How To Become A Travelling Yoga Teacher

Ever thought about combining your passion for yoga with travelling the world? If so, then becoming a travelling yoga teacher could be for you!

Whether you’re yet to qualify or are already a yoga teacher, our step-by-step guide covers exactly how to start this exciting career path, covering:

• Step 1- Get Qualified To Become A Travelling Yoga Teacher
• Step 2- Gain Teaching Experience At Home Before Becoming A Travelling Yoga Teacher
• Step 3- Find A Travelling Yoga Teaching Job
• Step 4- Build Up An Online Presence Before Becoming A Yoga Teacher Abroad
• Step 5- Get Insured To Work As A Travelling Yoga Teacher
• Step 6- Prepare Your Documents For Becoming A Travelling Yoga Teacher
• Step 7- Take Additional Courses To Become A Specialist Travelling Yoga Teacher

If the thought of working on the go excites you, then be sure to check out our internationally recognised Level 3 Yoga Instructing course. Through the completion of this qualification, you will be able to work anywhere in the world.

Download OriGym's FREE course prospectus to learn more about this course, and our advanced Level 4 training! 

Step 1- Get Qualified To Become A Travelling Yoga Teacher

If you’re not already, the first step in becoming a travelling yoga instructor is to get qualified. 

You will need to take a Level 3 yoga teacher training course. This is the minimum requirement to become a yoga instructor both in the UK and to travel abroad. 

Here at OriGym, our Level 3 yoga teacher qualification is an entry-level course that gives you a strong foundation of skills, knowledge and experience to become a yoga travelling yoga teacher. 

If you want to travel as a yoga teacher, you will need to make sure that your qualification is internationally recognised.

With this in mind, OriGym’s yoga teacher training course is regulated by Ofqual. This not only means that the course meets the highest standards of training in the industry, but Ofqual is also internationally recognised. 

This means that when you come to work as a yoga teacher in another country, your qualification will be recognised by employers all over the world.

Without this, you may have to take another training course in whichever country you are in, which of course requires lots of time, money and effort!

Step 2- Gain Teaching Experience At Home Before Becoming A Travelling Yoga Teacher

Once you are qualified, the next step in becoming a travelling yoga instructor is to start to gain some teaching experience. 

You may be keen to start travelling and teaching yoga straight away. 

But taking the time to get some teaching experience before you leave will make it a lot easier to find yoga travels jobs when you are out there. 

Whilst you will be able to find entry-level jobs, many jobs will ask for some years of experience. This is particularly the case for jobs in places such as yoga retreats or high-end retreats. 

Plus, getting experience before you leave will help you gain confidence and find your yoga teaching style, making the process of becoming a travelling yoga instructor a lot less daunting.

Step 3- Find A Travelling Yoga Teaching Job

Once you are qualified and have started gaining some experience, you can now start looking for yoga travel jobs! 

However, it can be hard to know where to start. So, here are some things to consider to help you land your dream job as a travelling yoga teacher: 

Most yoga teaching roles around the world will require you to submit a CV and/or cover letter as part of the application.

They are a great opportunity to sell yourself as a yoga teacher and can help you stand out amongst other applicants. 

However, there are some extra things you may want to include that are relevant for yoga travel jobs, such as:

• Language skills- particularly if you are applying for a job in a specific country
• Visa and work eligibility details
• Any other abroad work experience you may have e.g. in summer camps, cruise ships etc. 

Once you have your CV prepared, you are all set to start looking for jobs!

Unlike working as a yoga teacher in just one destination, if you are wanting to become a travelling yoga teacher, it is likely that you will have several different jobs as you move between different locations. 

With this in mind, there are two main options when it comes to finding a job as a travelling yoga instructor:

Find A Yoga Teaching Job Before You Go Travelling

If you want to ensure that you have a job when you get to your first destination for financial security, it is a good idea to start looking for jobs online before you go. 

Some useful websites for finding yoga travel jobs are Yoga Travel Jobs and Yoga Trade. 

Find A Yoga Teaching Job When You Get There/ As You Are Travelling

If you are wanting to become a travelling yoga teacher, you can also find your jobs as and when you are travelling. 

This is a good option if you have no set destinations or timeframe in mind (i.e. you don’t know how long you will spend in each place, or where your next destination will be). 

Some ways to find travel yoga jobs when you get there are:

• Networking with other yoga teachers when you get there (by going to yoga classes, finding groups online etc)
• Using social media, e.g. posting to tell your followers that you are in travelling and looking for a job
• Putting physical job advert posters/ flyers in the area you are staying
• Word-of-mouth as you meet people travelling

This can therefore open you up to more opportunities that you may not have found online before you go. 

Depending on the country, you may find that many jobs are not actually advertised online. 

Whichever way you choose to find a job, here are some of the ways that you can work as a travelling yoga teacher: 

#1- Work As A Travelling Yoga Instructor Teaching Online Classes

One of the best yoga travel jobs is to teach online yoga classes. 

This means that you can teach yoga from wherever you are in the world. All you need is yourself, a mat and your laptop! 

Working as an online yoga teacher gives you ultimate flexibility, as you are not tied down to a specific location. This is therefore a great option if you don’t have a specific itinerary of destinations in mind before you start travelling. 

Not being tied to a location also means that you open yourself up to more students, as you can teach people from all over the world and are not limited by class size. This therefore gives you a potentially uncapped earning potential! 

We have a whole guide on how to become an online yoga teacher here for tips on how to get started. 

#2- Work As A Travelling Yoga Teacher At Yoga Retreats 

Another great way to work as a travelling yoga teacher is to teach work on a yoga retreat.

You can find a job teaching yoga at a retreat on the same yoga travel jobs websites we mentioned above, or on websites such as Retreat Hub that list exclusively yoga retreat jobs.

This is a great option if you are a more experienced yoga teacher, as most yoga retreat roles will ask for yoga teachers with a few years of teaching experience. 

For example, the job advert for a yoga retreat role states that 2 year’s experience is required:

Plus, yoga retreats are often run in luxury and scenic locations around the world, so it is a great way to work as a yoga teacher and see the world at the same time! 

Since yoga retreats run over fixed dates for a certain amount of time (from a few days to months), you would therefore have to be sure that you could commit to being in one place for that amount of time.  

#3- Work As A Travelling Yoga Teacher On A Cruise Ship

Another great way to travel the world whilst teaching yoga is to work on a cruise ship. 

One of the main things to note about this kind of work is the hours you would be expected to work. 

In general, you would be teaching classes every day. However, this is balanced out by long periods of time off where you are free to explore wherever the cruise ship is travelling to!

As a yoga teacher on a cruise ship, you will often have to do other tasks such as maintaining and cleaning the gym, or even teaching other fitness classes. 

We have a whole step-by-step guide here to how to become a yoga teacher on a cruise ship for more information about this role!

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#4- Work As A Travelling Yoga Instructor In Hostels 

One of the most popular ways to work as a travelling yoga instructor is to work in hostels.

Most hostels around the world will offer yoga classes to their guests, particularly in popular tourist destinations in Asia and Australia.

You can find yoga teaching jobs in hostels either on a freelance or contracted basis. You could find this before you go online, or when you get there through networking and word-of-mouth. 

Since yoga classes in hostels are often run for free or on a donation basis, you may find that you are teaching for free at first or for a small fee. 

However, it can be a great way to gain experience as a travelling yoga instructor, particularly at the start of your travels. 

Many hostels also hire yoga teachers on a work exchange basis. This is when you will teach yoga in exchange for accommodation at the hostel. 

So whilst you wouldn’t receive a salary, this could be balanced out by free accommodation and often other free perks such as free meals! 

Plus, hostels are usually very sociable places, so it can be a great way to meet new people if you are travelling alone. 

The best place to look for yoga travel jobs in hostels is WorkAway. This is an online platform where hostels will advertise for staff in exchange for accommodation. 

#5- Work As A Travelling Yoga Instructor In A Hotel Or Resort

Finally, another of the most popular yoga travel jobs is working in hotels or resorts. 

Similar to hostels, most hotels and resorts will offer yoga classes to their guests, often as part of their gym or fitness centre. 

You will most likely be hired on a freelance or contracted basis. 

You may also receive perks such as free accommodation and meals, but this is often in addition to a salary, rather than as a work exchange. 

This is usually because compared to hostels, hotels and resorts will have a higher budget to spend on their employees- particularly if you work for a hotel chain. 

It is also worth noting that many hotels and resorts will only hire staff seasonally, on a fixed-term contract basis, to account for the popular tourist times of that destination. 

If you want to teach yoga in a hotel or resort in a particular location, you will therefore need to consider the seasonal times of that place, as this could affect the amount of jobs available there. 

Yoga travel jobs at hotels and resorts are also advertised online on websites such as Yoga Travel Jobs, but there are also more specific websites such as Resort Work that advertise exclusively jobs in resorts around the world. 

Step 4- Build Up An Online Presence Before Becoming A Yoga Teacher Abroad

Once you have considered how you will find work as a travelling yoga instructor and considered the type of role you want, it is a good idea to build up an online presence as a yoga teacher before you leave. 

The best way to do this is to build up a following on social media, especially on Instagram and Facebook. 

As well as finding jobs online or through networking in person, social media is also a great tool for finding teaching opportunities, as you can post about your travels and find local yoga studios by networking. 

The more followers you have, the more potential connections you have that could lead to you finding a job as a travelling yoga teacher! 

Plus, you could highlight your social media to employers as a way to show your personality as well as just your qualifications. It also demonstrates your marketing skills, which is often a requirement of yoga teacher jobs. 

If you have an itinerary planned for your travels, you should use social media to establish connections ahead of arriving in your various destinations, which could ultimately lead to a job opportunity.

It is also beneficial on a personal level, as it could help you meet other like-minded travelling yoga teachers, particularly if you are travelling alone! 

Step 5- Get Insured To Work As A Travelling Yoga Teacher

The next important step of becoming a travelling yoga instructor is to get insured. 

There are 2 main types of insurance you will need to teach yoga whilst travelling: travel insurance for working abroad, and specific yoga teacher insurance. 

Get Travel Insurance For Working As A Travelling Yoga Instructor

This is simply insurance that covers you for any kind of work abroad. 

This is different to standard travel insurance, as it covers you for working, rather than just leisure. 

A work abroad insurance policy will typically cover things such as:

• Medical care if you have an accident whilst teaching yoga abroad
• Travel costs if you have to return home after being injured 
• Loss or damage to your property whilst travelling such as yoga equipment 

Without this insurance, you would be required to pay the cost of these things yourself, which could be hundreds and thousands of pounds!

Top Dog Insurance and Navigator Insurance both have good working abroad travel insurance policies. 

One thing to bear in mind when choosing a working abroad travel insurance policy is that it covers all the continents you are planning on travelling to! If you are not sure yet, then it is worth getting a worldwide policy. 

Get Yoga Teacher Insurance To Work As A Travelling Yoga Teacher 

As well as travel insurance, you will also need standard yoga teacher insurance, just as you would for working as a yoga teacher in the UK. 

We have a whole article here on yoga teacher insurance.

But in summary, the main types of insurance you will need as a travelling yoga instructor are:

• Public liability insurance
• Professional liability insurance 
• Equipment insurance

Check out Insure 4 Sport and BeYogi for good yoga teacher insurance policies.

Step 6- Prepare Your Documents For Becoming A Travelling Yoga Teacher

Before you leave you will need to ensure that you have all the necessary documents required to become a travelling yoga instructor. 

The 2 key documents you need to remember are:

• An up-to-date passport. Many countries will require you to have at least 6 months validity on your passport before your arrival date in that country. However, you should check with the passport requirements for each country you are visiting, as this may vary. 
• The appropriate visa. Most countries will require you to have a working visa to work as a yoga teacher there. Again, the types and lengths of visas will vary for each country. Check out the UK government’s travel advice for information specific to each country. 

Remember that the process of applying for passports and visas can take several weeks or even months, so ensure that you allow plenty of time for this before you start travelling. 

As well as being a legal requirement, when looking for yoga travel jobs, many employers will ask for evidence of a valid passport and visa before they employ foreign workers. 

Some other documents that may be useful to have with you- whether in their original form or as copies, are:

• Birth certificate
• Passport photos
• Your yoga training certificate
• Driving licence
• Insurance policy

You should also ensure that you have the required vaccinations for the country or countries you are travelling to. 

Another thing to prepare before you go is your finances! 

Although you will be ultimately earning money as a travelling yoga teacher, it can sometimes take time to establish a regular salary. You should therefore ensure that you have enough money before you go to cover the costs of things such as:

• Accommodation 
• Flights
• Visa
• Food
• Vaccinations
• Insurance 

Remember that the more prepared you are before you leave, the less you have to think about when you are travelling, so the more time and effort you can put into being a successful yoga teacher. 

Step 7- Take Additional Courses To Become A Specialist Travelling Yoga Teacher

The final step is to take additional courses to increase your chances of finding yoga travel jobs. 

This is optional, but we highly recommend it if you want to stand out in an already competitive market of travelling yoga instructors. 

Take A Level 4 Yoga Teacher Training Course To Become A Travelling Yoga Teacher

Once you’re a Level 3 qualified yoga teacher, you can then take a Level 4 yoga teacher training course. 

Here at OriGym, our Ofqual-regulated Level 4 yoga teacher training course builds on the knowledge and skills you learn at Level 3, covering content such as:

• Teaching Yoga as a Profession
• Understanding and Applying the Philosophy and Spiritual Principles of Yoga
• Yogic Breathing Styles
• Teaching Asana to Meet the Needs of Mixed Ability Students
• Planning & Delivering Yoga Sessions

You can also choose to specialise in a specialist style of yoga, such as Hatha or Ashtanga. 

If you are planning to work as a freelance or self-employed travelling yoga teacher, this means that you can advertise yourself as a specialist yoga teacher. 

You can therefore charge more for your classes, since you are offering a higher standard of teaching to your students. 

A Level 4 qualification will also make you qualified for a wider range of yoga travel jobs, as many jobs will be looking for a specific type of yoga teacher (e.g. a Yin yoga teacher). 

This is particularly important if you want to work in places like yoga retreats, which will often require a higher level of qualification and experience. 

Take A Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course To Increase Your Chances Of Becoming A Travelling Yoga Teacher

If you want to become a travelling yoga instructor, you may be wondering why you should take a fitness instructing course!

But in fact, a Level 2 fitness/gym instructing qualification is a highly valuable addition to your CV when applying to yoga travel jobs. 

This is because many roles will require you to also teach other fitness classes, not just yoga. 

This is particularly the case for jobs in hotels, resorts or on cruise ships, where you would be teaching yoga as part of a gym or fitness centre.

Having a Level 2 gym instructor qualification would therefore open you up to these jobs! 

Before You Go!

Now that you know how to become a travelling yoga teacher, you can put this advice into action and take your practice anywhere in the world!

Remember, completing a Level 3 Yoga Teaching Diploma can help with this process, as this course is fully internationally recognised!

To discover more about how this course can benefit you, be sure to download our FREE course prospectus.