As yoga teachers, we enter this profession with passion and a desire to share the transformative benefits of yoga with others. Yet many of us find ourselves facing burnout within just a few years of teaching.
The good news: with intentional planning and clear boundaries, you can create a teaching schedule that sustains both your income and your wellbeing for years to come.
The Hidden Costs of Saying “Yes” to Everything
When you’re starting your yoga teaching career, saying yes to every opportunity seems like the fastest path to success. And while gaining experience is valuable, this approach often leads to a packed schedule that slowly drains your energy, creativity, and love for teaching.
Many yoga teachers experience symptoms of burnout, which commonly include:
- Physical exhaustion and recurring injuries
- Emotional depletion before or during classes
- Difficulty creating fresh lesson plans or content
- Dreading certain classes
- Loss of enthusiasm for personal practice
As yoga teachers, we give energy in every class we teach. Without a sustainable schedule and proper boundaries, we can deplete ourselves faster than we can replenish.
Two Key Scheduling Concepts: Stacks and Prongs
In my book The Professional Yoga Teacher’s Handbook, I discuss two powerful scheduling approaches that can help you organize your teaching more efficiently:
Stacks
Stacks occur when you wear your yoga clothes for multiple purposes on the same day. This might mean teaching back-to-back classes or teaching a class and then taking one immediately afterward.
Benefits of stacking include:
- Maximized travel efficiency: Less time commuting and lower transportation costs
- Energy conservation: Concentrating your teaching time instead of spreading it throughout the week
- Complete days off: Creating full days when you aren’t in teaching mode
- Practical perks: Reduced laundry and simplified planning
Prongs
Prongs happen when you teach similar classes on non-consecutive days, such as leading a seniors’ yoga class on both Mondays and Thursdays.
The advantages of using prongs in your schedule:
- Student consistency: The same students can attend your class multiple times per week
- Teaching efficiency: You can refine a similar sequence across multiple classes
- Reduced preparation time: While maintaining fresh elements in each class
- Specialized expertise development: You become known for specific types of classes
An efficient schedule might combine both approaches. For example, teaching two back-to-back classes (stack) on Monday evening and another two on Wednesday evening, with similar class styles appearing on both days (prongs).
The Financial Reality Check Every Yoga Teacher Needs
Sustainable teaching isn’t just about energy management—it’s also about financial sustainability. For each class on your schedule, calculate what it’s really worth using this formula:
True Hourly Value = (Base Pay or Per-Head Rate) ÷ (Teaching Time + Travel Time + Prep Time)Let’s look at two example classes:
Class A:
- $40 base pay for 60 minutes
- 30 minutes travel each way
- 30 minutes preparation
- Total time investment: 2.5 hours
- True hourly rate: $16/hour
Class B:
- $35 base pay for 60 minutes
- 10 minutes travel each way
- 30 minutes preparation
- Total time investment: 1.5 hours
- True hourly rate: $23.33/hour
This calculation reveals that the seemingly lower-paying class actually provides better compensation when you factor in all your invested time.
While financial calculations shouldn’t be your only consideration—some classes feed your soul or build important professional relationships—understanding the real value helps you make informed decisions about which opportunities truly support your career sustainability.
Why Days Off Are Non-Negotiable
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of preventing burnout is scheduling regular downtime. This isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for your longevity as a teacher.
Aim to have at least two days per week when you don’t:
- Wear yoga clothes (unless you want to!)
- Go to the studio
- Practice in public
Ideally, try to make these consecutive days, even if they can’t fall on a traditional weekend. A Tuesday/Wednesday rest period provides the same benefits as Saturday/Sunday.
Additionally, make at least one of your days completely asana-free to give your body adequate recovery time. Remember that you serve your students best when you’re rested and enthusiastic. Teaching while exhausted not only harms you—it diminishes the experience for your students.
Setting Boundaries That Protect Your Energy
Learning to say “no” strategically is essential for a sustainable career. This means declining opportunities that would:
- Break your scheduled days off
- Create difficult commutes
- Disrupt your carefully designed schedule
- Push you beyond your teaching capacity
When turning down an opportunity, keep your response simple and professional:
“Thank you so much for thinking of me! I’m currently at my teaching capacity, but I’d be happy to recommend another teacher who might be available.”
Remember that saying “no” to something that doesn’t serve you means saying “yes” to your wellbeing and the quality of your existing classes.
Regular Schedule Reviews: Your Career Maintenance Plan
Just as we encourage our students to check in with their bodies, we need to check in with our teaching schedules regularly. Every three months, evaluate:
- Which classes energize you versus drain you
- Your average hourly rate when all factors are considered
- Whether you have enough time for personal practice
- If you’re getting adequate rest
- Whether you have time for continuing education
Be willing to make changes based on your findings. Sometimes letting go of a long-standing class that no longer works for you creates space for something much better—either another teaching opportunity or simply more time for yourself.
Conclusion: Teaching Yoga Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Creating a sustainable teaching schedule is an ongoing practice—just like yoga itself. It requires awareness, flexibility, and honesty about your needs and limitations.
By using stacks and prongs to maximize efficiency, calculating the true value of each teaching opportunity, protecting your days off, setting clear boundaries, and reviewing your schedule regularly, you can build a yoga teaching career that remains fulfilling for years to come.
Remember: The yoga world needs teachers who are in it for the long haul. By prioritizing sustainability now, you ensure you’ll be able to share your gifts with students not just this year, but for many years to come.
Want to learn more about building a sustainable yoga teaching career? Join my free workshop on Teaching Yoga to Athletes, where I discuss pricing, sustainability, and finding your niche as a yoga teacher.
