Do Yoga Teachers Need Liability Insurance?
Reading Time: 5 minutes 30 seconds
DATE: 2023-08-29
Most people have several types of insurance coverage. You might have insurance on your car, home, and more. Yet, there’s another type of insurance policy you may be considering as a yoga instructor. It is liability insurance. Let’s talk about what this insurance is and whether you should purchase it.
What Liability Insurance Is
Liability generally means that you’re responsible for something. If someone feels that you’re responsible for causing them harm, liability insurance can help offset your costs.
They might have sustained an injury in your yoga class. If they think you’re to blame, they may pursue you legally. They can go after medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Notice that liability insurance only requires a claim by a third party. Even if you did nothing wrong, it can be costly to defend yourself in court. Liability insurance can help cover your legal fees. And if you are found responsible, it can also help cover the court-ordered judgment.
Do Yoga Teachers Need Liability Insurance?
Certainly, it’s easy to see the value of liability insurance. But you may be wondering if you need this coverage as a yoga teacher—especially if you have a tight budget. Here’s your answer: you might.
If you plan to work at a yoga studio or school, liability insurance may be required. Your employer might mandate it as a condition of working there. If you have a yoga business, local laws will dictate the type of coverage you need.
For example, your state may not require you to have liability insurance to teach yoga. Yet, if you own a physical studio, you might need property insurance. That’s why it’s important to research the laws in your local area. It’s also important to consider your comfort with risk.
Risks Associated with Being a Yoga Instructor
What are the risks that a typical yoga teacher will face? One of the main ones is injury.
A yoga practice is physical. With any physical practice, injury is a risk. One 13-year study looked at yoga injuries resulting in emergency room visits (1). It noted that these injuries are on the rise. It also found that:
46.6% of the injuries were to the trunk area
45% consisted of sprains or strains
injury risk was highest for those aged 65 and up
It doesn’t matter if you teach yoga one-on-one or lead a yoga class. One of your students may suffer an injury in the process. It’s also possible that they’ll blame you for the injury and take you to court.
Consequences of No Liability Coverage
If you don’t have liability coverage, you carry 100% of the financial burden if someone files a claim against you. It’s like having a medical emergency with no health insurance. Costs can add up quickly.
At a minimum, you’ll pay legal fees to hire an attorney. That’s on top of any court fees that are assessed. If you’re found liable, you’re responsible for paying whatever amount of money the court says. And this amount can be rather high.
For example, Florida medical malpractice law addresses personal injury suits involving negligence (2). The award for this type of claim can be as high as $500,000.
What happens if you don’t have yoga instructor insurance and are ordered to pay this amount? It’s up to you to figure out where the money will come from. This might require selling your house, emptying your retirement accounts, and more.
Now consider the same scenario with liability insurance. In this case, the insurance company pays the money. This leaves you in quite a different situation financially.
Yoga Liability Insurance Options
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) shares common types of liability insurance (3). They include:
General liability insurance. Think of general liability insurance as a catch-all. While it doesn’t cover every possible scenario, it does offer broad coverage. A general liability policy helps protect yoga instructors in various situations. Imagine that a student sustains an injury, for example. General liability insurance can pay their medical bills. It also protects against damaged property, a claim of libel or slander, and more. If you’re older, you may have heard of public liability insurance. That term has since been replaced with general liability.
Product liability insurance. This liability insurance protects companies that make and sell products. If you sell any items through your yoga business—such as mats, bolsters, or blankets—you may want to consider this insurance policy.
Professional liability insurance. The SBA recommends that professional services purchase this coverage. Professional liability insurance provides coverage for malpractice, errors, or negligence. Remember that you don’t have to be guilty of these offenses for someone to file a lawsuit against you. If they do, professional liability insurance can help pay for your defense.
Commercial property insurance. If you own a yoga studio or other fitness business, you may want to purchase commercial insurance. This liability insurance protects your physical property. One of the protections it offers is from weather damage such as hail and wind. It also protects against losses due to vandalism, smoke, and fire.
Home-based business insurance. Some yoga instructors teach inside their homes. An online yoga instructor might also have a home-based business. If a student has an injury at your house, this insurance coverage helps protect you financially. It can be purchased as a rider on your homeowner’s insurance.
Business owner’s policy. Buying several liability insurance policies can be a nightmare. It can also be expensive. One solution is a business owner’s policy or BOP. A BOP bundles all your liability policies together. This creates a simpler purchase process. It also often comes with discounts.
To be clear, this isn’t an all-inclusive list of insurance options. Depending on your yoga business, you may need more or different liability coverage.
If you offer online yoga instruction, cyber liability insurance is a consideration. Cyber insurance provides liability coverage if your website is breached. This insurance may also be beneficial if you store sensitive yoga student information online. This includes their credit card and private health information.
Determining the Right Insurance Coverage for You
Does the idea of purchasing liability insurance feel overwhelming? It can be. You want enough coverage to protect yourself, but you also don’t want to overdo it. How do you know the best coverage for you?
If you have a trusted insurance provider, talk to them. Ask what type of liability coverage they recommend for yoga instructors. They can tell you what you need based on your situation.
It can also be helpful to reach out to other yoga teachers. See what liability policies they’ve purchased and why. Take their advice into consideration. They may also be able to direct you to a good insurance company.
Questions to Ask When Selecting an Insurance Company
Once you’ve decided on the type of coverage you want, the next step is to choose an insurance company. Check with your current insurance provider to see if they offer liability insurance. If they do, you may get a cheaper rate by bundling your policies.
If not, you may need to reach out to other insurance companies. Here are a few questions to ask:
What does their yoga teacher insurance cover?
Does the insurance cover up to a certain monetary amount?
What is NOT covered by their insurance policy?
What is the process if someone files a claim against you?
What is the process if you have to file a claim?
How long does it take to pay a property damage claim?
Their answers to these questions can help you make a more informed decision. It also gives insight into the amount of coverage their policies provide.
More Ways to Protect Yourself as a Yoga Teacher
Taking yoga teacher training may also offer increased protection. Obtaining your yoga teacher certification indicates that you have a basic level of skill as an instructor. This could help bolster your case if ever drawn into court. It gives you higher credibility, which may become important.
Do you still need to take an instructor course? The ISSA Yoga & Wellness Academy’s Yoga 200 course is Yoga Alliance Approved. You learn how to teach this practice safely. This can help reduce your liability risks. It also goes a long way in raising your confidence as an instructor.
References
Swain, T. A., & McGwin, G. (2016). Yoga-related injuries in the United States from 2001 to 2014. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 4(11), 232596711667170. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967116671703
The 2022 Florida Statutes (including 2022 Special Session A and 2023 Special Session B). Online sunshine. (n.d.). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799%2F0766%2FSections%2F0766.118.html
Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration. (2023, May 19). https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-business-insurance