Yoga continues to grow in popularity. It helps relieve stress and helps its practitioners experience greater inner peace. With that being said, I always wonder why so many Yoga Instructors fail to carry their own liability insurance protection.
Most yoga instructors I encounter wonder why they need their own insurance coverage. Many are part time instructors who feel that by teaching only a few classes a week the cost to be insured doesn’t make sense. In addition, yoga instructors who are working as “independent contractors” are often led to believe that they are covered under the liability insurance of the facilities where they teach. Other yoga instructors who are “employees” of a yoga studio or fitness center are comfortable knowing that they are covered by the facility’s insurance policy.
When instructors are “employees” of a yoga studio or fitness facility, there usually is coverage in place to extend liability insurance protection to all employees. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing whether or not the owner of the facility has renewed their policy or may have purchased a standard liability insurance policy that does not contain a professional liability endorsement. In other words, these trainers and instructors are at the mercy of a third party (their boss) having the proper insurance in place to protect them. By having one’s own coverage there’s nothing to worry about.
The bottom line is that EVERY yoga instructor, certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor, martial arts instructor, nutrition counselor, and dance teacher should have their OWN liability insurance coverage. At a cost of about $3.15 a week for $1,000,000 of protection, it is silly not to have your own insurance policy. And the inner peace it affords is rewarding.
For more information about liability insurance coverage for yoga instructors you can go to www.yogafitinsurance.com. Also, for a copy of our latest recommended waiver form designed for yoga instructors, please contact me at ken@clubinsurance.com.
