Why You Should Raise Your Rates as a Yoga Teacher and How to Do it

Nobody decided to become a yoga teacher to get rich. Teaching yoga is a career that people transition into due to their love of the practice and their desire (or calling) to share it with others. However, just because you are doing what you love and helping others doesn't mean you cannot earn a decent living.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma around yoga instructors charging high prices for their offerings. As we know how beneficial yoga is, we might (unhappily) agree to lower our rates for someone we know "needs" yoga. However, a doctor, psychotherapist, or other healthcare provider doesn't bend their prices, so neither should we. 

Despite how much the world may need yoga, as instructors, we have invested thousands of dollars and immeasurable hours into learning our craft. So if you know you should be charging more but are fearful about raising your prices, read on. 

If your continuous dedication to becoming a better yoga teacher does not justify raising your prices, what does?

3 reasons you should consider raising your rates

The rate you charge reflects how you value yourself

Everyone knows you get what you pay for, so if you charge a lower price than other yoga teachers in your area, think about what message this could send out. Even if you have less experience or credibility than other teachers you know, remember that every yoga instructor brings something unique to their classes. 

Reflect on what makes your classes special and what unique knowledge and skills you possess. Base your worth on this, rather than comparing yourself to others. 

Yoga teachers who charge too little usually tell themselves that a lower rate will equal more students, but this is not true. Those genuinely interested in learning yoga will be happy to pay a fair price. On the contrary, someone looking to just "try" yoga by attending a couple of sessions will typically look for the lowest price available. 

If you value your teaching highly but struggle with aligning your rates with your value, you may want to look into changing your money mindset. We all have a ​​set of beliefs around money, which drive all of our financial decisions. For example, everyone has a figure for what they believe they are capable of earning, which will directly impact the prices you set and accept.

Your experience increases over time

If you've been teaching for several years now and are still charging the same rate, it's time to change that. When most newly-qualified yoga teachers start out, they know they lack experience; thus, they understandably offer to teach people at a lower rate.  

However, many teachers then get "stuck" with that rate. They acquired long-term students at a low rate and now feel it is not ethical to increase their prices. 

However, you should realize that the classes you are instructing now are much higher quality than those you taught when you first started out, so it doesn't make sense for your students to still pay the same price. When you see things from that perspective, you realize that your yogis have been getting an excellent deal lately!

You gain more knowledge through additional trainings

Lastly, as yoga instructors, we invest a lot in studying to become better teachers and guides. You didn't stop learning as soon as you completed your first 200-hour TTC. Instead, you likely attended numerous workshops, purchased multiple books, and completed additional training courses. 

All of these further education activities add up, and that's not including the money you've paid to attend other teachers' classes that have helped you grow, too. 

It's not just about the money you have invested but also the time and energy. So if your continuous dedication to becoming a better yoga teacher does not justify raising your prices, what does?

How to confidently and effectively raise your prices 

Making the decision to raise your prices is one thing, but doing it can feel scary. Yes, there is always a risk that you may lose a student or two by increasing your rates, but this should not hold you back. Here are a few tips for confidently and effectively raising your prices.

Give your students notice

Whenever I've raised my prices, I've always let my students know ahead of time. Think about it, no one likes to be suddenly charged a higher fee than usual. Giving your yogis notice shows respect and allows them time to process it. 

If you decide to raise the price of a group class where most people pay drop-in fees, let them know in the middle of the month that the class price will go up from the following month. Or, if you're raising your rates with a private student who buys a class pass or membership, give them a heads up when they still have a few sessions left rather than when they are renewing. 

Explain your reasoning 

While you are not required to explain why you are raising your prices, if you have long-term relationships with your yogis, they may feel that they deserve an explanation. 

I've found that letting your students know your reasoning typically has a very positive effect. For example, if you explain that you are still charging the same rates as five years ago yet have completed over 100 hours of additional training since then, no one will argue against that. 

Not all your students might be able to afford your new rate, but in most cases, you will find that they understand and agree that you should charge more, regardless. What's more, by writing out the reasons for increasing your rates, you'll find more self-assurance that you are worth your new rate.

Increase the variety of your offerings 

Suppose a student of yours tells you they cannot afford your new price. You may be tempted to waiver the increase for them to prevent losing them. However, think about how you could negotiate with them without losing your integrity. For example, you could keep the price the same but cut the session time from one hour to 45 minutes. 

Or if they are a new student who pays per session, why not offer them a 10 class pass instead. Yes, you will have to slightly reduce the rate, but you will gain long-term commitment from them in return. 

Final Thoughts

As yoga teachers sharing a beautiful spiritual practice, we are helping to make the world a better place. However, this doesn't mean we should earn just enough to get by. It's totally possible to make a decent income teaching yoga, and something we should all strive for.