Side Gigs for Yoga Teachers
I’ve been pretty open about not being where I want to be financially when it comes to teaching yoga full-time. In the last episode of Full Time Flow, I shared the Top 3 Most Profitable Ways to Teach Yoga—and spoiler alert, they all require significant time and investment to build up.
While I work toward making yoga a more reliable source of income, I’ve picked up a few side gigs to help make ends meet. As a full-time yoga teacher, I often work early mornings, evenings, and weekends, which leaves regular business hours free for other opportunities.
Here are some of the ways I make money outside of teaching yoga:
Paid Social Media Partnerships
If you follow me on Instagram (@realisticyogagoals), you’ve probably seen a paid partnership or two. I get requests to post sponsored content, and most of these opportunities reach out to me directly from brands or agencies.
This is how I get paid to go to the gym every week! I have a long-term partnership with a brand that includes a weekly paid story from the gym. Building a social media presence takes time to build but has potential to pay with partnerships.
If you're interested in social media partnerships, try sites like Cohley, Aspire, or Shopify Collabs. Most opportunities start as gifting partnerships (free products in exchange for posts), which is a great way to get started.
User Generated Content (UGC)
UGC is similar to sponsored posts, but instead of posting on my own social channels, I create content that brands use on their social media or paid ads. To find UGC gigs, check out Cohley or Upwork.
Freelance Marketing
Before going full-time as a yoga teacher, I worked in marketing for over 10 years. I take on part-time freelance marketing gigs to help support myself. LinkedIn, Upwork, and Fiverr are great places to look for freelance opportunities if you have marketing or other professional skills.
Affiliate Marketing
I get paid to recommend my favorite products through platforms like my Amazon Storefront, LTK, and referral links in my link in bio. I earn a commission whenever someone buys through one of my links or uses my promo code.
Most brands offer affiliate programs—just Google “[brand name] affiliate program” to apply. You can also check out affiliate marketplaces like Impact.
User Interviews
I participate in user research studies and focus groups, both online and occasionally in person. It’s a fun and flexible way to make some extra money. If you’re curious, here’s my referral link to sign up for user interviews (and yes, I’ll get paid $10 if you sign up and complete a study).
Here are a few other side gig ideas you might consider:
Pet Sitting/House Sitting
Start by offering your services to friends and family, or use apps like Wag and Rover. You can also post in local Facebook groups or on Nextdoor. If you love animals, this is a great way to earn extra cash while teaching yoga.
Social Media Management
Brands often hire freelance or part-time social media managers to handle content creation, posting, and interacting with followers. If you enjoy creating content and love social media, this could be a great side gig.
Remote Customer Support
Many companies offer part-time customer support roles with flexible hours. While the pay isn’t always high, it’s a job you can do between teaching yoga classes.
Your side gigs will depend on your skills and interests. Think about your current full-time job—could you freelance or reduce your hours to focus more on your yoga business? Finding balance is tricky, and it looks different for everyone.
In the next episode of Full Time Flow, I’ll share tips on how to balance a 9-5 job while teaching yoga part-time. See you there!
