All You Need To Know About Teaching Yoga Part-Time After YTT
If you’re considering a yoga teacher training (YTT), there’s a good chance you’re not planning on immediately quitting your job and taking it on full-time. I’d say only about 15% of the 400 plus students I’ve trained over the years have become full-time yoga teachers, and most only a few years after certifying. So you’re probably wondering ‘Can I do this alongside my current life, and still make it meaningful and worthwhile?’
I’ve written this article as a comprehensive look at teaching yoga part-time after ytt: what are the positives, what’s harder than most people expect, the reality, and what success typically looks like in the first 3–12 months after you certify.
What is “teaching yoga part-time”?
Part-time can look very different depending on your goals, schedule, and energy.
Common versions include:
-
1–2 classes/week (usually evenings or weekends)
-
3–5 classes/week (a more committed ‘side gig’)
-
Private clients only (higher rates but more work sequencing relevant classes for each client)
- Substituting (sporadic and unpredictable, whenever a studio/gym needs you to fill in)
-
Corporate / workplace sessions (usually once a week where you work)
- Occasional workshops or retreats (harder without an established client base)
However something to take into consideration when you teach yoga part-time, is that the classes themselves don’t account for all the time you might have to dedicate. You may need to also consider time needed for class planning, communication/marketing, and travel (unless you’re doing it at your own home).
Who to teach after your YTT: 2 types of students
One thing I find fascinating is that there are 2 types of students when it comes to who you teach straight after your ytt.
If you’re like me, when I finished my first course over 17 years ago, I didn’t want to teach anyone I knew. For the first few months I was advertising on Facebook for private clients who wanted one-on-one classes at their homes. I had quit everything, dedicated myself full-time to teaching, wasn’t working with any studio, and had no space in my tiny apartment. My pitch was ‘first 6 people to reply to this post get 1 free private yoga class at their house’ and luckily all 6 became weekly clients for years on after (people love a freebie!) On reflection I think I felt a bit of imposter syndrome or embarrassment, in showing this ‘new me’ as a yoga teacher to people I already knew. In time I became so comfortable and confident in my identity as a committed and professional yoga teacher, that I could teach my old friends.
On the other hand I’ve had many students on my courses over the years express shock when I tell them this. They say that teaching someone they don’t know straight off the bat would be terrifying, and that they will definitely practice teaching only with friends and family to begin with. So there is no wrong or right when it comes to who you should teach after your yoga teacher training, as long as as in my opinion, you get on with teaching, even if it’s just your mum once a week.
Advice nugget: I recommend teaching complete/near beginners to start off straight after your yoga teacher training course. There is less judgement or preconceived ideas of what a yoga class should be like, and you are the professional and knowledgeable one in the room. However, there are students who prefer to start teaching students who aren’t beginners because perhaps they won’t have to explain or demonstrate as much. Again, each to their own..
Reality check: how quickly can you start teaching after YTT?
I encourage my students to start teaching immediately so they keep the momentum going after my 2 weeks live course, and so they don’t lose confidence. However, some need to settle back into normal life first, then see how teaching fits into their week comfortably and realistically.
A healthy expectation is:
-
Month 1–2: practice teaching people you know + substituting other teachers + building a small routine
-
Month 3–6: more consistent classes + first private clients
-
Month 6–12: stable schedule, clearer style, stronger word-of-mouth
If you want this to be sustainable, think “build,” not “launch.”
Teaching yoga part-time after yoga teacher training: what changes after
A good yoga teacher training course should give you the foundations, skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to teach the day after you leave the course. However it doesn’t magically erase nerves or make your first classes effortless. What changes after training is that you have:
- a good foundational knowledge of the history, philosophy and different elements of yoga, outside of what you usually see in a yoga class at a gym.
-
an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of bodies and how this relates to yoga poses (asanas).
-
being able to give modifications and variations for students with different abilities, strengths, limitations, weaknesses or imbalances.
-
how to structure and sequence different types of yoga classes (so you’re not improvising blindly)
-
language tools (cueing, themes, pacing, communication)
- how and when to bring elements other than yoga asanas into the class i.e. pranayama, mindfulness or meditation.
- how to market yourself and the general business of being a yoga teacher, even if just part-time.
-
the confidence to begin (even if it’s shaky at first)
Teaching yoga part-time after yoga teacher training works best when you treat it like learning an instrument: simple, regular practice beats occasional intensity.
Unlike many other courses I’ve heard of, my students have plenty of practice teaching a full 75 minutes yoga class, as well as how to teach a variety of pranayama methods and different meditation techniques. I find it crazy that students can certify as a 200hrs yoga teacher, leaving courses without ever having taught a full class. Most of these students will never have the confidence to go out into the world and teach a full yoga class if they haven’t been practicing doing so during their YTT, under the supervision of their teacher, and support from their fellow students.
The biggest pros of teaching yoga part-time after YTT
1) You keep financial stability while building skills
For most people, the smartest path is not “quit your job,” but “build slowly.” Teaching yoga part-time after yoga teacher training lets you develop skill and confidence while keeping stability. When you’re teaching yoga part-time after ytt, you get to learn the craft (and the business bits) without needing immediate income to cover rent. It’s extra pocket money, or a gentler stepping stone towards teaching full-time in the future.
2) Teaching deepens your practice fast
Teaching forces you to understand what you’re doing, not just feel it. Alignment, transitions, modifications, and breath become more precise when you guide other humans through them. Many people find their own practice becomes more consistent and more intelligent. You begin to see your students in yourself and vice versa, and often you end up learning more from them than they actually do from you!
3) You can explore different teaching styles without pressure
Part-time is the perfect testing ground. Especially if you’ve taken a mixed yoga styles yoga teacher training like mine, you can try:
- static hatha classes vs more dynamic flow vinyasa
- gentle yoga vs restorative yoga classes
- different class setups i.e. different mat layouts, with/without music etc
- mixed-level classes vs beginners
- more or less demonstrating and verbal cues
- more or less breath-work, mindfulness or meditation in classes
- just breath-work, mindfulness or meditation classes
This experimentation is a huge benefit of teaching yoga part-time after ytt because you’re allowed to evolve.
4) It expands your community and confidence
Teaching puts you into rooms with people you might never meet otherwise. It builds confidence that can spill into work, relationships, and communication, and can create a genuine sense of connection and belonging, for students and for you. Some of my best friends now were initially clients or students of mine.
5) It’s genuinely meaningful work
Even one class per week can matter. People come to yoga for grief, anxiety, pain, loneliness, burnout, stress, life transitions, and your steady presence can be surprisingly impactful. A single class can help someone sleep better, manage stress, feel less alone, move without pain fear, or simply breathe for the first time all day. Over the years I’ve had many clients think of me as a type of therapist for them
The honest cons (and what to do about them)
1) Time creep is real
A “60-minute class” can secretly be 2–3 hours when you include planning, travel, setup, messaging, and the mental energy of holding a room.
Make it sustainable:
- create a class plan for a group and stick with it for a couple of months, varying the warm-up each time, according to their tensions that day, building within an asana group from easier to harder poses, and varying the type of savasana you guide the through. I’ve always considered the first class with any group as a type of consultation, where I assess everyone’s limitations, weaknesses and imbalances, write notes straight after the class and then would create a class sequence for their needs.
-
rotate 2–4 reusable class templates for large classes with inconsistent attendance (eg. at gyms), keeping in mind modifications for those who can’t do certain poses.
-
build a “sequence bank” and refine it
-
plan in modules (warm-up / standing / peak / cool-down)
2) Confidence wobbles are normal
Almost everyone has a “Who am I to teach?”/imposter syndrome phase. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t teach, it means you’re learning. And just because you’re not a full-time yoga teacher, doesn’t make you any less genuine or passionate about wanting to bring the benefits of yoga to others, when you’re standing in front of them.
What helps:
-
start with beginners or mixed-level foundations
-
practice cueing out loud (even alone)
-
focus on clarity and safety, not performance
- Teach from the heart and remember that you’re the only person in the room who’s a certified yoga teacher, and you know a lot more than you’re probably giving yourself credit for!
3) Early income can be inconsistent
Studio classes, gym classes, and community classes vary widely. You may need time to build consistent attendance and opportunities.
A realistic approach:
-
start with one reliable weekly slot
-
add one “growth lever” later (privates, corporate, a short series, a workshop)
- teach from the heart and make the classes about what the students need, not what you want to teach. You care, attention and authenticity will translate into regular attendance, good reviews and word of mouth.
4) The “business” side of being a yoga teacher can feel awkward
Pricing, promoting, “selling yourself”… it can feel un-yogic.
Re-frame it: you’re not selling yoga — you’re inviting people into an experience that helps them, and sharing your passion for the benefits of yoga, with others.
What helps:
-
Simple messaging: who are you classes for for, what they can expect, and what they’ll feel after
-
Consistency over intensity (post once a week, not 7 times then disappear)
5) Your first “bad class” will happen
It might be too long, too complex, too quiet, too chaotic, or the playlist will die mid savasana.
What helps:
- Remembering that this is part of becoming a teacher. Nothing is perfect and you shouldn’t expect yourself to be either, and EVERY teacher has bad classes. Students are often more forgiving than we are with ourselves, and they understand that we all make mistakes or have off days too. If you haven’t put someone in hospital, then all you can expect of yourself is to learn from any mistakes.
-
Learn to debrief gently: What worked? What didn’t? What will I change or remember next time?
-
Keep teaching anyway!! It’s the equivalent to falling off a horse and getting back on.
Teaching yoga part-time after a ytt is a learning curve like everything else in life so give yourself a break, breathe, and enjoy the learning experience!
What studios and students/clients are looking for in a yoga teacher
When decision-makers choose new teachers, they’re rarely looking for the most ‘advanced’ practitioner who can do handstand variations
They’re looking for someone who is:
- certified and confident
- reliable and punctual
- clear and safe
- good with mixed levels
- calm under pressure
- consistent in class quality
- easy to communicate with
- looks clean, happy and healthy
Students come back when they feel:
- welcomed
- seen
- safe
- guided clearly
- calmer and better in their body after class
This is the heart of teaching yoga part-time after ytt: not performance or perfection, but service and skill.
A practical 10 step plan for teaching part-time after you certify
Here’s a roadmap that works in real life.
Step 1: Decide your minimum viable schedule
Example: “One class per week for 3 months.”
Make it small enough that you’ll actually do it.
Step 2: Choose a simple niche (for now)
Not a rigid identity, just a starting point.
Examples:
-
beginners & yoga foundation
- elderly or reduced mobility
-
stress/anxiety relief
-
dynamic flow
-
restorative/gentle yoga
- prenatal
- teenagers
Step 3: Build 3 repeatable class templates
Create three 60/75 mins classes you can rotate and refine. Practice changing the pace and flow of a class to suit different groups and energies, including the necessary modifications.
Step 4: Teach before you feel ready
Because readiness comes from teaching!
Step 5: Ask for feedback
Ask a couple of questions like:
-
“What felt most helpful today?”
-
“Was anything unclear?”
If you have the students’ details you can follow up with a text or email asking them how they found the class, if there was anything that didn’t resonate with them, or that they would like you to include in the next class. After savasana I ask if everyone feels well and tell then that it’s normal to feel like you’ve been working your muscles the following day or two, but if they feel any discomfort after a couple of days to let me know, so that I could adjust the sequence for the following class.
Step 6: Track your best bits
Keep a notes app of cues, sequences, music playlists etc that land well. This accelerates growth fast. At the same time learn from cues and demonstrations that didn’t come across as clear and perhaps confused students a bit. You’ll quickly learn from these, and it’s where being able to see all your students properly, and looking at them to see if they’ve fully understood you, is very important.
Step 7: Add one growth lever
Choose one:
-
private clients
-
corporate classes
-
a 4-week beginners series
-
workshops with a local partner space
Step 8: Protect your energy
If you burn out, you stop teaching. Sustainable is much better than intense, so be realistic and kind about your capacity, energy, mental and physical health. I ran myself into the ground at one point because I didn’t like teaching after a meal. I was very busy teaching about 5/6 classes a day and barely eating until the evening. I got sick and had to step back and plan my eating and rest, so that I could be a better teacher for myself and for my students.
This is the difference between “I tried it for a month” and a long-term, fulfilling path of teaching yoga part-time after ytt.
Step 9: Set up a site/social media pages
Even if you’re just doing 1 class a week at a studio or gym, at the very least you should set up social media pages using either your own name or a yoga business name. In fact even if you’re not planning to teach at all yet, set them up, because the longer they’ve been running, the more credibility you’ll have in the future. People will need to have a way to find you or get in contact with you, and sadly nowadays the reality is that if you you’re not on social media then you don’t really exist! If you’re planning on making teaching a regular part of your life and perhaps more prominent in the future then consider having a simple 1 page website. I recommend having some fun coming up with your business name and logo and making sure that the social media handles and website domain are available. Having this makes your identity as a yoga teacher more ‘real’, helps you to commit more, and helps you feel more legitimate.
Step 10: Ask for reviews
If you don’t have a business address then you can’t set up google business page and get reviews there, however you can get then on Facebook, which a lot of people still use. Nowadays nobody buys anything, or goes to a restaurant for example, without either reading reviews or hearing about it by word of mouth. So consider how important both of these are as you go forward. Having testimonials on your website (if they’re not official reviews showing up on a Facebook or Google widget) aren’t really worth it as everyone knows that you have control over what appears on your site and the testimonials can be completely faked. But you can consider a ‘tell a friend’ promotion where you reward people for sharing about you, and using the most effective marketing strategy still working today, word of mouth.
FAQs people have before doing YTT
“How much can I charge as a part-time yoga teacher after my ytt?”
There is no simple answer to this as it completely depends on where you live. Even within a country prices can vary immensely. Sometimes you can charge more in the cities where people tend to have more money, however this is not the case if there is a lot of competition and the market it more saturated than in more rural areas. You will have to do some research into what other teachers are charging, and I usually advise to start off with prices slightly lower than the market to get you started.
It also depends on the psychology of pricing where you live. Many people are attracted to lower prices, however some demographics think that the more expensive you are the better you are, therefore are turned off by lower prices..
“Do I need to be ‘advanced’ at yoga to teach?”
No. You need solid foundations, good training, and the willingness to keep learning.
“What kind of classes can I give after my YTT certification?”
This depends on what style of yoga your ytt covered and what you are confident in safely and correctly teaching. If you take a ytt in Ashtanga yoga for instance, that’s all you will have been taught to teach. If the course was broader, or covers a couple of different styles, you will probably find it easier to sequence a variety of classes for different paces and people.
“Will YTT teach me how to confidently sequence yoga classes?”
A good yoga teacher training should. But confidence also comes from repetition and feedback during and after training. During the training the teacher should encourage you to learn from the other students in the group, and create an environment where all students are sharing their sequences and class plans with each other.
“Can I teach if I’m not super flexible?”
Yes! Many excellent teachers aren’t and that’s fine because it a realistic portrayal of real bodies. Clarity and presence matter more than shapes, and many students will prefer being able to relate to a teacher that is more like them, than one whose body looks and moves completely differently from theirs.
“What if I’m introverted?”
Introverts often become brilliant teachers because they listen well and create calm, spacious rooms. Stay authentic to who you are and don’t try to be more like anyone else. Students need someone who teaches from the heart and makes them feel safe and seen, and you don’t need to be loud to do that.
“What if I only want to teach occasionally?”
Absolutely because teaching yoga part-time after ytt can be a meaningful one class a week path. If you keep it too sporadic straight after you ytt however, you might fall out of the groove of teaching, which might discourage you later. If you’re going to go periods without teaching then consider teaching yourself by talking through the cues of the poses you’re doing sometimes, to keep up the practice of teaching.
Is teaching yoga part-time the right fit for me?
Teaching yoga part-time after ytt is a great fit if you want:
-
a new skill and a meaningful side path
-
personal growth + confidence
-
a community and creative outlet
-
a realistic way to begin teaching without financial pressure
-
the option to expand later (or keep it small forever)
It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely doable when you approach it with structure, patience, and repetition. If you want a meaningful, realistic pathway into teaching, teaching yoga part-time after yoga teacher training is one of the best ways to begin. It gives you the space to grow skill, confidence, and community without putting your life under financial or emotional strain.
Build slowly, teach consistently, and refine what works. And remember: the “real” version of teaching yoga part-time after yoga teacher training is not about instant mastery, it’s about steady development and genuine service.
Hmmmm this all sounds quite interesting….
If reading this made you excited about the idea of teaching yoga part-time and interested in learning with me, check out my Yoga Alliance 200 hrs Yoga Teacher Training Course. The course will give you everything you need to start teaching with confidence and professionalism, including practical sequencing, anatomy, physiology, yoga history and philosophy, and the ability to confidently tailor and sequence a variety of classes for different types of students.
It’s held in a beautifully renovated 16th century riverside chateau property in France, and the training blends Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative yoga, with a strong emphasis on mindfulness, pranayama, and meditation, and the real-life skills that matter when you begin teaching yoga part-time after ytt.
If you’d like details (dates, location, syllabus, pricing, and whether it’s a good fit), click on the course page under the ‘Yoga’ tab for all the course information, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Namaste
