Finding the right balance for just how much to charge for yoga classes hinges primarily on two factors:
- Your personal and business experience
- Input from your local yoga community
Charging too little risks devaluing your services, expertise, and time. Charging too much might lead to low (or no) attendance. Above all, though, your yoga class prices must be fair, not just for your clients but also for you.
In this blog, we’ll help you establish a firm foundation for determining your yoga class costs (to you) and setting your yoga class prices (for your students).
Table of Contents:
- How Much Do Yoga Classes Cost?
- Average Cost of Different Types of Yoga Classes
- Common Yoga Class Pricing Models
- Tips for Creating Your Pricing Structure
Consider the Factors: How Much Do Yoga Classes Cost?
Ask ten yoga instructors across the country how much the average yoga class costs, and there’s a good chance you’ll get ten different answers.
While some community-based classes may charge as low as $5-10 on a sliding pay scale per drop-in, luxury studios may charge more than $25 per class. Longer classes, of course, almost always cost more than shorter ones. And the range of private yoga class costs can be just as wide.
Whether you’re a new teacher or have decades of experience under your belt, use the following list of questions to review your rates.
- Your experience level: Do your costs reflect your experience level as a practitioner and teacher? Do you have special expertise and certifications?
- Your location: Are your costs comparable or competitive for the density of your physical location? What’s the true value of your physical studio/space to your clients?
- Class length: Does your pricing scale match the amount of time and effort for each class length? Will students feel they are getting “quality” time for their money?
- Demand for yoga: How much are people willing to pay for yoga in your area? Are they desperate for a class, or are they looking for a deal?
- Local competition: Are you a trailblazer or a drop in the bucket? What sets you apart from the crowd (price may be one answer, but it shouldn’t be the only one)?
- Type of class: Are your class offerings specialized or different enough to charge a higher yoga class price?
Unsure Where to Start with Pricing for Your Offerings?
Watch a replay of our webinar with yoga teacher Mado Hesselink, where she lays it all out for you.
Average Cost of Different Types of Yoga Classes
Now that you know some of the basic factors that impact yoga class prices, let’s look at the most common pricing approaches for the more common yoga class types.
Group Yoga Class Cost
Group yoga classes are a popular way to learn and practice yoga with an instructor guiding a group in the same physical space. This allows for a lower yoga class price per student and strengthens a sense of community around your practice.
Currently, the cost for an average single-session, 60-minute group class ranges from $10 to $20.
Important factors in group class pricing include:
- Experience level and certifications
- Studio/space rental overhead costs
- Class style and equipment
- Class size
- Local competitor rates
Private Yoga Class Cost
Private yoga classes offer personalized, one-on-one instruction tailored to students’ abilities, goals, and needs. These can happen in-studio, in a client’s home, or even online.
This is an excellent way to build close relationships with individual clients and provide focused, hands-on attention to their practice. Competitor pricing is less relevant here because individual rates vary based on the individuals involved.
The average private yoga class costs $50 to $100 per 60-minute session.
Key pricing factors include:
- Expertise level and certification
- Hands-on adjustments
- Personalized lesson planning
- Customer experience
Particular focus areas like prenatal or restorative yoga often carry higher private session rates.
Online Yoga Class Cost
On-demand yoga classes have surged in popularity over recent years. Meeting students where they are, wherever they are, pre-recorded videos/video on demand (VoD) or live-streamed sessions provide teachers and students alike tremendous convenience and freedom – without the limits of operating hours and overhead costs of a physical studio.
The average price range is $10 to $20 per single class, with discounts for multi-class packages.
Similar to in-person classes, more experienced teachers with specialty training credentials can charge more for one-on-one sessions, especially if they offer customized feedback and guidance to students during and after classes.
Considerations when pricing online classes:
- Your technical ability with online training and content
- Ability to offer personalized attention in a virtual class (like in-person)
- Professional presentation and tailored course content
- Online tools that build relationships and community
Learn more about OfferingTree’s wellness business management software and how simple it is to offer live-streamed yoga classes to your community.
Common Yoga Class Pricing Models
Whether you provide in-person group yoga classes, one-on-one instruction, and/or a combination of both online, choosing an appropriate pricing model (or models) is critically important.
The good news is that you can offer as many models as you want. Whatever works best for you. Let’s explore the standard yoga class pricing models.
Sliding Scale
A sliding scale, or pay-what-you-can, pricing model is a variable pricing structure where a yoga class cost is based on each student’s ability to pay.
As the name suggests, the cost of the class is not fixed. You set a price range, and students can select what they can afford.
This model makes your classes accessible to a wide range of income levels, fostering new connections and growth in your community. However, you still need to make sure your costs are covered, so be careful with sliding scale pricing.
This client-centered approach to pricing has grown in popularity since COVID-19. However, this model does have its drawbacks, as it tends to be much less consistent than fixed pricing models.
Benefits of Sliding Scale Pricing:
- Opens your classes to a broader audience
- Higher chances of new/first-time students
- Communicates a compassionate approach
Drop-In
An attractive option for newcomers, a drop-in pricing model allows students to pay for and attend single yoga classes without committing to an ongoing package or membership. Advanced registration isn’t required for drop-ins, either.
This model lets students experience your teaching style before buying a multi-class pass or membership. And it opens the door for the yoga-curious who want a low-commitment option.
Take care when using this model, though. Students may judge your studio or teaching style based on the one class experience, and advanced registration can make your class sizes– and revenue – unpredictable.
However, drop-in prices widely tend to be higher to offset this risk. And remember, you have the power to determine how many drop-in spots are available per class.
Benefits of Drop-In Pricing:
- Brings in revenue from students who can’t commit to regular attendance
- Low commitment offers flexibility for students’ schedules
- Increases per-client revenue for popular/in-demand classes
Multi-Class Pass
This is the payment option of choice for your budding regulars. Priced lower than drop-in rates while offering good value and flexibility of attendance, the multi-class pass is ideal for those unable to commit to a monthly membership but come to class relatively often.
Students buy passes for a fixed number of classes (typically in 5 or 10) at a discounted rate over a drop-in price. This model usually presents tiered level discounts for the more classes purchased.
From a revenue perspective, you want your clients to work through their passes reasonably quickly. To ensure multi-class passes help your bottom line rather than hurt it, include an expiration date (typically 1-3 months from purchase). Without one, it can be hard to get students on the mat.
Benefits of Multi-Class Pricing:
- Incentivizes students to attend at least the quantity of classes purchased
- Provides some revenue upfront and predictable steady client return
- Discounted rates foster regular attendance habits
Memberships
Membership is by far the most dependable financial income model for your business. If a client wants to attend more than one class per week and is a loyal and dedicated customer, a membership can be a high-value way to keep them coming in at a lower rate than all other options.
Memberships usually work best when you have multiple classes running per week. Students need a variety of classes and times to choose from. Typically students who want to attend 3+ classes a week will benefit from a membership.
You can also offer additional bonuses to your members, such as access to online videos on your member site, discounts on other services or products, and other sweeteners to reward their loyalty.
To guide price strategy, determine the number of monthly memberships you need to meet your overhead costs and how many you need to meet profitability needs.
For example, if most regulars attend two classes per week, you could price a monthly membership at 8 classes per month. That encourages the client to come more often to class, establish a good habit, reap the benefits of that regular practice, and get great value for their membership.
Benefits of Membership Pricing:
- Predictable ongoing revenue stream
- Caters to regular, committed yoga practitioners
- Tiered options allow customization for member needs
Learn more about OfferingTree’s wellness business management software and its robust membership options.
Tips for Creating Your Pricing Structure
You now have the information needed to review your pricing structure. Here are some additional tips to factor into the equation.
Client Experience
- Post prices clearly in a logical place on your website. Don’t make them dig! It’s crucial that all your pricing is where your customer expects it to be.
- Make your cancellation/refund policy easy to find, read, and understand on your website. A clear, visible policy will help avoid misunderstandings.
- Prepare your clients for changes in pricing. Price increases to stay in step with the market are part of doing business, but a shift without warning could cost you clients.
Behind-the-Scenes
- Review your pricing annually. Set a goal to review your pricing and conduct a little market research once a year. Better yet, set a reminder in your calendar.
- Contact students individually about price changes. A common mistake is sending a blanket email to all clients about changes in pricing. Instead, contact just those who will be affected.
- Take advantage of a payment processing service. Digital payment services like Stripe or Paypal make charging and tracking easier for you and make paying easier for your clients.
- Include waiver signing in the payment process. No one likes chasing waivers. Make it part of the payment process through your OfferingTree website.
Are You a New Yoga Teacher? Looking for Some Guidance to Start on the Right Foot?
Watch a replay of our webinar with Shannon Crow where she covers this exact topic and shares her secrets for success.
Find More Expert Yoga Business Advice in OfferingTree’s Blog
Creating your pricing structure requires your full attention and, like any new pose, may feel slightly uncomfortable at first.
When you get down to it, setting yoga class prices is about striking a fair balance for you and your clients.
When you’re ready, there are even more ways to simplify your pricing, registration, and payment processes for your practice, classes, and services. Explore OfferingTree’s blog for more expert advice.
