Teaching Yoga Beyond the Studio Walls: 5 Creative Ways to Share Your Practice

What if the yoga studio wasn’t the only place—or even the best place—for you to teach yoga?

In this episode of The State of Yoga Podcast, host Shelly Coffman invites us to imagine a new paradigm—one where yoga lives and breathes beyond the traditional studio walls. Whether you’re a newly certified teacher or a seasoned instructor rethinking your next chapter, this episode is packed with heart-centered inspiration and practical ideas for bringing yoga into more places, and to more people, in meaningful ways.

Yoga as a Living, Breathing Service

Shelly gently reminds us that yoga, at its core, is a practice of connection and service. Just as monks leave their monasteries to share spiritual wisdom, yoga teachers can—and do—bring the practice into the world beyond studio floors and incense-filled rooms. Teaching outside the studio doesn’t make you any less of a teacher; in fact, it may take even more courage, compassion, and creativity to step into your community as a light bearer of this practice.

If you’ve felt discouraged by limited studio space, cultural misalignment, or your own creative itch to do things differently, this episode is your call to explore what's possible.

Here are five powerful ways to share yoga outside of the studio model:

1. Online Classes and Memberships

Virtual yoga is more than a pandemic pivot—it’s a path to global reach and flexible teaching. You can:

• Host Zoom classes

• Build a membership site

• Offer pre-recorded content on YouTube or Patreon

• Create a private Facebook group

The beauty of online yoga? You set your schedule, connect with a worldwide audience, and serve students who may never set foot in a studio.

“There’s a big client base for folks who don’t want to go to a studio.”

2. Corporate Yoga and Workplace Wellness

Companies are waking up to the benefits of yoga for stress management, focus, and well-being. Shelly shares how she brought yoga into her corporate workplace early in her teaching career, offering sessions during lunch hours and creating meaningful bonds with coworkers in a completely different setting.

This path is perfect for:

• Working professionals who teach yoga on the side

• Teachers who want to serve their own workplace

• Anyone interested in employee wellness programs

3. Private and Small Group Sessions

Private sessions and small group classes offer depth, intimacy, and a chance to personalize the practice. From therapeutic sessions to family yoga to wedding parties, the possibilities are endless.

Shelly highlights this model as ideal for:

• Yoga therapists who want to go deeper

• Teachers looking to build strong teacher-student relationships

• Groups seeking an intentional, comfortable space to try yoga

“You’re only limited by your creativity.”

4. Yoga in Parks and Outdoor Spaces

There’s something magical about practicing under open skies. Outdoor yoga fosters connection to the earth and breath in a profound way. Whether it’s a local park, a beach, or a trail hike, nature provides the ultimate studio.

Shelly shares her own summer experience teaching yoga outdoors, noting how enriching and different it felt to teach amid the elements. You can make these sessions donation-based, ticketed, or completely free—whatever suits your community.

5. Retreats and Wellness Centers

If travel and immersive experiences speak to you, consider bringing yoga to retreats, wellness centers, or destination getaways. You don’t need to host the entire retreat; you can collaborate with travel agents, wellness teams, or other practitioners to contribute your teaching.

Retreats offer the chance to build thematic experiences—like Ayurveda 101, Deep Rest, or Yoga & Nature—and form lasting bonds with participants.

What Resonates with You?

Teaching yoga outside the studio is about finding alignment with your authentic integrity. What lights you up? What feels like a full-body yes? Let that guide your path.

It’s okay if fear and doubt arise—that’s the mind doing its job to keep you safe. Acknowledge it. And then take a small, brave step forward.

“You never know what you might really enjoy until you put it into practice.”

Ready to Share Your Story?

The yoga world is evolving—and we need voices like yours to help shape its future.

If you’ve found meaningful ways to teach yoga beyond the studio, we want to hear from you!

👉 Visit The State of Yoga Podcast Page to:

• Leave your thoughts or reflections in our anonymous comment form

• Download the Guest Guide and apply to be on the podcast

Because the state of yoga isn’t just a trend—it’s a community. And you’re a vital part of it.