Step 1: Define the Offer
The biggest mistake yoga teachers make when going online is starting with a vague offer: "online yoga classes" or "virtual yoga sessions." Vague offers do not convert.
A specific offer answers four questions:
Who is it for? Not "anyone who does yoga" but "beginners who feel intimidated in studio classes" or "desk workers with tight hips and low back pain" or "experienced practitioners who want to deepen their inversions."
What is the format? 1:1 private session, small group (2 to 8 people), or larger group class (10 to 40 people). Live series (4 to 6 weeks) or drop-in. 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes.
What is the outcome? Not "a yoga class" but "you will learn three foundational inversions safely" or "you will leave with a 15-minute morning routine you can sustain." Outcome-focused offers command higher prices and convert better.
When? A specific day and time, or a range of availability for booking. Real scarcity (limited spots, limited slots) increases perceived value.
Examples that convert:
- "6-Week Yoga for Runners: Mobility and Recovery (Tuesdays, 7pm ET, 12 spots, $120 for the series)"
- "Private Alignment Session for Beginners: 60 minutes, $85, book any Tuesday or Thursday"
- "Live Sunday Morning Flow: Drop-in, 45 minutes, $18 per class"
Step 2: Price It
Yoga teachers chronically undercharge for online classes because they compare themselves to large studios running $15 drop-in classes at scale. That comparison does not apply to a solo instructor with a specific audience.
| Format | Typical rate range | Notes |
|---|
| Group class (10+ students), drop-in | $15 to $40/session | Lower per-head, higher scale |
| Small group (3 to 8 students), series | $80 to $150/series | Premium intimacy, higher per-session yield |
| Private 1:1 session | $60 to $150/hour | Outcome-focused, highest per-hour rate |
| Specialty workshop (1 topic, 90 min) | $30 to $75/person | Single-event premium for niche content |
| 6-week series (group) | $100 to $200/person | Commitment premium, predictable revenue |
Price based on the specificity and outcome of your offer, not on what a local studio charges for a general flow class. A "Yoga for Cyclists: Knee and IT Band Relief" workshop can command $45 to $60 per person because no one else is offering exactly that.
For fitness instructors building a broader online personal training practice, the fitness influencers guide to selling personal training online covers pricing methodology for the fitness niche.
Step 3: Set Up Booking, Video, and Payment
This is where most yoga teachers get stuck. The standard advice is: use Zoom for video, Calendly for scheduling, and Stripe or PayPal for payment. That stack works, but it costs $23 to $30 per month in subscriptions, requires managing three tools, and gives students a checkout experience that feels cobbled together.
A single all-in-one platform handles all three:
Booking. Students see your real availability, pick a class time or series, and complete the purchase in one flow.
Video. The class runs inside the platform. No Zoom link to copy, paste, or email. Students click the link in their booking confirmation and the group video opens.
Payment. Collected at booking. Students pay before the class. No chasing late payments, no no-shows from students who never paid.
Talkspresso covers all three for yoga teachers: group video up to 500 participants, scheduling with Google Calendar sync, and payment at booking. The free plan charges 10% on each booking. The Pro plan charges 0% for $29.95 per month.
One link does booking, the call, and payment. Share it in your bio, your email list, or a text to former clients, and a student can go from "I want to try this" to "class is booked and paid" in under two minutes.
For how to collect payments specifically for group sessions and workshops, see the collect payments for group sessions and workshops guide.
Step 4: Fill the Calendar
With your booking page live and your first class on the calendar, the next step is getting students in seats. A few tactics that work without a large following:
Direct outreach to former in-person students. If you have taught in studios, you have students who know your teaching. A direct message or email saying "I am opening my first paid online class, limited to 8 students, here is the link" will convert a meaningful percentage of your existing relationship.
Post the booking link in specific communities. Yoga forums, Facebook groups for runners or climbers or desk workers (tie it to your specific offer), Instagram yoga tags, LinkedIn if your offer is corporate wellness.
Referral from one good student. One client who loves the session and tells three friends is worth more than 1,000 social media impressions. Ask happy students to share the link.
Treat the first cohort as a pilot. Offer a modest early-bird discount for your first series to reduce the barrier to the first purchase. Once students have tried the format and liked it, they pay full price for the next round.
Build a waitlist. For a series with limited spots, a waitlist for the next cohort builds urgency and keeps interested students engaged between series.
For how to create a recurring workshop series that builds predictable monthly income, see the create a recurring workshop series guide.
Step 5: Deliver and Follow Up
The live class itself matters most, but the follow-up is where repeat bookings come from.
Before the class: Send a reminder 24 hours and 1 hour before. Include the join link, what to bring (mat, blocks, blanket), and anything to prepare (skip food 1 to 2 hours before).
During the class: Record automatically. Group video platforms with automatic recording handle this without you having to remember to press a button mid-class.
After the class: Send the replay link within a few hours. Include a short note with one key takeaway from the session. Ask students if they have questions or want to book a private follow-up.
Testimonial ask: After the second or third session with a student, ask for a short written testimonial. Testimonials are the highest-conversion social proof for yoga teachers. A specific quote from a student who improved their flexibility or reduced back pain converts better than any marketing copy.
Re-booking prompt: At the end of the series, remind students when the next series starts and offer early-access booking before you open it to new students.
Scaling Up
Once you have run one or two paid classes and know the format converts, the scaling options are straightforward.
Packages. Instead of selling individual classes, sell a 5-class or 10-class package at a discount. Packages increase average order value and reduce churn. A student who bought a 10-class package is committed; a drop-in student might not return.
Series. A 4 to 6 week series with a specific progression (Week 1: foundations, Week 2: building toward a peak pose, etc.) creates a structured product that feels more valuable than a set of individual classes.
Recordings as products. Every live class you record becomes an asset. Bundle a month of recordings as a "practice library" digital product on your booking profile. Students who cannot make the live class time buy on-demand access. This turns one hour of teaching into recurring passive income.
Private 1:1 add-ons. Offer a private alignment session as an upsell to students in your group class. Many group students want personalized feedback on their practice and will pay for a private session once they trust your teaching from the group format.
The Bottom Line
Yoga teachers who are not offering paid online classes are leaving a revenue stream completely untouched. The format works, students pay for it, and the technology to run it is simpler than most teachers expect.
Define a specific offer. Price it based on outcome. Set up one platform that handles booking, group video, and payment in one flow. Share the link with your existing network.
Your first paying online student is probably already in your contact list. They just need a place to book.
