Passive Income Ideas for Yoga Teachers

Our world was changed when the world was ordered to stay indoors. Not because there was a disease that was affecting us by the thousands, nor was it because we made adjustments to carry on via work-and-study-from-home. We were shaken into realizing that it was possible that everything could come crashing down on us. I believed that marked us as a society. In my case, I was conditioned to get a side hustle or find a way for our family to have multiple income streams. 

We tried everything from bitcoin to investing in new tech. Lessons were learned very painfully. Then I tried my hand at starting a YouTube channel, content creation, as well as other out-of-the-box ideas to make some extra cash with minimum effort. Guess what? Passive income takes a lot of work before it becomes passive. A possible passive income stream will take time, patience, and money. Is it worth it? Yes. If you need another income stream, then go for it. If not, I suggest that you concentrate on your business and branch out. Yes, there is a difference between the two categories.   

In this article, we will discuss the different types of passive income schemes available to us, the difference between branching out and passive income, and most importantly, the effects of these ventures on your time and investment. 

Passive Income: A Definition 

Passive income is a revenue stream with little to no preparation or investment. Sounds like a dream, right? I’m sorry to say that it kind of is. Most passive income streams require some research, preparation, and maintenance. Ideas that claim otherwise are suspicious at best. 

During the research phase of this article/personal experience,  I realized that there are 3 types of passive income streams:

 1. True Passive Income stream: This venture requires no start-up capital or time investment.

 2.  Minimal-Moderate Investment Passive Income stream: This venture requires minimal to moderate startup capital and time investment. 

 3.  Major Investment Passive Income stream: This venture requires a large investment of startup capital and time.

The Difference Between Branching out and Passive Income 

What is the difference between branching out and passive income? When you branch out, you are expanding your business so that your additional venture is part of your brand building. Passive income doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your main line of work. Knowing the difference between the two schemes will help in your decision-making process. Throughout this article, I will use these 2 terms as we move along. 

Types of True Passive Income Ideas

These business ventures are the rarest of all because nothing is free. If something doesn’t need money to get started, it needs time, and vice versa.  If something doesn’t need time or money for a business to work, it is usually a scam. Even TIKTOK requires creating a niche and time for content creation. Which doesn’t make it a true passive income stream. Nevertheless, these unicorns of “side hustles” do exist—in your current assets. Look at the things within your reach. Here are some interesting options:  

1. If you have a space or equipment, rent it out - Rent out extra space for storage, rent out your studio for other teachers to hold classes/workshops, you can even rent your space for local productions to have rehearsals. if you have extra equipment lying around, do the same thing. In Manila, some studios rent out their facilities for photoshoots. Most studios there are outfitted with different backgrounds to choose from, and you can have package deals from basic to premium. The basic package is space rental only. The premium package involves using the studio’s photographer with video footage and a makeup artist to do a session. They even rent out tripods for practitioners who document their practice during classes (if this is the vibe you want for your space). Do what works for you. 

2. Talk to your bank -  Your bank may offer low-risk investment options or even give you a percentage for “parking” your savings in a small investment. Here in Spain, through ING, I was given a fixed-income account when I signed with them. Truth be told, I didn’t know what it was at the time. After a bit of research and trial and error, I saw a bit of my money grow little by little, and I could withdraw anytime. Other FI schemes require “parking” your savings until the financial instrument reaches “maturity”.  You cando this to build your “nest egg”.  There are a myriad of other options that the bank will be all too willing to help you out with. Again, I urge you to do your research before you make your appointment. 

3. become a silent partner in someone else’s venture - Becoming a silent partner means that you get a percentage of ownership in the first stages of a business without the headache of time commitment involved in the building/maintenance of the company.  However, having little involvement doesn’t exempt you from liability. Said liability is only proportional to the percentage you invested. It depends on the contract you sign.  I would say there is a medium to high risk involved because you are investing in both the entrepreneur and the business model.  

While there are more ways to gain passive income, the choices I mentioned are less risky and volatile. What about Crypto and NFTS ?  Some lucky humans have lucked out on these ventures, but we can’t ignore the fact that it’s volatile and will need time to learn the system. I would classify this as a minimal to moderate investment passive income stream. Go slow and do some research before handing in your hard-earned cash.

Types of  Minimal-Moderate Investment Passive Income Streams

These Business models are more common because you can go into a new business to branch out or do something else. A minimal-moderate PI business model would be from 0-1000€ investment in capital and the time you have available to orchestrate and manage this business. It requires a bit of effort. While theoretically there is a minimum amount of work involved, there is a good chance that you may become quite occupied. I would advise that you pick a strategy that aligns with your character––not against it. What do I mean? For example, you are a person who loves to shop. Sign up for an affiliate program for Amazon. If you love Korean skincare, become an international reseller.  Why would you sell juice if you don’t normally drink juice? You see what I mean? Without further ado, here are some ideas: 

1.  Pre-order Model Via Online Store - this involves setting up a free/cheap online store via social media ( Facebook Shop, Instagram via Linktree or Shopify), collecting orders before you buy.  Customers can pay upfront, taking out the need for a storage space. You will need some upfront costs to set up your Shopify store, research on shipping and logistics for batch orders, and a minimal stock purchase so you have a few products on hand. As for your marketing strategy, content creation via social media is key, cheap, easy, and free. A 300€ investment may be enough. You can sell either yoga materials if you want to branch out your brand or sell something else.

2.  Affiliate Programs - Amazon or other giant multi-brand conglomerates often leverage the world of social influencing by providing a monetizing option for loyal consumers with a following. Once signed up and approved ,you will receive a URL to link within your content, bio or comments, so that your subscribers may support your endeavor by clicking on your page and from there, make a purchase. After the transaction, you will start gaining 3%-12% commission with every sale. Take note, the trial period for your affiliate program on Amazon is 180 days. Approximately the same trial periods are given for other companies.  

 3. Write a Book - While book writing can be categorized as a Major Investment PI Scheme because of the time you will need to write, edit, and push for publication.  If you are a passionate and enthusiastic writer, then writing a book may not feel as overwhelming. It is a flexible path that can either be branched out with your yoga career or writing something you enjoy. In my case, I could pass the hours writing or reading. I sometimes forget to drink or have a snack.  If you see yourself doing this, go for it. I went in guns blazing and improved along the way. I started with articles here on Momoyoga. Since then, I wrote a children’s guide to art history for an online art school and short stories about unicorns. Which only increased my writing ability by exploring different styles. These days, the only service I pay for in my writing is Masterclass. This is a learning platform from some of the biggest names in the field of your choice. From Gordon Ramsay to Diane Von Furstenberg to Neil Gaiman and other famed writers to guide you on your journey. I’m taking things slow. Pacing in my learning while coupling my education with application.  Yes, there is a period of outgrowing your impostor syndrome-like feelings, but it is worth it. You will learn a skill no one can take away from you as you pave the way for future opportunities. 

 4. @Grabthatidea on Instagram - Richards Urbens is a digital creator who vlogs about creative business ideas and may send you a ready-made business plan when you DM him. From products to services in all fields, he has a supply of side-hustles for you to peruse. These projects may range from minimal to major investments in time and finances. Know your territory and what you want from this business. Do you want to go at it alone or find a few business partners, etc?  Is it feasible for you to get into something now? Am I living in an area that will need the products I want to push? Nonetheless, it is a very enjoyable rabbit Instagram account to dive into. 

5. Side Gigs - If you are blessed with a natural talent such as singing, public speaking or whatnot, form a band and go through the wedding or live music circuit in your area. It is a bit of “easy money” during the lull periods of yoga teaching, especially in the summer. You don’t need to get an agent or anything just yet, but play a couple of open mics, and see how it flows. 

6. Distributorship - If there is a product you would like to have available in your town or city, look into distributorship possibilities. Platforms like FAIRE offer a wide range of products that you can stock a small amount in your space and see how it goes.   

Types of Major Investment Passive Income Streams 

Going this route is “bringing out the big guns”. Investing a huge chunk of your savings to take a risk on a new endeavor. It will consume you. It will become your spouse, mistress, baby, pet, and science experiment all in one package. So what makes this a passive venture? It is and it isn’t. If you set up your second business in such a way that you can outsource the administrative work, then it becomes passive. Otherwise, it becomes a branch of your brand or a second business altogether. Do your homework by attending a few forums on small business opportunities in your area. Get acquainted with knowledgeable folks to seek guidance from. There is a 50/50 chance that your new venture will be a cautionary tale or a success story.

During the pandemic, my husband and I kept our hopes up by dreaming big. Opening a Retreat House, Flipping houses, buying parking spaces for cars and boats to rent out. All involved a substantial amount of cash and permits. We even thought about distributing Spanish charcuterie items to my home country (this actually became a cautionary tale). 

When the world turned once more, we concentrated on what was in front of us to build on; some dreams lingered in the back of our minds. Some possibilities emerged. Here are some ideas you can look into:

1. Invest in property -  Property is a big investment but a safe bet. You can rent it out, flip it for resell, have an Airbnb, the possibilities are endless. Even if it’s rural property, there are still things you can do. Unbuildable land limits the things you can do with your investment, but you can always turn it into a parking space, a private garden/events place to rent out for the day/night. Case and point: a close friend of mine was a very skilled gardener. Upon retirement, he started collecting cacti plants in his garden. Eventually, he became known for having one of the most extensive collections of cacti plants in Spain. He started charging for admission by donation. He opened his garden from Wednesday to Sunday while admission was by donation. It became quite successful because he gave tours too. With a little imagination, there’s always something to be done. 

2.  Have a Dealership for Pre-fabricated structure/housing - The Pre-fab housing industry has been going on long before Elon Musk raved about them. Not only will you invest in house/structure for your business it will also be your showroom property to generate sales.  Why am I specifically mentioning the pre-fab industry? It is a relatively inexpensive structure to build and very versatile. It can be a yoga studio, Airbnb, venue, etc.  While many companies have dealership/distributorship opportunities, I got to know Spacedome. This Ukrainian company makes permanent to semi-permanent and “glamping” domed structures for whatever a business needs. To become a distributor, you need to invest in a structure that you can outfit however you want while also serving as a “showroom” piece. They also provide all the marketing materials, selling script, etc, to help you reach the required minimum amount of sales per year. It was a very reasonable stipulation. I believe most companies offer the same deals. Look for a company that will be a good fit. 

3.  Invent - The Feetup, the yoga wheel, yoga elastics, the yoga trapeze, all of these yoga props were born of yogis who needed a tool to help them in their practice. If you have an idea, talk to a seamstress or builder who can make you a prototype to test out. With 3D printing services readily available, you can create something much quicker than before. The most challenging part of this path is protecting your invention or at least the name of your product. Even then, your product will be knocked off, but don’t get discouraged. With a well-protected product, they cannot copy your exact design. Also, as the inventor, you know the specifications of your creation, which materials to use, from textile to hardware, and the quality of the materials. Knockoffs need to be cheap to sell more, but good quality breeds loyalty.  So you can also count on your customers preferring your stuff rather than the off-brand version. 

4.  Retreat House - This has been my endgame dream from the start. Having a retreat venue/home matched with who I am and where I’d like to be in the future. I’m a social introvert. This means that I can socialize well with people but I like being at home. This was the vision that combined both. We’ve looked into the cost and time needed for such an undertaking. The challenge was discovering the location for your home/venue.  There will always be beautiful homes and lush scenery, but a suitable place, close to amenities, activities, and logistics, can take years until you encounter that diamond in the rough. Once you have, converting a property into a respite for yoga practitioners can go every which way. You may go big by having an exotic locale with tropical fruits, excursions, coupled with spa treatments a la mode in Asia.  Build a technological detox center dedicated to immersing oneself in their practice and nature.  You can even turn a rustic house that serves local home-cooked meals and a retreat program to return to yourself. All good things—more importantly, there’s an audience for all these types of places. It all boils down to committing to live and work in that part of the world. With opportunities like the 1€ homes in Italy, or the myriad of affordable homes in the world (yes, they exist!) One just has to take the leap. 

If you’re wondering if I’m any closer to achieving my dream, my answer is yes. Stay in touch.  

 These days, with AI growing at an exponential rate, information overflow, advertisements brought to you by algorithms, combined with the pressure of having enough to provide for yourself, your family, not to mention your future; there is a world of pressure on our shoulders. Every decision we make feels as if we’re building a house of cards on a windy day. Each one we stack could be the one that crumbles it down, or we survive to stack another. Overwhelming is an understatement.  All I can say as comfort is to look inward. It’s too noisy outside. See how your life unfolds each day with daily reflection. Write every idea you have, no matter how crazy you think they are. Then expand on some of them when you have time.  I came to my decisions after nearly a decade of repeatedly reviewing my career and personal life because our line of work affects our private life, whether we like it or not. We’re Yoga teachers/practitioners. Our boundary lines are pretty thin to begin with. 

To finish, I will leave you with this: Finding your balance takes time. Finding your rhythm means knowing the music first. Lastly, finding your footing means that you will wobble or stumble now and then. Allow/forgive yourself for the slip-ups, for stepping back, for starting over and rising again. One day you’ll have your dance. 

Take care and good luck Momoyogis!