Insurance for Yoga Teachers

Affordable Solutions to Protect Yourself and Your Students

For Yoga Teachers College Diploma holders and Certified Yoga Trapeze Instructors, insurance is a must. The main reason teachers don’t get insured is because they worry it will be complicated and/or expensive to do so. This is rarely the case. Yoga injuries are extremely rare and mild compared to just about every other type of physical activity, so it’s possible to get hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of liability insurance at a low cost per year.

FUN FACT: It’s often more expensive to insure an iPhone than a yoga teacher, so don’t wait!

Questions to consider:

  • What type of yoga do you teach?
  • Do you need to insure other teachers/team members?
  • Do you need sexual harassment/abuse insurance?
  • Do you need e-commerce, data protection, or cyber insurance?

Typical coverage plans:

  • Standard insurance packages include general liability (slips/falls) and professional liability (improper adjustments, poor advice).
  • More comprehensive packages also include sexual harassment/abuse insurance.
  • The most complete packages include all of the above plus data protection/e-commerce and/or cyber insurance.

Tips and suggestions:

  • Even if you work at a studio or facility that has insurance, it’s smart to get your own anyway.
  • Many festivals, events, and third-party venues will insist you’re privately insured to use their facilities, so get it done now and be prepared for the future.
  • Yoga Trapeze teachers should refrain from using the words ‘aerial,’ ‘acrobatics,’ and ‘swing’ when talking to providers. Refer to the practice as ‘suspension yoga’ and make sure you emphasize that the rig hangs a maximum of 120 cm off the ground.

    NOTE: Yoga Trapeze classes are super low risk and easy to insure. Aerial yoga/aerial arts classes, on the other hand, are high risk and very expensive and complicated to insure.

Where to get insurance:

  • Yoga Alliance: All three Yoga Alliances (USA, UK, and Australia) act as agents to sell insurance. This is part of their business model, but they do a good job and their rates are very competitive. Also, you know that you’re getting true ‘yoga insurance,’ which is important.

  • Local banks: Students always ask, “Where does YOGABODY get insured?” We are insured through our local bank. This might be an option for you, but often it’s faster and cheaper to use some of the other options listed here.

  • Alternative Balance: This is a great option if you are doing yoga plus other holistic health practices (such as massage, oils, etc). The professional group is able to roll many modalities into one plan.

  • Yoga Journal: Similar to the Yoga Alliances, Yoga Journal makes money by brokering insurance, as well. They also do a good job and their rates are very reasonable.

  • Exali: If you are in Europe, this is for you. They personalize your insurance to meet your specific needs. All of their agents speak English, and you will have your own e-portal to manage your insurance.

Zoom classes coverage?
Yoga Alliance
Insurance provider: Alliant
Yes, their policy covers Zoom classes. However, one of these items must be collected by the instructor or the 3rd party they provide services for: a waiver or a fee.
YA Professionals
Yes, you are covered to teach online as long as you treat classes like you are teaching in the studio.
YA International
Answer not yet available.
Yoga Journal
Yes, online/virtual is covered.
Alternative Balance
They cover you to work over Zoom internationally.
beYogi
Yes, the policy coves online instruction, as well as pre-recorded videos. The caveat is that the both the instructor as well as the student/client must be residing within the 50 United States at the time services are rendered.
Yoga Trapeze classes coverage?
Yoga Alliance
Insurance provider: Alliant
They cover suspension or aerial yoga instruction. NOTE: Students must be able to reach the ground with their feet at all times, so hammocks must be no higher than waist height.
YA Professionals
This is not covered in their general policy, you would need to purchase extra cover. This usually has an additional cost of £49.00 and is organised directly through their insurance company.
YA International
Answer not available yet.
Yoga Journal
Not at this time. All aerial styles are not covered with their insurance.
Alternative Balance
They cover Yoga Trapeze teachers/classes as long as the practice is focused on fitness, flexibility, and therapy and is not for the purpose of performing arts, circus movements, aerial/flying trapeze, or gymnastics-focused training.
beYogi
No, Yoga Trapeze is not a covered modality. For a full list of the over 350 modalities that are covered, visit https://beyogi.com/yoga-insurance-plus/ and scroll to the bottom of the page.
International coverage?
Yoga Alliance
Insurance provider: Alliant
​Cover services worldwide. Claims must be reported in the US, its territories, or Canada
YA Professionals
Yes, this is recognized and covered internationally, except in the US and Canada, but you must be domiciled in the UK or Ireland.
YA International
Australian based insurance companies do not offer coverage for online or face-to-face yoga training courses delivered overseas.
Yoga Journal
Policy follows the instructor anywhere you teach in the continental USA and internationally for short business trips that do not exceed 30 days.(Insurance only covers US residents.)
Alternative Balance
Yes
beYogi
No, coverage is not international; while the policy is fully mobile and will cover you anywhere in the 50 United States it will not cover you beyond that.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Even if you’re insured, if there is a claim, your insurer will likely fight you on it and make you jump through hoops.
In almost all cases, no. You can get insured before you complete your training.
No. We are not affiliated with any insurance company or agency. There are no financial incentives behind our recommendations.