Beginner’s Guide to SEO for Yoga Teachers: Simple Steps That Work
SEO can feel like a big, scary acronym, especially if tech is not your thing. You qualified to teach yoga because you love helping people feel better in their bodies and minds, not because you wanted to become an SEO specialist.
The good news is that you do not need to be an expert to start improving how your website shows up on Google. Small, simple changes can make a real difference.
When I built my first yoga studio website, I did not understand SEO at all. It was not something I considered. Nine years on, I have experimented, learned a lot, and seen first hand how powerful it is when students can actually find you online.
This guide is a gentle, beginner-friendly introduction to SEO for yoga teachers who want to be found by local students. No jargon, no pressure, just practical steps.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. Put simply, it is how you make your website more likely to show up when people search for yoga classes or services that you offer.
Imagine someone in your area typing into Google:
“yoga class near me”
“restorative yoga in South Manchester”
“beginner yoga Appleton”
“gentle yoga for over 60s”
SEO is what helps your website appear in those results.
You do not have to pay for ads to benefit from SEO. It is about making your website clear, helpful and easy for Google to understand.
Why SEO matters for yoga teachers
Many teachers assume most of their students will come from social media. In reality, a huge percentage of new students find classes through Google, especially people who:
have just moved into the area
are new to yoga
are looking for something specific, such as beginners, gentle, or pregnancy yoga
If your website is invisible in search results, you may be missing out on people who are actively looking for exactly what you offer.
Good SEO means:
more of the right people seeing your website
more local students finding your classes
less pressure on Instagram to do all the work
your website actually earning its keep
You are paying for your website whether it is being found or not. You might as well help it work hard for you.
Simple SEO steps you can actually do
You do not have to do everything at once. Start with the basics and build from there.
1. Use the words your students would actually type into Google
This sounds obvious, but it is easy to overlook.
Think about how your ideal student would search for you. Likely phrases include:
“yoga classes in [your town]”
“gentle yoga near me”
“beginner yoga in [location]”
“restorative yoga in [area]”
It is unlikely to be something like “somatic yoga practices to improve mind body connection”. Keep it simple.
Once you have a few phrases, weave them naturally into:
your homepage heading and intro
your class or timetable page
individual class or service pages
page titles
image alt text
If you offer distinctive services such as Chair Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga or Yoga Nidra, each of those deserves its own page. One main keyword phrase per page helps Google understand exactly what that page is about.
2. Give each page a clear heading and page title
Every page on your site needs a clear focus.
Instead of a homepage heading that just says “Welcome”, try something like:
“Yoga Classes in [Your Town] with [Your Name]”
Instead of a page called “Classes”, try:
“Gentle Yoga Classes in [Your Town]”
“Beginner Yoga Courses in [Your Town]”
Your H1 (main heading) and your page title are strong signals to Google. Make them specific and useful.
3. Make sure people can see where you are
Google wants to connect people with local services. Help it out by being clear about your location.
Include your town, area and neighbourhood (where it makes sense) on:
your homepage
your contact page
your footer
relevant class descriptions
For example:
“Gentle yoga classes in Stockton Heath”
“Beginner yoga in South Warrington”
There is a balance. You do not need to cram your location into every sentence, but it does need to be present in a natural way.
4. Set up and use your Google Business Profile
If you teach in person, this is essential.
Your Google Business Profile helps you appear in:
Google Maps
“yoga near me” searches
the local pack (the map and business list near the top of results)
Your profile shows:
where you are based
your website
your opening hours or timetable
photos
reviews
If you are not sure whether yours is set up correctly, you can read my guide on how to optimise your Google Business Profile for yoga teachers or download the Google Business Profile guide.
5. Make sure your site works well on mobile
Most people who search for a yoga class will be doing it on their phone.
Check:
Is your text large enough to read easily?
Do your buttons work well on a small screen?
Does your timetable or booking link work on mobile?
Are any elements overlapping or cut off?
There is little point having a beautiful desktop design if it feels clunky on a phone. Many yoga websites receive 70 to 90 percent of their traffic from mobile devices.
6. Start using Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you:
which search terms people use to find your site
which pages get the most clicks
whether there are indexing problems
You do not have to check it every day. Even dipping in once a month can be helpful.
If it feels overwhelming, I have a separate blog that explains Google Search Console step by step and a checklist you can follow.
A gentle reassurance
You do not need to get SEO perfect.
Think of it like yoga practice. You would not expect your students to master every pose in one class. You would encourage them to show up, make small adjustments and build strength over time.
SEO is similar. Each time you:
improve a heading
clarify who a page is for
add your location
create a helpful blog post
you make it easier for the right students to find you.
What to do next
Here are some simple actions you can take this week:
Update the heading on your homepage so it clearly states what you offer and where you are based.
Choose one key class or service and give it its own page with a clear title and location.
Check your website on your phone and make a list of any tweaks it needs.
Make sure your Google Business Profile is set up and linked to your website.
If you would like a more structured way to work through this, I have a Mini SEO Course created specifically for yoga teachers. It includes videos, workbooks and a website checklist so you can work at your own pace and feel more confident with the basics.
If you are ready to look at your wider marketing, my full marketing course for yoga teachers goes deeper into websites, local marketing, email and strategy.
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