We all start with a small audience—it takes time to grow and be discovered by new students, and that’s completely normal. When I first started teaching, I remember wondering how I could make the most of my current client base and still grow my income. The truth is, having a small audience can actually be a huge advantage. You get the chance to connect with your students on a deeper level and create experiences that really stand out in a crowded yoga market.
Thanks to my corporate business background, I was able to implement a few unique strategies that helped me boost my income. I was smart from day one, using my business expertise to think strategically about growing my yoga business. These creative strategies have helped me build a thriving business, even with a smaller audience. Let’s dive into them and see how you can make them work for you
This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to boost your income as a yoga teacher. Private sessions allow you to tailor your teaching to each student’s unique needs, whether they’re working on flexibility, recovering from an injury, or managing stress. If you’re certified in yoga therapy, you can specialize in addressing specific health concerns, making your services even more valuable.
With just 5–10 hours of private sessions per week, you can easily make around $2,000–$3,000 per month. Not only do individual sessions offer higher earning potential, but they also help build trust and loyalty with your clients, making them more likely to stick with you long-term. Moreover, satisfied clients are likely to recommend you to their friends and family, helping you grow your audience without much extra effort.
Pro Tip: Offer a free consultation or a discounted first session to help students feel comfortable and understand the value of one-on-one guidance.
This strategy helped me recover my yoga teacher training investment within just two months! I was approached by people who couldn’t afford individual sessions, and instead of losing them, I came up with a workaround. I created a specialized small group class focused on lower back recovery.
The idea was simple: the participants paid 30% less than what I charged for an individual session, but with 4 people in the group, I was earning significantly more per hour. This approach allowed me to provide personalized attention to each participant while making my services more affordable and accessible.
Small yoga groups are a win-win: they allow students to receive individual-like support while letting you maximize your income. You can create groups around specific themes or needs, such as stress relief, flexibility for beginners, or recovery-focused classes for injuries or chronic pain.
Pro Tip: Cap the group size at 4–6 participants to maintain the intimate and supportive environment. It’s all about creating value without overwhelming yourself!
Mini yoga retreats are a fantastic way to offer immersive experiences while generating extra income. You can host weekend getaways or one-day retreats, either in person or virtually, depending on your audience and resources.
In-person mini retreats can be held at a local venue or nature spot, offering your students a chance to disconnect and recharge. You can combine yoga, meditation, healthy meals, and journaling or relaxation practices, providing a well-rounded experience that goes beyond what your regular classes offer.
Virtual one-day events are also incredibly popular, especially for those who can’t travel. You can host these retreats from the comfort of your own home or studio and offer yoga classes, guided meditations, and even small group discussions. Virtual retreats are often more affordable for your students while still providing a deep, enriching experience.
In terms of pay, mini retreats can be quite lucrative. For an in-person weekend retreat, you could charge anywhere from $150–$500 per participant depending on the duration, location, and inclusions (like meals and accommodations). For virtual retreats, fees typically range from $50–$150 per person. If you gather a small group of 5–10 participants, you could easily make $500–$1,500 or more in just one event. The beauty of retreats is that the income per hour is much higher compared to regular classes, making them a great opportunity for scaling your income without a huge time commitment.
Pro Tip: Offer a special deal or a discount for early-bird sign-ups to encourage commitment. And don’t forget to create a pre-retreat experience (like a welcome video or resource pack) to get participants excited!
Running weekend workshops is one of my personal favorites, and for good reason. You don’t need a large group to make a solid income. Even with a small group of 3–5 people, you can spend 3–5 hours diving deep into a specific topic and provide immense value to your students.
Workshops can focus on a wide variety of themes, such as:
You can even specialize in niche topics that align with your expertise, like:
The key is to choose topics that resonate with both your expertise and your students’ interests. For example, a 3-hour workshop on stress management using yoga and pranayama could easily attract students who are looking for tools to deal with daily stress. You can also pair physical practice with discussions, hands-on demonstrations, or journaling exercises to make the session interactive and deeply beneficial.
In terms of pay, workshops can be highly profitable. You can charge between $40–$150 per participant, depending on the topic, your expertise, and the amount of material covered. With a group of 3–5 people, this could bring in anywhere from $120–$750 for a few hours of work. The best part? You’re not just offering a class—you’re offering an immersive experience that can have a lasting impact on your students' well-being.
Pro Tip: To make it even more enticing, consider offering a special bundle deal for repeat participants or for those who want to join multiple workshops. This encourages loyalty and builds a community of committed students.
Asana masterclasses are a fantastic way to dive deep into specific postures, offering your students a unique opportunity to perfect their practice. Whether you choose to host them individually or in a small group, these masterclasses allow for more detailed, hands-on guidance.
In an individual setting, you can offer personalized adjustments and in-depth coaching for a specific asana or group of asanas. This is especially beneficial for students who want to deepen their practice or work on challenging poses they’re struggling with.
In a group setting, you can break down key asanas, explore their variations, and discuss their benefits in a supportive environment. Group masterclasses are ideal for students who want to refine their technique, understand the anatomy of the pose, or explore new variations to add to their practice.
In terms of pay, you can charge anywhere from $50–$200 per participant, depending on the complexity of the asanas covered and whether the class is one-on-one or in a small group. For a group of 5–10 people, you could make anywhere between $250–$1,500 per masterclass, while still providing individualized attention.
Pro Tip: Offer tiered pricing for one-on-one sessions and group rates to appeal to a broader audience. And don’t forget to record the session, allowing you to sell it as a replay for those who couldn't attend live!
Building a sustainable income with a small yoga audience is absolutely possible when you focus on offering unique, personalized, and valuable experiences. Whether it’s through individual sessions, mini retreats, weekend workshops, or asana masterclasses, there are countless ways to maximize your earning potential while still serving your students deeply.
If you’re ready to take your yoga business to the next level and start implementing these strategies (and many more!), my Yogipreneur 101 course is designed to guide you step-by-step. From creating irresistible offers to mastering the business side of things, this course will help you transform your passion into a thriving business.
Are you ready to start building a sustainable Online Yoga Business Today? Join Yogipreneur 101 and begin your journey towards financial freedom and a more impactful teaching career! Click here to learn more and enroll.
✅ Work with me — but only if it’s the right fit. Join the Online Yoga as Business Individual Coaching Program: a fully personalized experience where we focus on your goals, strategy, and growth. This is an application-based program. Click here to submit your application.
✅ Join my Yogipreneur 101 Program, an 8-week group coaching journey with live sessions, designed to empower yoga teachers with the knowledge, strategy, and tools to build and scale a thriving yoga business. Check the schedule here.
✅ Download a FREE Guide '25 Ideas for Reaching $10,000 Monthly as a Yoga Teacher' with automated Yoga Business Excel Planner & Calculator.
✅ Grab my Done-for-You Yoga Business Plan Template—an easy-to-fill-in framework designed to guide you step by step, plus a 95+ page guidebook to support your journey. Perfect for yoga teachers ready to treat their passion like a real business.
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Stay Blessed! Stay Inspired!
Namaste!
Sviatlana Y.
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