A yoga liability waiver is a waiver that yoga studios and instructors often use to minimize their risk of liability in the event that someone is gets hurt. First-time clients and new students are often made to complete this waiver before beginning their first yoga session with a studio or instructor. These forms often ask for the client’s date of birth, name, date, and signature to certify that the client understands the fact that they are waiving their right to sue if they suffer an injury. If the student or client is a minor, the parent or legal guardian will be asked to sign on his or her behalf.
A yoga liability waiver will be used by yoga studios and fitness centers that offer yoga classes. These waiver forms are designed to protect the yoga instructors and the studio or fitness center in the event that someone is injured during a yoga class. New students typically must complete a waiver form before they attend their first yoga class. Waiver forms should also ask the client of his or her date of birth. In one way, collecting the client's date of birth ensures he or she is not a minor. Minors will need to have their parent or guardian fill out the form for them.
Typically, a yoga liability form will include a section that releases the yoga studio and the teachers from liability in case the student suffers an injury. The student must read this statement and sign the waiver if they consent. Many waiver forms will also ask students to list any physical limitations or medical issues they have so they will be on file. Both parties should keep a copy of this form for their records.
Over 20 million Americans practice yoga on a regular or semi-regular basis. As a result, more and more people are obtaining certifications to teach yoga. This guide is designed for anyone considering becoming a certified yoga instructor. We cover how to identify the right program for you, the legal liabilities associated with teaching, how to find the right insurance policy, and how to craft a liability waiver for your future students. We hope this guide provides a jumping-off point for all you future yoga instructors.
There are numerous variations of Yoga. Therefore, before you begin training to become a Yoga instructor it is imperative to identify which type of yoga you wish to teach. Yoga teacher training programs are often type-specific, but there are other programs that offer a more generalized yoga instructor certification.
More general certification programs include instruction on hatha yoga techniques including:
Furthermore, different training programs involve different time commitments, both in terms of program length and intensity of instruction. Intensive training programs require longer hours over a shorter period of time, while longer programs are less frequent, but can require months to complete.
If you schedule permits, intensive training programs offer you the fastest path to the front of a yoga studio as a certified instructor.
As with related professions, like personal training, there are some general legal precautions to be aware of as a yoga instructor. Most training programs dedicate hours towards safety procedures for classes, assisting, anatomy, etc. Making sure your yoga certification is up-to-date is one way to ensure you are aware of the most recent safety guidelines and best practices.
Additionally, yoga teachers should obtain liability insurance, which protects them in the event that a client suffers a personal injury during a class that requires medical attention. Ensuring you are properly licensed and permitted will help protect you from legal action.
You should also require your students to sign a liability waiver before practicing with you. If you plan to work with private clients in their home or yours, establish a contract that clearly outlines safety guidelines.
There are a host of other safety precautions to take during instruction, those include:
Once you obtain your certification, you’ll need to purchase liability insurance. Here are some tips for doing so.
Here is a list of questions to ask providers (please note: this is not a comprehensive list):
There are many policies available for yoga instructors. Here are some of the most popular:
Other policies include theft, sexual misconduct, etc.
You can purchase liability insurance from a number of providers that are easily found online, in yoga industry publications, and elsewhere.
Generally, annual premiums range between $159 and $404 depending on the amount of coverage and provider you choose.
Here are some insurance terms you should be aware of before choosing and purchasing a policy.
As mentioned above, yoga instructors should require their clients to sign a liability waiver. Here are some tips for what a waiver should include:
Make sure your waiver includes a section requesting any additional information related to health-risks, ailments, or injury history.
Negligence occurs only when you are aware of a pre-existing problem and fail to take proper safety procedures. Therefore, if you are unaware of a student’s condition, but have provided ample space for them to inform you of their ailment--in the waiver, verbally before class, etc.--you are not legally responsible.
If someone injured themselves in your class, begin by evaluating the situation and then take action. If the injury appears serious, inform the manager/studio owner before attempting to touch or move the person, and call for medical assistance, if necessary.
Once the injured party is secure or in the care of medical professionals, make sure you have all of their contact information. Then, you should notify your yoga insurance carrier.
Once the episode is dealt with, consider if there is anything you can do to prevent similar injuries in the future.
If you lead a yoga retreat, you may need an additional waiver in addition to the traditional waiver. Make sure the retreat waiver includes the terms and conditions of the retreat, as well as the following:
Yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the US. It is also a practice that blends physical and mental wellness. We hope this guide provides you with a thorough foundation of how to begin the process of acquiring a yoga certification and getting in front of a classroom as soon as possible.
Our team at FormSwift creating a ranking of the best and worst states to be a yoga instructor. We evenly weighted total employment of fitness and aerobics instructors in each state, along with average median wage and location quotient to determine a total for each state.
