How to Become a Certified Yoga Coach (Success Steps)

Do you want to help people improve their health and well-being through yoga? 

Then, consider becoming a yoga coach. Today, you’ll learn how to become a yoga coach so that you can use your unique skills and gifts to create more freedom and impact for yourself.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

Biggest takeaways: 

• A yoga coach helps clients manage life and growth challenges (for example, by teaching yoga poses, meditation, and breathing techniques)
• Become a yoga coach by finding your niche and audience – what experience do you have? Who do you want to help? 
• Sell your services by creating a three-month package that you price at $1,500 
• Find your first client by tapping into your network, building relationships on social media, or pitching podcasts 

What is a yoga coach? 

So, what exactly is a yoga coach? 

A yoga coach is both a life coach and a yoga instructor.

They don’t just guide their clients through yoga poses – they use a holistic approach to help them through personal growth and life challenges.

But can yoga really help? 

Yes! 

Studies show that yoga offers several health benefits, including better body image, weight loss, lower blood pressure, and less stress.

As I said, a yoga coach isn’t a yoga instructor or teacher.

So what’s the difference?

A yoga instructor teaches the physical practice of yoga, focusing on improving physical health and flexibility.

A yoga teacher does the same but also helps students connect their practice with their breath and mind.

A yoga coach works to alleviate their clients’ struggles through yoga practice and lifestyle changes.

Instructor	Teacher	Coach
Focused on physical health and flexibility	Focused on holistic teaching, yoga philosophy, and history	Combines yoga practice and life coaching
Guides poses, ensures alignment, offers modifications	Teaches poses, guides a connection between breath and practice	Recommends yoga and lifestyle changes

Now that we’ve discussed what a yoga coach is, it’s time to learn what they do.

What does a yoga coach do? 

Because a yoga coach is both a life coach and a yoga instructor, they have a few different responsibilities.

They:

• Teach yoga, breathing, and meditation techniques
• Tailor classes to client needs
• Help clients set and achieve goals
• Offer support and motivation
• Take a holistic approach

Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

Teach yoga, breathing, and meditation techniques 

A yoga coach doesn’t just teach clients how to get into and hold yoga poses (asanas).

They also teach yoga breathing (pranayama) and meditation.

These techniques offer lots of benefits. For instance: 

• Yoga breathing can increase focus, improve circulation, and benefit the cardiovascular system. 
• Meditation helps improve self-awareness, lower anxiety, improve sleep, and even control pain. 

Together, they help students develop a deeper connection to themselves and improve their overall well-being.

Tailor personal classes to meet specific needs 

Another thing yoga coaches can do is tailor their classes.

Unlike yoga teachers and instructors, who teach up to 30 students at a time, a yoga coach works with clients one-on-one.

Because of that, they can tailor sessions to each student’s abilities, circumstances, and well-being. 

For example: If a client struggles with chronic pain, a yoga coach might incorporate poses for pain relief, like a supported backbend or reclining bound angle. 

They can also tailor classes to help clients achieve their specific goals…

Help you set and achieve goals  

Like any other coach, a yoga coach helps clients set goals and create actionable roadmaps to achieve them.

It all starts with a coaching intake to understand where your client is at that exact moment. 

You’ll want to ask questions applying to both life and yoga coaching, such as:

• What are your long-term goals?
• What would you like your life to look like in one year?
• What are three changes you’d like to work toward together?

With those things in mind, you can define achievable goals and develop a personalized plan. 

But to get your clients to achieve these goals, you’ll also need to motivate them.

Motivate and support

As a yoga coach, one of your key coaching skills is getting clients to believe they can achieve their goals. 

How do you do that?

By using real-life success stories.

But motivating your clients and being supportive isn’t just about constant positivity.

Sometimes, it involves being candid and offering hard truths, especially when they reach a roadblock or feel like giving up.

Learn more in this video:

Deliver a holistic approach    

Now, the most important part of being a yoga coach: 

Taking a holistic approach to each client. 

That means helping them live a more balanced life so they can enjoy long-term health benefits.

Put simply: A holistic approach considers everything from mental and physical health to spiritual and social well-being.

So, instead of just focusing on the physical effects of yoga, breathwork, and meditation, a yoga coach also helps with things like nutrition, sleep, and stress management.

Now you know exactly what yoga coaching involves. 

So are you ready to learn how to become a yoga coach? I’ll tell you next, so keep reading!

How do you become a successful yoga coach in 4 steps?

Even though it involves both life coaching and yoga experience, becoming a yoga coach isn’t too complicated. 

Here are four things you’ll need to do:

1. Find a niche
2. Get certified
3. Create a coaching package
4. Get paying clients

Let’s dive into these steps.

1. Find a niche

Yes, yoga coaching is a niche of its own.

But there are more than a dozen yoga practices out there, including Vinyasa, Bikram, and Kundalini.

Specializing in one or two styles will help you define your niche.

Plus, it’ll set you apart as an expert and attract the clients and audience you want to help. 

Some examples of niches for a yoga coach include:

• Yoga for mental health
• Yoga for stress reduction
• Yoga for chronic pain management

My advice?

Think about your niche as a place where your strengths and the needs of your future clients come together. 

Ask yourself: What experience do you already have? Which problem do you want to solve? Who can you help, and how?

Need help finding your niche? I’ll teach you to do it in ONE sentence in this video:

Next up: Certifications for yoga coaches.

Take this step: 

💡Write a list of at least 10 niches you could specialize in based on your experience and the type of client you want to help. Then, go through that list and narrow down to 1-2 ideas that you research. Get people in your audience on a call and ask them about their challenges and dreams (you can find people in social media groups or your network). Get an understanding for whether people are willing and able to invest in your coaching. That’s how you figure out your specific niche. 

2. Get certified

The thing is, you don’t need to get certified to practice as a yoga coach (but there are options, which we’ll talk about later). 

That’s because although many studios and institutions require training or teaching certifications, there’s no single yoga coaching accreditation body. 

Ultimately, having the right experience is the most important thing.

However, you can get certified as well.

Since yoga coaching combines yoga and life coaching, you could always get certified as a yoga teacher and life coach. 

For your yoga teaching certification, you could complete 200+ hours of yoga teacher training (YTT) or get a registered yoga teacher (RYT) certification at Yoga Alliance.

And for your life coach certification, check out any of these. 

Because the ICF (International Coaching Federation) is the closest thing there is to an official coaching organization, I recommend a program that’s been ICF-accredited. 

Now, it’s time to dive into pricing.

Take this step: 

💡You can get started coaching right away and offer your services at a lower rate while you build up a library of testimonials. Or you can research ICF-accredited programs (check our my suggestions below). 

3. Create a coaching package  

When it comes to charging for your work as a yoga coach, you have a few options:

Per session (clients pay for each session), per month (monthly retainer), and per package (specific offer).

As a new yoga coach, I recommend you charge per package. 

For a 3-month package, consider charging $1,500. As part of this, you can include two calls per month and email or Voxer coaching.

I’ll walk you through packages in more detail in this video:

And remember: You can always raise your prices and change your package later on – learn more in this article.

Take this step: 

💡Create a package by thinking through what your clients struggle with (you’ll get the most insights from talking to them on your market research calls). Break down your clients’ goal into subgoals every month. 

4. Get paying clients   

The last step in the process of becoming a yoga coach is the most exciting: Getting your first paying clients!

However, your success as a yoga coach doesn’t hinge on getting a dozen clients immediately. You only need one or two.

I’ll tell you why in this video:

When it comes to getting clients, I recommend looking in three places.

The first is your own network. 

Think about it – your friends, family, and coworkers already know and trust you.

Why wouldn’t they take advantage of your services as a yoga coach?

The second place to look is social media.

The internet is a big place. And billions of people check it every day.

So you’re sure to find communities relevant to your niche on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit.

For example, there are tons of yoga-related communities on Facebook, such as Yoga for Beginners and Yoga and Meditation.

But when you join these spaces, don’t immediately start selling your services! 

Instead, focus on joining the conversation and offering value whenever you can.

Finally, find websites and podcasts where you can be featured, like Yoga Journal and Let’s Talk Yoga. 

Contributing to publications like these is one of the easiest ways to reach the right audience and establish yourself as an expert.

My advice? Stick to just one strategy for now – you can always branch out after you’ve landed a few clients.

Hear more about finding clients in this video:

Remember what I said about getting certified as a yoga coach? Next, I’ll share some of the best yoga coaching certifications.

Quick recap: 

💡You can find clients in lots of places – but it all starts with building relationships. You can tap into your network, help people on social media platforms, or pitch podcasts or other websites. Other alternatives include local events and partnering up with other coaches or businesses. 

What are the best yoga coaching certifications?

If you want to become a certified yoga coach, check out these three certification programs:

Yoga2Life Coach Program

This program comprises five lessons, including Mentor Coaching Definition and Scope in the Context of the Yogi, Core Coaching Skills, and Co-creating and Sustaining Success with Clients. In addition to weekly phone calls, it includes 36 hours of self-study.

Duration: 12 weeks

Delivery: Teleclasses and self-study

Price: $1,499

ICF accredited: Yes

Yoga Alliance certified: No

Certified Yoga Life Coaching

This fully remote course will teach you to be a yoga coach and how to find and enroll clients. Activities include lectures, Q&A sessions, and guided yoga practice.

Duration: 25 hours

Delivery: Self-study

Price: $225

ICF accredited: No

Yoga Alliance certified: Yes

Yoga Life Coach Certification

Taught by a Yoga Alliance-certified teacher, this course is entirely self-paced. It includes modules like “Whole Self Model and its Relationship to Yoga,” as well as templates, worksheets, and questionnaires.

Duration: 15 hours

Delivery: Self-study

Price: $197

ICF accredited: No

Yoga Alliance certified: No

So, how do you choose the right yoga coach certification program for you?

There are a few questions to consider:

• Is it accredited, and does it have a good reputation? 
• How long does it take to complete?
• Does it teach what you want to learn?

Learn more about choosing a certification program in this guide. 

Next up: The benefits of working with a yoga coach.

What are the benefits of a yoga coach?

Yoga coaches aren’t just for people who want to become more flexible!

In fact, anyone who wants to improve their health, mindfulness, and overall well-being can benefit from working with a yoga coach. 

Here are the top benefits of working with one:

• Goal setting and motivation: Helps clients set clear goals while motivating and holding them accountable.
• One-on-one guidance: Tailors sessions to a client’s specific goals, needs, and abilities.
• Improved yoga techniques: Personalized instruction helps clients refine poses, correct alignment, and improve their overall practice.
• Enhanced well-being: Meditation and breath techniques help clients find better mental clarity and emotional balance.
• Greater accountability: Makes sure clients don’t give up by providing structured support and frequently monitoring progress.
• Holistic approach: Besides physical benefits, a yoga coach implements lifestyle changes that support long-term health.
• Lower stress levels: Meditation and breathing exercises have been found to reduce stress levels and improve relaxation.

Curious how much a certified yoga coach can make? Keep reading to find out!

How much does a certified yoga coach earn? 

The thing is, your earning potential as a yoga coach depends on you. 

So factors like your experience, certification, and location all play into it.

According to the ICF, coaches make an average of $52,800 per year.

But that’s the average! There’s no limit to what you can earn as a yoga coach – it all depends on your niche and number of clients.

I’ll tell you more about coaching salaries in this post.

Next steps 

There you have it! A complete guide to becoming a yoga coach.

Are you ready to trade your 9-5 for a business that’s fun and fulfilling, but aren’t sure where to start?

I get it.

That’s why I’m going to show you exactly how I did it – for FREE.

Get my step-by-step blueprint for building a highly successful six-figure coaching business.

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