Can you make a living as a yoga teacher?

By yum · Updated 3 November 2026

Yes, some people do. But most don’t start there. Lots of yoga teachers teach alongside another job, and those who live fully from it usually have several things going: studio classes, private sessions, teaching at companies and their own courses. It takes time to build, and it takes experience, a network and a bit of business sense. The training is the start, not the finish line.

That’s the short, honest answer. We won’t promise you an income. But we can tell you what the road usually looks like.

In short

• Many yoga teachers teach part-time, at least at first.
• Those who make a living from it often have several income streams.
• Experience and a network matter at least as much as the certificate.
• What you earn depends on how much you teach and how you’re employed or invoice.
• It’s completely fine to do a yoga teacher training without wanting to live from it.

Can you make a living as a yoga teacher in Denmark?

Yes, but it rarely happens from day one. “Yoga teacher” isn’t a protected title in Denmark, and there’s no single figure for what a yoga teacher earns. So the road looks different from person to person.

Some teach a couple of classes a week and love having that space next to their job. Others build it up slowly until yoga fills their whole working week. Both are a success. It’s about what you want.

How much does a yoga teacher earn?

It’s the question we get the most. And the honest answer is: it depends on too many things for us to write a number.

What usually matters:

• How many classes you teach. One evening a week is different from ten classes.
• How you’re employed. As an employee at a studio, or self-employed and invoicing.
• Where you teach. Studios, gyms, companies and private clients are all different.
• Your experience. It grows with every class you teach.

If you want a number, ask the places you’d like to teach for. They’re the most accurate source.

How do you get started as a new yoga teacher?

Start small, and start early. Most people learn to teach by teaching. A few ways in:

1. Teach friends, family or colleagues. For free or for a coffee. It’s practice.
2. Cover classes. Studios need substitute teachers, and it’s a good way to get known.
3. Teach at your workplace. A regular lunchtime class can be a good place to practise.
4. Build your network. Go to other teachers’ classes. Talk to them afterwards. The yoga world is smaller than you think.

At yum, we offer all newly certified yum teachers the chance to teach “freshman classes” for our members and community. It’s a gentle way to step into the teacher role, with real students and a safe place to practise.

What do studios look for when they hire yoga teachers?

It varies from studio to studio. At yum, we look at your background, where you trained, how many hours you’ve practised and taught, and other relevant experience. Human skills and a wish to create good things for the community matter a lot too.

We don’t require teachers to be registered as RYT with Yoga Alliance. Many Copenhagen studios don’t either. But a 200-hour training is the most common foundation. Read more in how do you become a yoga teacher in Denmark?.

Do you have to be self-employed as a yoga teacher?

Not necessarily. Some are employed by a studio. Others invoice as self-employed, and many do both. If you want to start on your own in Denmark, look at the rules for registering a business on virk.dk and for tax on skat.dk. If you’ve moved here from abroad, Life in Denmark is a good place to start. When in doubt, talk to an accountant. It’s money well spent before your first invoice.

What do people who make a living from yoga do differently?

There’s no recipe. But we see some patterns:

• They teach a lot, even when it isn’t glamorous. Early morning classes, cover classes, small groups.
• They keep learning. More training, new styles, more hours on the mat.
• They have several things going. Regular classes, private sessions, companies.
• They look after themselves. Lots of classes a week wears you down. Those who last have their own practice and take breaks.
• They treat it like work. Calendar, agreements, invoices. It’s not the most yogic part, but it’s what holds it together.

Is it silly to do a yoga teacher training if you don’t want to live from it?

No. Lots of people do the training to understand their own practice, learn about anatomy and philosophy or teach a little on the side. That’s a perfectly good reason. Read 5 reasons to take a YTT even if you don’t want to teach.

How we do it at yum

• Training: 200-hour Vinyasa yoga teacher training in English. yum is a Registered Yoga School (RYS®200) with Yoga Alliance. After the training you can apply to become an RYT or E-RYT.
• Teaching: The teacher team covers anatomy, philosophy, pranayama, meditation and hands-on adjustments, among other things. There’s also a module on making a full or partial living from yoga.
• After the training: freshman classes at yum, a guide to next steps, and alumni membership for DKK 439/month (DKK 379/month under 30) for up to 24 months.
• Groups in 2027: winter/spring, 16 January–2 May (weekends only), and Summer Intensive, 3 July–15 August.
• Price: DKK 28,995 excl. VAT, where VAT applies. The DKK 4,000 booking fee is included.

Doing it with a job? Read yoga teacher training while working full time.

Want to know more? Get our free prep kit with a recorded webinar and a peek inside the manual. Or see everything on our yoga teacher training in Copenhagen page. Questions about life after the training? Write to yoga@yum.dk. Or come by Alliancevej 22 for a coffee and a chat.

FAQ

Can you make a living as a yoga teacher?

Yes, some people do. But most start part-time alongside another job. Those who live fully from it usually have several income streams and have built it up over time.

How much does a yoga teacher earn in Denmark?

There’s no single figure. It depends on how many classes you teach, where you teach, your experience and whether you’re employed or self-employed. Ask the places you’d like to teach for.

Do you need a qualification to work as a yoga teacher?

Not by law. Yoga teacher isn’t a protected title in Denmark. But most studios want to see a certificate, and a 200-hour training is the most common foundation.

Do studios require you to be an RYT with Yoga Alliance?

Not always. yum doesn’t, and many Copenhagen studios don’t either. Studios usually look at your training, your experience and what you’re like as a teacher.

How do you get your first classes as a yoga teacher?

Start small. Teach friends and colleagues, cover classes and build your network. At yum, newly certified yum teachers can teach freshman classes for our members and community.