Yoga Teachers - Liability Insurance?

[Prem]

I would like to find out from my yoga teaching colleagues what sort, if any, yoga teacher liability insurance you carry.  Presently, my teaching has been confined to the "Y" which holds enough liability to sink a battleship - so personal liability insurance has not been necessary.   Lately, I have been asked to teach at different venues - one being a campground, one being in a municipal park, the other privately in clients' homes.  So I am revisiting the insurance dilemma. I know people who teach without insurance and it sort of gives me a bad vibe.  Yoga practitioners should be above it but we have become such a litigious society it seems.  I have been told that having all people sign a liability waiver is just a first line defence - I have had others tell me that if you are not charging $$$ you are basically a volunteer and don't require insurance.   I really don't want to take chances, but then I am not anticipating making enough $$$ from classes to cover the cost of insurance which would be $250 Cdn./year for $2 million coverage.   Thoughts or suggestions?   Many thanks, namaste.

[tonightsthenight]

Personal decision. Its unlikely you'll be sued. Also unlikely insurance will end up covering everything if you are. Waivers are just pieces of paper. I carry insurance and yes its expensive.

[Prem]

Thank you for the thought-provoking response.  Much appreciated.  I think it is probably a necessary investment and will free me up to say 'yes' to opportunities that may arise. Thanks for helping me decide.  Namaste.

[Prem]

Just an update - the insurance was the best $250 I ever spent, has opened up venues as well as that peace of mind. I still always caution students that 'they are responsible for their own bodies'.  I pray to never have to use it.  Thanks all.

[technoyogi]

I am curious, is this more to protect from lawsuits based on physical injury that might happen, or something else?

[AYPadmin]

Radharani
USA
843 Posts

 Posted - Aug 11 2017 :  05:52:46 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Visit Radharani's Homepage  Edit Reply  Reply with Quote  View user's IP address  Get a Link to this Reply  Delete Reply
I previously had yoga teacher liability insurance through Philadelpha Insurance via Yoga Journal. I let it lapse as I'd stopped teaching yoga due to our having moved into the yoga studio w/ all our animals. I have since decided to resume teaching here, thx to a friend's very charitable donation of a Bissell all-in-one floor cleaner which will make my life easier. Because I am also a professional "psychic" and spiritual advisor, as well as holistic wellness counselor, I was looking for liability insurance to cover those aspects of my practice as well. I found IICT, International Institute for Complementary Therapists, which offers insurance that covers over 100 different "alternative" modalities including yoga, pilates, dreamwork, spiritual counseling, all kinds of metaphysical stuff, at very reasonable rates! This may interest you, BlueRaincoat and technoyogi. My premium for liability covering all aspects of my work is around $30/month, whereas yoga alone was about $16/month with the previous company. So this is a great deal especially if you teach more than asana.
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Blanche
USA
543 Posts

 Posted - Aug 14 2017 :  8:32:42 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Visit Blanche's Homepage  Edit Reply  Reply with Quote  View user's IP address  Get a Link to this Reply  Delete Reply
I have a yoga teacher insurance through Yoga Journal (Philadelphia Insurance). The insurance is $75/year, but it comes with the journal subscription (which I enjoy), and other fees, for a total of $190. If you teach a lot, the insurance goes up to $250.

I also ask for signed wavers from people taking my yoga course at a community setting. Yoga studios usually have their own insurance, but it is good for a teacher to have insurance.