While there have been very few, if any, lawsuits reported stemming from injury in a Kids Yoga class, it is still essential to take appropriate legal and professional protection for yourself. Personally, from my biz perspective, purchasing general liability insurance (aka “slip and fall” insurance) is a must have before taking on any teaching opportunities. God forbid, a parent considers you liable for their child’s injury. With an active insurance policy, you will receive fair protection.
These days general liability coverage for Kids Yoga Teachers is highly accessible as there are more and more companies that offer insurance specific to Yoga instruction. My personal preference and whom I have had my insurance with for 18+ years is Philadelphia Insurance Companies.
I think you will find that paying an annual fee for insurance is low cost, especially when compared to the price tag of an average lawsuit. Typically, a policy ranges from $50-$500 per year depending on the number of hours that you teach, the style of Yoga you offer and whether you have a mobile enrichment program with teachers working for you, a studio or are an individual instructor.
Here is a handy chart I found by The National Association of Complementary and Alternative Medicines which has a comparison grid for different Yoga insurance polices with various providers. Be aware that some of these wont write international policies and may be outdated. Oh and just a side note … that while many popular organizations like Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance offer insurance, they are not the provider and the actual policies are underwritten by separate insurance policies, such as Philadelphia.
Keep in mind that while sometimes a Yoga studio and academic school may provide some form of general liability insurance, they most often will not cover you, the individual instructor. I have found that most studios and schools require that you have your own insurance policy.
Once you set up your insurance policy, the company will likely supply you with a template for a waiver, which releases you from any liability up to the coverage that you have. If by chance, your insurance company does not support you with this, you can access a free template online. For extra precaution, I recommend that you have a lawyer review this document so you can be guaranteed that both you and your students are adequately protected in the event of any issues.
Finally, as always in biz, make sure to do thorough research of each company and potential polices so that you’ll have peace of mind regarding your insurance selection for your business.
Sound good?
Let me know! I’d love to hear your questions and experiences with securing the right insurance plan for your biz. Leave a comment here on the blog and let us know what you have found to be useful and or confusing.
In support of you,
Jodi
I’m corresponding with the insurance company that I use for my psychotherapy practice about adding insurance for kid’s yoga. The representative asked if I am legally able to call myself a yoga instructor, and that threw me a little. I am certified through Next Generation Yoga.
yes you are legally a kids yoga teacher 🙂 !!