How to hire a yoga instructor

How to hire a yoga instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step yoga instructor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a yoga instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new yoga instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a yoga instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a yoga instructor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A yoga instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, yoga instructors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of yoga instructors.

   Type of Yoga Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Yoga Instructor	Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises (exercises for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.	$15-30
   Life Skills Trainer	Life skills trainers are personal health professionals who provide training assistance and supervision to patients, such as personal care, financial management, and social integration. These trainers are required to assist their clients with disabilities with daily living activities while documenting their behaviors and personal hygiene... Show more	$10-19
   Fitness Trainer	The job of a fitness trainer is to instruct and motivate individuals and groups in physical activities, including stretching, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. The typical duties of a fitness trainer include demonstrating how to perform various exercises, guiding them during the exercise to improve fitness and minimize injuries, and monitoring their progress... Show more	$9-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Customer Service
   • Class Attendance
   • Teacher Training
   • Pilates
   • Yoga
   • Front Desk
   • Healthy Lifestyle
   • RYT
   • Class Content
   • Group Fitness Classes
   • Hatha Yoga
   • Eating Disorders
   • Class Size

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage operations, develop and teach the syllabus for group/private classes.
   • Recognize by the gym ownership for utilizing a CPR certification and managing an on scene emergency.
   • Manage general fitness center cleanliness and coordinate group fitness instructor schedules
   • Lead adult fitness classes involving yoga & Pilates classes.
   • Educate the community in the philosophy and practice of yoga as well as the physical practice of Asana.
   • Instruct students on Pilates, TRX and HIIT principles.

   More yoga instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your yoga instructor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A yoga instructor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, yoga instructors' average salary in south carolina is 53% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level yoga instructors earn 48% less than senior-level yoga instructors.
   • Certifications. A yoga instructor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a yoga instructor's salary.

   Average yoga instructor salary

   $45,673yearly

   $21.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level yoga instructor salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 17, 2026

   Average yoga instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$58,223	$28
   2	Connecticut	$53,376	$26
   3	Massachusetts	$50,929	$24
   4	Illinois	$48,938	$24
   5	Washington	$47,978	$23
   6	Minnesota	$47,088	$23
   7	Oklahoma	$46,514	$22
   8	New Jersey	$46,395	$22
   9	Texas	$46,266	$22
   10	Utah	$45,563	$22
   11	Florida	$45,258	$22
   12	Colorado	$44,471	$21
   13	Arizona	$44,082	$21
   14	Pennsylvania	$42,568	$20
   15	Wisconsin	$40,675	$20
   16	New York	$40,349	$19
   17	Indiana	$40,319	$19
   18	North Carolina	$35,658	$17
   19	Georgia	$35,158	$17
   20	Ohio	$28,381	$14

   Average yoga instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UMiami Health System	$60,915	$29.29	9
   2	Temple University	$60,514	$29.09	2
   3	Methodist Health System	$57,793	$27.79	3
   4	Valley View Hospital	$57,568	$27.68	2
   5	Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center	$57,471	$27.63	2
   6	UPMC	$56,641	$27.23	10
   7	Cleveland Clinic	$55,464	$26.67	15
   8	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$55,201	$26.54
   9	Kohler Co.	$54,880	$26.38	4
   10	Avera Health	$54,135	$26.03	1
   11	Salem State University	$52,787	$25.38
   12	Universal Health Services	$51,545	$24.78	2
   13	Brooklyn Boulders	$51,212	$24.62
   14	Trustmark Insurance Co	$50,638	$24.35	87
   15	Tidelands Health	$49,848	$23.97
   16	Town of Leesburg, VA	$48,464	$23.30
   17	WTS International	$48,168	$23.16
   18	Calyx Brands	$47,968	$23.06
   19	Ymca Of Central Stark County (ohio)	$47,912	$23.03	13
   20	UNC Health Care	$47,736	$22.95	8

4. Writing a yoga instructor job description

   A yoga instructor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a yoga instructor job description:

   Yoga instructor job description example

   
   

   Our SPIN/Pilates Reformer/Yoga Instructors earn competitive commission-based pay . We also offer generous benefits including a 401(k) plan, health, dental, and vision insurance . Additionally, you can expect free meals while on duty, free parking, a work uniform, employee golf available on most Mondays, employee recognition opportunities, employee appreciation events, and a MARTA discount . Plus, we make it easy to apply with our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application !

   
   

   ABOUT CHEROKEE TOWN & COUNTRY CLUB

   
   

   Chartered in 1956, Cherokee Town and Country Club is recognized as one of America's premier private clubs. Our Town Club occupies the famed Grant Estate on West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead and our Country Club is located near the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs. The excellence of our facilities, combined with our commitment to the highest standards in dining and member services, has brought the club an extraordinary number of honors and awards throughout the years.

   
   

   We are in the "happiness business" and believe in a positive "What can I do? How can I help?" attitude. We refer to our high expectations for our staff as the "Cherokee Standard". We value our employees for their hard work and dedication. Here at Cherokee Town & Country Club, we are proud of our top-notch working environment supported by a high-quality team management approach that includes competitive wages and awesome perks .

   
   

   THE DAY-TO-DAY

   
   

   You are a champion for the membership, guiding them through a fun, energetic, and community-based environment to reach their best. Teaching multiple class formats, you are never bored! You prepare and instruct group exercise classes such as cycle, yoga, pilates, core, stability, flexibility, and youth, teen, and adult sports performance. Not only do you encourage your students to have fun and achieve their goals, you also instruct them on proper form and safe methods.

   
   

   At the end of class, you store exercise equipment and maintain the cleanliness and safety of the facility. To stay at the top of your game, you maintain your nationally recognized certification for the classes that you are teaching. You also attend all required meetings. Each day is a rewarding experience as you help our members have fun while achieving their health and fitness goals.

   
   

   ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?

   
   

   • Nationally recognized certification in group exercise instruction (ACSM, AFAA, or ACE)
   • 2+ years of class instruction experience

   
   

   Are you energetic and enthusiastic? Do you love people? Are you great at being the first to greet people with a smile? Do you have excellent communication skills and the ability to motivate others? If so, you may be the perfect addition to our team! Apply today to be a SPIN/Pilates Reformer/Yoga Instructor!

   
   

   Location: 30305

   
   

   IND2

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right yoga instructor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with yoga instructors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit yoga instructors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your yoga instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit yoga instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with yoga instructor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new yoga instructor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the yoga instructor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new yoga instructor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a yoga instructor?