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Yoga teacher vs group fitness instructor

The differences between yoga teachers and group fitness instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a yoga teacher and a group fitness instructor. Additionally, a yoga teacher has an average salary of $52,895, which is higher than the $35,867 average annual salary of a group fitness instructor.

The top three skills for a yoga teacher include anatomy, thai and asana. The most important skills for a group fitness instructor are CPR, yoga, and customer service.

Yoga teacher vs group fitness instructor overview

Yoga TeacherGroup Fitness Instructor
Yearly salary$52,895$35,867
Hourly rate$25.43$17.24
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs52,68138,457
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a yoga teacher do?

A yoga teacher is responsible for teaching yoga as an exercise to enhance general body wellbeing and fitness. Yoga teachers primarily focus on teaching students how to practice meditation, perform different body stretching poses and improve mindfulness, which leads to general body wellbeing. As a yoga teacher, you're required to have a university degree or certification from private training organizations that offer specialist courses. Yoga teachers are also called "yogis" or "yoga instructors."

What does a group fitness instructor do?

A group fitness instructor is responsible for creating fitness programs for a group with the same fitness goals, tailoring special instructions to engage the group and helping each individual achieve their healthy lifestyle objectives. Group fitness instructors monitor each trainee's progress, adjusting exercise routines and diet plans as needed, and ensuring that the group follows the training disciplines during fitness sessions. They must have excellent knowledge of the fitness industry, including the latest routines to provide options and a wide range of fitness programs.

Yoga teacher vs group fitness instructor salary

Yoga teachers and group fitness instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Yoga TeacherGroup Fitness Instructor
Average salary$52,895$35,867
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $92,000Between $23,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Bridgewater State University
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between yoga teacher and group fitness instructor education

There are a few differences between a yoga teacher and a group fitness instructor in terms of educational background:

Yoga TeacherGroup Fitness Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorPsychologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Yoga teacher vs group fitness instructor demographics

Here are the differences between yoga teachers' and group fitness instructors' demographics:

Yoga TeacherGroup Fitness Instructor
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 14.5% Female, 85.5%Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between yoga teacher and group fitness instructor duties and responsibilities

Yoga teacher example responsibilities.

  • Manage student supervision in various environments including classrooms, halls, cafeterias, schoolyards, gymnasiums, and field trip locations.
  • Teach adult yoga, barre, Pilates group exercise classes and workshops
  • Provide private yoga sessions addressing a variety of specialize client needs
  • Instruct CrossFit members how to incorporate flexibility and mobility through a supplemental yoga series additional to their weight training
  • Develop innovative PowerPoint presentations used to incorporate creative lessons for daily teaching consistent with teaching multiple grade levels at once.
  • Create curriculum, syllabus and lesson plans for each class.

Group fitness instructor example responsibilities.

  • Lead group exercise classes in cycling, bootcamp and outdoor fitness.
  • Attain certifications in aerobics, fitness and aquatic exercise, CPR and a.
  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Design and lead fitness classes involving Pilates, yoga, circuits, and resistance training appropriate for all fitness levels.
  • Follow guidelines for teaching group fitness through AFAA certification.
  • Design and teach strength, bootcamp, stretching, and spin classes
  • Show more

Yoga teacher vs group fitness instructor skills

Common yoga teacher skills
  • Anatomy, 37%
  • Thai, 24%
  • Asana, 8%
  • Pilates, 8%
  • Yoga, 5%
  • Front Desk, 4%
Common group fitness instructor skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Yoga, 15%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Group Fitness Classes, 7%
  • AFAA, 6%
  • Cleanliness, 6%

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