Do Yoga Teachers Need Liability Insurance?

What Risks Do Yoga Teachers or Instructors Face?

A third-party bodily injury claim or a lawsuit is the most significant risk to your career and finances as a yoga teacher.

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Some of the most common yoga-related injuries include rotator cuff tendonitis and tears, spinal disc injuries in the low back and neck, cartilage tears in the knee, hamstring strain and tears, and wrist injuries.

These tend to occur to people who push themselves too hard while attempting to attain a specific pose and don’t know their physical limitations. As a yoga practitioner and class leader, you can be held liable for any injuries your clients suffer during or after one of your lessons.

Moreover, if you lead a class in a studio that you rent or use as an independent contractor, the studio owner may require you to have a general liability policy of your own, even if the owner is insured. 

Likewise, in the summertime, many yoga instructors host their classes outdoors, either in public parks or on private property, like a condominium rooftop. If you do or intend to, that’s all the more reason to carry liability insurance, as most municipalities or condo management boards require you to buy a permit to host a yoga class on their properties. Before issuing a permit, they’ll want to see your certificate of insurance. 

What Type of Insurance Do Yoga Teachers Need?

While it’s worthwhile to have all of your clients sign a customer liability waiver before participating in one of your yoga classes, that alone may not vindicate you if you’re sued. A comprehensive yoga instructor insurance policy typically includes the following coverages:

• Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance

  CGL supports you if facing a third-party bodily injury or property damage claim from one of your students, whether the injury or damage occurs on your property or elsewhere. CGL usually includes product liability insurance to protect you from allegations a product you sell, distribute, or manufacture caused a client to suffer an injury or damage to their property.

• Professional liability insurance

  Also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, professional liability coverage helps you deal with allegations or lawsuits of misconduct, negligence, errors, or failure to deliver a service as promised.

• Commercial property insurance

  If you own, rent, or lease a studio to conduct your classes, you should protect the structure and your contents, including your electronics and furniture, from theft, vandalism, fire, floods, or damage because of a natural disaster or extreme weather.

• Cyber liability insurance

  Whether you host online virtual classes, you have a website promoting your business. You use it and email to let your clients reserve class times and purchase your services or products. The onus is on you to protect your clients’ financial and confidential information. Cybercrime is prevalent, and no small business or independent yoga practitioner is immune to an attack. If you suffer a cyber-attack or a data breach, cyber liability insurance is designed to help you deal with the recovery costs and reputational fallout.

Find Your Zen: Get Yoga Instructor Insurance From Zensurance

You don’t need to chant ‘Om’ to get the peace of mind you need to protect your career as a yoga practitioner. All you need to do is fill out an online application to get a free quote for yoga instructor insurance from Zensurance.

We’ll shop our partner network of over 50 insurance providers to get the coverage you need at a price that will put a smile on your face and calm your mind.