipment every year.
You do not want to be left with equipment that is falling apart. It does not only look unprofessional to new students, but it also increases injury risk.
Protect your equipment investments with yoga content insurance. It will cover damage or loss for all things in your yoga teaching space that are not structural or have to do with the building. You can check the insurance details to ensure your equipment is all covered.
What Is Not Covered by Yoga Instructor Insurance?
It is best to check your specific policy to see what is covered or not. There can be discrepancies, and you should always check the fine print of a policy. However, in general, yoga instructor insurance does not cover several things.
Usually, yoga instructor insurance is for the individual, so you cannot add employees to the same insurance. All instructors have to be responsible for their own coverage.
Yoga instructor insurance does not cover you if you injure yourself in class or your studio. The policy focuses on protecting you if you have claims filed against you for property damage or damage to other people.
What you need to be covered will depend on whether you are a contracted employee, online instructor, independent instructor, or studio owner. You may need to purchase additional insurances, such as health insurance, cyber liability, and other packages to cover different risk types.
What to Look for in a Company that Offers Yoga Instructor Insurance
Not all yoga insurance is created equally. Multiple insurance companies offer yoga instructor insurance, so how can you choose? Consider these factors to help you find one of the best plans for your needs.
Yoga Instructor Insurance Rates
The cheapest yoga instructor insurance is not always a good deal. The same rule applies to the most expensive; it does not mean you have the most comprehensive cover. Take the time to compare rates and find a price that offers you value.
You can also inquire whether there are student rates if you are about to complete your yoga teacher training course.
Check Services
When searching for a company that offers yoga instructor insurance, check what services they offer. They may have a great reputation or great prices, but you need to look elsewhere if they do not cover what you need.
If you are open to different yoga styles, consider a more flexible package if you change your teaching style in the future. You may also want a policy that offers add-ons, such as coverage for other healing practices. Some yoga instructors go on to train in Reiki or massage, so it is essential to be prepared.
Location Options
You need insurance coverage that enables you to teach in your location. Not all policies cover specific locations or offer flexible coverage. If you teach in multiple places, it is essential to check you have coverage.
Some policies only let you teach in studios, so you will not be covered if you teach in other spaces, such as festivals, student homes, or online.
Look at Other Benefits
Consider what benefits an insurance company offers. For example, they might automatically include content insurance or other benefits. Benefits could consist of teaching resources, financial advice, or other resources.
Compare Yoga Instructor Insurance Programs
It is not just the price you need to compare. Take the time to shortlist yoga insurance coverage that stands out to you. You can then compare plans and see if one is more suited and practical than the rest.
Check Reviews
An insurance provider may look great on paper, but do their reviews match up? Find an insurance provider with excellent customer reviews. If you decide to use a service to find your insurance, also check their reviews.
You need a company that will offer you the customer service you need if a problem arises or you need to adapt your plan. Check reviews from customers who are also yoga instructors like you to check their services align with your vision.
Typical Costs of Yoga Instructor Insurance
Costs of yoga instructor insurance will depend on your personal package and several personal factors. For example, to assess your insurance needs, the insurance company will look at:
- Services provided
- Revenue
- Training and experience
- Employees
- Location
However, yoga instructor insurance costs around $300 a year on average. Coverage usually extends to around $2 million for lawsuits. Usually, you have to pay for the package annually, but the affordable premiums and comprehensive plans will ensure you are covered for all eventualities.
Costs will also depend on whether you use a service that helps you find excellent insurance deals.
How To Save Money on Yoga Instructor Insurance
Do not pick the first yoga instructor insurance you find. You want to ensure you get the best value for your yoga instructor's needs.
The best way to save money on yoga instructor insurance is to take the time to compare rates with an online comparison site. You will be able to find the best insurance plans for your needs in an effortless way.
It is best to choose a reputable company to help you find the right plan for your yoga instructor role. Also, enquire over package lengths and premiums to save more money.
You can also ask about student rates if you are currently taking your yoga teacher training. Some insurance providers offer other services too and may provide package deals.
The Takeaway
Yoga instructor service is important if you are serious about your practice. Coverage will give you the peace of mind to focus on developing as a yoga teacher.
You also appear more professional if you have insurance. Some students will ask whether you have insurance, and you will be able to apply for more instructor positions if you already have insurance in place.
But you do not have to find the right yoga instructor insurance on your own. Insurdinary's recent partnership with APOLLO takes the guess work out of how to find and understand Yoga Instructor Insurance. Engage with us today and let us answer all of your questions.
