...from someone who's been doing it for 15 years
Long ago, in 2011 — with a stand-up microphone and an old camcorder my dad had gifted me — I recorded what I wished there was more of on YouTube: a 30-min yoga class. There began an incredible journey of making money as an online yoga teacher, something I didn’t even know was possible way back then.
I was driven by no particularly deep “Why.” I was just having fun, experimenting, and curious about the possibilities of this relatively new platform.
After so many years of experimenting, I can say with confidence: there are three standout ways for yoga teachers to make real, steady money online in 2026.
These aren’t trends — they’re proven models that can evolve with you as your practice and your audience deepen.
Let’s get into them.
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Affiliate Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and love.
1. YouTube Channel
Long-term visibility and passive income
I’ll tell you right away: YouTube should not be your sole means of making money online. Adsense has a way of trickling — instead of pouring — in. It makes nice pocket money but I wouldn’t count on living on it. For that reason, YouTube should be one component of your bigger business eco-system.
YouTube enables you to introduce yourself to the world and speak directly to the people who will benefit from your unique services.
As a highly trafficked and long-standing search engine, YouTube remains the most powerful free marketing platform for yoga teachers and anyone else in the online space. That’s because each video becomes a living, searchable asset that can reach students worldwide — 24/7.
You can earn through:
YouTube AdSense (passive income pocket money),
Affiliate links in your video descriptions,
Promotion of your own courses, digital products, and/or memberships (the path I recommend).
Why It Works in 2026
People search YouTube for all manner of problems they are hoping to solve with yoga: “yoga for anxiety,” “slow morning routine,” and “yoga for low-back pain.” You can meet them exactly where they are — for free — and guide them deeper into your paid offers.
Tools I Recommend
Canva Free or Pro – for professional thumbnails.
SiteGround – to host your blog or website.
ConvertKit – to grow your email list and create landing pages
My Best Tip
Don’t create a channel until you know exactly WHO you want to speak to. What single problem are you solving? In a world of so many voices, it’s important to become a “market of one.”
Think of becoming the go-to person for one transformation and one transformation only. Here are a few underserved ideas:
— release trauma in the hips
— yoga for post-natal mommas
— chair yoga for retirees
— yoga to support hormonal shifts for menopausal people
FOCUS is rewarded in yoga and in life. Be willing to stay the course one-pointedly for a meaningful duration of time.
2. Membership Site
Recurring revenue, real connection
In 2017, I was co-running a brick and mortar yoga studio in my hometown. I absolutely loved it, but I also dreamed of reaching more people, in distant places, through the magic of the interwebs.
Finally, in 2018, I made my dream a reality. After researching like crazy, I turned to Memberful, which allowed me to gate my website’s content and charge a small fee for access to 60-min yoga classes.
I never looked back!
Since then, I have been growing a small community of practitioners who happen to be drawn to my classes, and I’ve been receiving recurring revenue that helps to feed my kids and sleep comfortably at night.
If this model calls to you, I can’t recommend it more highly.
What It Is
A membership can be your digital yoga studio or a community and course hub that supports students as they move through a transformation you provide. Students pay monthly or yearly for access to ongoing practices, workshops, or guidance. You can structure it as:
A practice library with new classes each month,
A teacher mentorship space,
Or a community for people who share similar goals.
Why It Works in 2026
Memberships create consistency — for both you and your students. You no longer need to constantly “launch.” You’re simply deepening relationships over time.
Tools I Recommend
- Memberful – the simplest way to create a paywall for WordPress content
Kajabi – an all-in-one tool that integrates seamlessly for content, community, and payments.
ConvertKit – use email sequencing automations to onboard members smoothly
WordPress – your blog or homepage can point readers straight to your membership.
My Tip
Start small. A $27/month offering with 100 aligned members brings in over $30,000/year — quietly, steadily, and without a hint of hustle.
3. High Ticket Courses
Transformational programs that sell themselves
I know, I know. Everyone seems to have a course these days. And isn’t there something icky about watching a helpful video from a nice presenter and then discovering that they just wanted to sell you a course?
Here’s why you need to consider it anyway:
As our educational system evolves, fewer and fewer people are relying solely on traditional institutions like colleges to learn valuable skills. Education has become more democratic and widely dispersed. The online course industry is expected to DOUBLE over the next 10 years — wouldn’t it be wise to step into the mix?
We each have the ability to teach what we know, and frankly, students want to learn from someone who’s only a few steps ahead on the journey because that person usually still remembers what is was like to struggle in the beginning stages.
If you’re an expert in anything — and I bet you are — it is absolutely worth your while to package what you know into an organized, step-by-step system that people can follow with your guidance.
What It Is
A high-ticket course is an in-depth, premium program — usually over $1000 — that helps your students achieve a deep transformation. Think:
The 8-Week Nervous System Reset for Women
60 Days to Fit into the Dress
4-Month Online Prenatal Yoga Teaching Course – with Continuing Ed Credits
Why It Works in 2026
People are done with quick fixes and navigating endless information. They crave depth, community, human support, and results. When your course is clearly positioned to solve a meaningful problem — and you deliver from embodied integrity — the right students are more than willing to invest.
Tools I Recommend
Kajabi – all-in-one course platform for building, hosting, and selling premium courses.
SiteGround – host your website for dependable speed and reliability.
ConvertKit – for email automations and nurturing your students between launches.
My Tip
Don’t be afraid to price for the transformation, not the hours. A well-crafted $1,200 program can serve a hundred students a year and change your entire income landscape.
If it scares you to charge so much, charge what you’re comfortable charging, but also make a commitment to expand your capacity to receive money over time. You might want to make sure you’ve got your money mindset on lock.
Final Thoughts
Yogis deserve to eat too.
The good news is you can do it with ease and integrity.
You don’t need to chase trends, sell your soul, or burn yourself out on social media.
Your online business can be as graceful and grounded as your yoga practice itself.
The strategic combination of the methods I’ve just described — think: YouTube → Membership → Course — can create sustainable, ethical income while honoring your deeper purpose.
Got questions? Ask away!
With love,
Leigha Butler
About Leigha Butler
Leigha teaches yoga teachers how to fine tune their money mindset and learn to make money in a way that feels ethical, enjoyable, and aligned. Find her popular yoga classes on YouTube and on her membership portal, Leigha Butler Yoga.
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