Why can’t studios make $$??

This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered.

The Question

Genuinely so curious! Studio owners and managers in particular weigh in…why can’t yoga studios make enough $$ to pay teachers well. Why is it such a struggle for teachers to get a decent hourly rate for all the hard work and wonderful things they do? It just seems the clientele at many studios is fairly well off and can pay. Is rent too high? Buisness model not supporting yoga teachers? What is it?

— via r/yogateachers

Our Response

It's the business model.

Most studios rely on class packs and memberships. Low margin. High overhead. Rent eats half. Marketing eats another chunk. The math doesn't work.

Here's the thing: students who can afford yoga can also afford Peloton. Or YouTube. So studios compete on price. Race to the bottom.

Teachers get squeezed because they're not employees—they're contractors. No benefits. Paid per class. Not paid for prep. Not paid for the student who shows up late asking about their shoulder.

Ashtanga's different. Mysore model. Monthly unlimited. Students come six days a week. You're not selling classes—you're selling a practice. Higher commitment means higher retention. Better margins.

If you teach, find a sustainable model or build one. If you own a studio running donation-based vinyasa at 7 PM on Thursdays, you're running a charity. That's fine. Just know what you're doing.

The work is valuable. The business model usually isn't.

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