State of Yoga 2025
The stellar growth of yoga in Australia throughout the 2000s and 2010s peaked with the onset of the pandemic. Covid and the years following shook the industry as yoga is predominantly an indoor group activity, and many studios closed during this period. A large-scale public embrace of online meeting and video streaming technology was something of a silver lining, with some heartwarming stories of people in rural areas or with certain health conditions suddenly having access to yoga.
Yoga organisations around the world agree that the pandemic burst a bubble that had formed, fueled by rapid growth in Teacher Training Courses and market saturation of both classes and teachers. Furthermore, Covid accelerated the departure of teachers nearing retirement, as well as those who were just entering the profession (many perhaps oversold on the realistic prospects of forming a new career in yoga).
Since Spring 2023, participation has steadily increased and many teachers who had stepped away have returned. Experienced teachers largely remained in the profession during the pandemic, and many have also rejoined us.
The recent decision to allow reinstatement of yoga in private health insurance is expected to have a major positive impact. This development offers a welcome counterbalance to the 2024 decision to exclude yoga from the NDIS supported services list. We are in the midst of discussions and there is more to come…
Benefits of Professional Registration
The need to be adequately registered with the national peak body has never been more clear. In the past, teachers needed to be registered to be eligible for private health rebates, and we anticipate a similar situation moving forward.
Yoga Australia has carefully developed systems for teacher registration, long-term upskilling, and annual CPD. By uniting the profession and applying a consistent process across all variants and lineages of Yoga and Yoga Therapy, we ensure great outcomes for participants.
Yoga teachers typically possess a foundational certificate consisting of 200 or 350 hours of training, and this is the minimum required for registration as a Provisional or Level 1 member. In the ensuing years, teachers progress through additional training, usually with courses that comply with the competencies listed in our curriculum. Crucially, progression to the highest Levels 2 and 3 is predicated on several years of substantiated teaching experience in addition to further education.
Registration with Yoga Australia continues to be one of the most valuable stamps of approval a teacher can possess, worldwide.
Become a Registered Teacher
Yoga Australia is the peak body for yoga teachers and yoga therapists in Australia, bringing together all styles and lineages by defining the national curriculum and professional standards, along with providing continuing education, technical support, advocacy, insurance, and public recognition.
We are an Australian not-for-profit with dedicated staff and volunteers across the country.
Teaching Internationally
Obtaining permission (and insurance) to teach overseas is a simple process, especially when registered with Yoga Australia.
Our recommended insurance provider, GSA Insurance, will cover overseas retreats – just be sure to contact them to confirm details.
Yoga teachers usually do not need to be registered with the peak body in their respective countries, but there is a widespread belief that they do. In light of this, we are in the midst of developing a truly international accreditation program.
We cannot reveal any more at the stage, but be sure to leave your input on the survey. This way you can have your say on the program and be notified when it is launched.
Yoga Australia already has some of the highest standards in the world – and our upcoming program will ensure that no-one is left wondering.
All For New Teachers
The journey to becoming a great teacher is one of patience and perseverance. For teachers with recent qualifications and modest experience, it is important to be patient. The honest commitment that comes along with Yoga Australia registration puts new teachers in the best position to gain credibility in a market stacked with very experienced teachers. Undertaking mentoring with a senior teacher is another valuable strategy.
The senior members and studio owners we have spoken to across the country this year offer the following advice to new teachers. The profession can seem saturated or difficult to penetrate, and it’s true that there’s no substitute for experience. But rather than rushing toward stardom or riches, embrace the process: learn from mentors who’ve walked the path before you. Teach small classes and grow through the challenges of building your craft. This is where the real magic happens, shaping you into the teacher you’re meant to become. Enjoy the journey, stay humble, and let your passion guide you forward.
State Meet-ups
Share, Connect, Expand your inner circle! Free opportunities to come together with other teachers and support in ways that only a fellow yoga teacher understands!
You can even help us organise one near you! It’s a great way to be seen in the industry and our staff can help come up with suggestions along with spreading the word throughout our networks too!
Resources for Yoga Businesses
As the collective sphere of yoga lifts around Australia, yoga teachers must pay attention and take appropriate action to be noticed and available. Taken broadly, marketing is a healthy pursuit and need not be pushed away. Developing and maintaining a positive and secure self-image benefits you, your students, and your future students! Know your value and present yourself well.
Introductory Offers
Intro passes have been de rigueur for yoga studios for a long time and they continue to be an effective way to attract new students. These help break down barriers for those new to yoga and open opportunities for connection. There are variations on this concept, such as offering a one-on-one consultation to new students where needs and goals can be discussed.
The elephant in the room, at least in capital cities, is the popularity of class booking platforms that promote bargain memberships giving people access to multiple studios in the area.
Business owners have had access to business listing platforms online for decades now – even before the internet with the yellow and white pages. Sales and marketing services offer to attract new clients and put your name in front of potential customers. Remember coupon books? The blending of apps and social media and the business listing concept will keep rolling along while ever there is consumer desire to go shopping and achieve massive savings. The internet provides a steady stream of new hybrids of data aggregation, we would caution around participating in something just because it seems like everyone is.
We asked members if they would be inclined to participate in fitness aggregator fads:
To be honest I’d rather help other studio owners get away from services that cannibalise our profession.
Mate I can give away free yoga easily enough if I want, I don’t need someone else to do that for me!
We do want to emphasise that, as noted above, marketing is an activity to be embraced, and some strategies always seem to work, word-of-mouth for example. Looking philosophically, we must admit that yoga is a practice of sculpting our mind and thoughts, and this includes being clear about who we are and how we enjoy our participation in society, and in this wonderful profession. And as the cliché goes, if you don’t make a positive stand for yourself, you risk accumulating a self-image based on casual impressions.
Tools We Do Recommend
Aside from the CPD Short Courses mentioned above and on our website, we would draw your attention to our partners at Punchpass. Punchpass is an effective and affordable tool for managing class timetables and taking bookings for classes and memberships. Punchpass is an excellent company, based in Canada with staff around the world, including right here in Australia. They recently published one of the most helpful articles we’ve seen on marketing for yoga businesses.
These days it’s easy to get caught up worrying about optimising your SEO, focusing on social media engagement or having a super fancy website – but we think it’s still well worth considering some classic marketing methods. Here are a few old school ideas that can still be incredibly effective alongside the latest and greatest in marketing techniques.
We have listed the key points below and please check out the full article over here:
- Use bold, clear street signage highlighting your main service.
- Create flyers with QR codes linking to schedules, promotions, or sign-up pages.
- Display a welcoming sign at your studio entrance with key info and a QR code.
- Participate in local Facebook groups and forums to engage potential clients.
- Keep your Google Business listing updated with accurate details and photos.
- Request reviews from satisfied clients to build credibility.
- Regularly check your website for correct address, FAQs, and contact information.
Thanks to Punchpass for their help with this report – and for providing excellent software at a reasonable price!
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