$1M Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance for Yoga Instructors

Yoga instructors asked for $1M by a studio, gym or wellness client usually need a Professional Liability (E&O) policy with a $1M limit per claim. Here is what to check in the contract.

What does a $1M requirement mean for yoga instructors?

Professional Liability (E&O, short for Errors and Omissions) covers claims that your teaching or advice harmed a student, such as a student saying your cueing or an adjustment caused an injury. A typical clause:

A certificate of insurance is a one-page proof of your coverage that the insurer or agent issues.

• Per claim: the most the policy pays for any one claim, here $1M. The aggregate is the yearly total, here $2M. A $1M/$2M policy usually meets either wording, but your contract controls.
• Two coverages: General Liability covers things like a slip in the lobby. Professional Liability covers your teaching (see Professional Liability vs. General Liability). Some packages include both.
• Claims-made: Professional Liability is almost always claims-made. That means it covers claims first made while the policy is active, for classes taught on or after the retroactive date (the earliest work date it covers). Your policy form shows your retroactive date.

Who asks yoga instructors for $1M?

You may see $1M requests from:

• Yoga studios that book you as a contract teacher.
• Gyms and fitness clubs that add yoga to their class schedule.
• Employers and corporate wellness programs that host on-site classes.
• Retreat centers, resorts, spas, schools, senior centers and clinics.

Gym chains, larger wellness programs and hospital systems sometimes ask for $2M per claim. A $1M/$2M policy would not meet that, because its per-claim limit is still $1M (see $2M Professional Liability for yoga instructors).

How is $1M built?

At $1M, the limit is usually one primary policy (the policy that pays first), with no excess layers. A licensed provider, such as a physical therapist, usually needs medical malpractice coverage for clinical work. A commercial umbrella (extra liability coverage that sits above other policies) usually excludes professional services (see Does a commercial umbrella cover Professional Liability?).

A studio is often added as an additional insured (a party that gets coverage under your policy) on the General Liability. On Professional Liability, clients usually cannot be added. If your contract asks for it, send it to Morrow to review. Morrow can also review the contract against the policy for gaps, such as excluded hands-on assists, missing hot or aerial yoga, or one shared aggregate.

What will underwriters ask for?

An underwriter is the insurer's person who decides whether to offer coverage. They usually ask yoga instructors for:

• Your training hours, CPR and first aid status, and any license.
• The styles you teach, especially hot, aerial or acro yoga, and whether you teach prenatal, senior, youth or therapeutic classes.
• Whether you give hands-on assists, and how you get consent.
• Where you teach: studios, homes, outdoors, online or on retreats, including abroad.
• Teacher trainings, product sales, revenue, prior claims, and your current policy and retroactive date, if it has one.

What affects the cost?

• Styles and students. Aerial or acro yoga may be excluded, need a different program or cost more. Prenatal and therapeutic classes may draw more questions. Policies vary.
• Class volume and revenue. Policies may price by class count or income.
• Extras and claims history. Teacher trainings, retreats and product sales add risk. Prior claims can raise the price.
• Aggregate and retention. A higher aggregate usually costs more. A higher retention (the amount you pay on each claim before the policy pays) usually lowers the premium.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need $1M Professional Liability as a yoga instructor?

Often yes, if a studio, gym or client contract requires it. Hypothetically, a student says your hands-on assist strained their hamstring. The policy may pay your defense on a covered claim, depending on the wording.

Does the studio's insurance cover me as a yoga teacher?

Often not, if you are an independent contractor. The studio's policy usually protects the studio and its employees, so studios ask for your own coverage and a certificate of insurance.

Is $1M/$1M enough if my contract says $1M/$2M?

Usually not. A $1M/$1M policy does not meet a $1M/$2M clause, so you would need a new policy. Morrow can request quotes and ask carriers to keep your retroactive date and prior acts coverage (coverage for work done before the new policy starts) where the market allows. Tell your current carrier about any known incident before you switch.

What happens to my coverage if I stop teaching or switch policies?

A claims-made policy does not cover a claim first made after it ends, unless you buy tail coverage (an extended reporting period that gives you extra time to report claims about past classes) or a new policy keeps the same retroactive date and covers prior acts. Tell your current carrier about any known incident before you switch (see tail coverage).

This article is general information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on the actual policy wording, carrier underwriting and your contract terms.