The yoga-for-athletes market has completely transformed in the last five years. If you’re a yoga teacher interested in working with athletes—or already doing it—the landscape you’re operating in looks nothing like it did pre-2020.
I’ve been teaching yoga to athletes for more than twenty years. I’ve watched this field grow from a quirky add-on that coaches tolerated to something athletic programs actively budget for. And I’ve never seen shifts this significant happening this fast.
In my latest video, I break down the three biggest changes and what you need to do about them:
Here’s the short version.
Athletic programs are professionalizing their wellness services
Five years ago, any yoga teacher could work with athletes. The competition was thin, expectations were low, and showing up with a decent class was enough to get in the door.
That era is over. Athletic programs—even at the recreational and high school level—are getting serious about who they hire. Coaches and athletic directors are asking about your philosophy on periodization, how you’ll coordinate with their strength and conditioning staff, and whether you understand the difference between pre-season recovery and competition-week preparation.
This is good news if you specialize. Programs are paying more and treating your expertise with the respect it deserves. But if you’re planning to walk in with your standard vinyasa class and hope it translates? That approach worked in 2019. It won’t work now.
Athletes have higher expectations
Athletes went from being skeptical about yoga to actively seeking it out. They’ve seen the benefits. They’re sold on the concept.
But they want teachers who understand them. A runner doesn’t want a generic yoga class—they want someone who knows what athletes actually want from yoga: sport-specific programming that matches their training cycle, delivered in language that makes sense to them.
The result? Athletes are paying $150 to $300 per session for specialized instruction. That number isn’t aspirational—it’s what teachers in my training programs are charging right now. The opportunity is real, but only for those who’ve done the work to position themselves as specialists.
The market is consolidating around specialists
This is the shift that should get your attention. In most markets, one or two yoga teachers have already established themselves as the go-to person for athletes. Once someone claims that position, competing against them gets harder every year. They have the coach relationships, the referrals, the track record.
I’ve watched it happen in my own local market. Teachers who positioned themselves as athlete specialists years ago are fully booked. The teachers I trained three years ago have become the established names in their communities. Teachers trying to break in now face a much steeper climb.
This pattern isn’t unique to yoga. Personal training went through the same consolidation—specialized trainers claimed the premium positions, generalists lost ground. The same thing is unfolding right now for yoga teachers who work with athletes.
Three things you need to do right now
Get educated on athletes specifically. General yoga teacher training isn’t enough. You need to understand athletic training principles, sport-specific needs, and professional positioning. If you’re not sure where to start, finding your niche is the first move.
Claim your market before someone else does. Pick a specialization—runners, CrossFit athletes, golfers, a specific team or facility—and become known for it. Start building relationships now. If you want concrete strategies, I’ve written about how to sign more athletes for private lessons.
Position yourself professionally from day one. Use language coaches and athletes understand. Set rates that reflect your specialization. Build the confidence to compete on expertise, not price.
The window is open in most markets. It won’t stay that way.
Get the complete system
I’ve created a free workshop—How to Double Your Income Teaching Yoga to Athletes—where I walk through how to get educated quickly, position yourself effectively, and land your first athlete clients before this window closes.
