Yoga Teachers and Movie Extras: A Comparison of Pay and Value
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), now SAG-AFTRA, has long been an advocate for actors, including those in non-speaking roles such as movie extras. Under SAG’s protections, even extras—often seen as the most replaceable individuals on set—are guaranteed minimum pay rates, overtime compensation, meal breaks, and safety standards. These guidelines ensure that even those performing the most seemingly minor roles are treated with dignity and fairness.
The union’s advocacy for extras highlights the importance of collective representation in industries where the workers might otherwise be vulnerable to exploitation. With SAG backing them, movie extras gain access to stable pay, healthcare, pension contributions, and a guaranteed level of workplace safety that would be nearly impossible to secure on their own.
Yoga Teachers Without Collective Protection
In contrast, yoga teachers lack any form of centralized protection akin to SAG. Most yoga teachers are classified as independent contractors, which means they are not entitled to benefits like health insurance, paid time off, or job security. They are typically paid a flat rate per class and have limited leverage to negotiate better compensation or working conditions.
This disparity becomes even more apparent when considering the broader protections that SAG offers—protections that extend beyond pay to include health benefits, retirement plans, and other forms of support that enhance financial security. Yoga teachers, even those with extensive experience, often face inconsistent work schedules, fluctuating income, and no safety net if they are unable to teach due to illness or injury.
The Argument for Organizing Yoga Teachers
The benefits SAG provides to movie extras underscore the potential advantages of organizing yoga teachers into a collective body. Such an organization could establish minimum rates for teaching classes, workshops, and private sessions, and ensure that teachers receive fair compensation for all aspects of their work—including preparation time, administrative duties, and ongoing education.
A union or guild for yoga teachers could also advocate for access to group health insurance, retirement planning, and other benefits that would provide greater financial stability. This would help address one of the major challenges faced by yoga teachers: the lack of a sustainable, long-term career path. By creating standards for compensation and working conditions, a collective body could help elevate the profession and ensure that yoga teachers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Lessons from SAG: Moving Toward Fair Treatment
SAG’s protection of movie extras demonstrates the power of collective bargaining and the importance of setting industry standards to prevent exploitation. Just as SAG ensures that even the most “replaceable” individuals on a film set are fairly compensated, a similar approach could help yoga teachers secure better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Yoga teachers, like movie extras, are often considered easily replaceable in the current system, but their role is far more integral to the success of a studio or a class. The practice of yoga depends on the expertise, presence, and personal connection of the teacher, and it’s time for the industry to recognize this value in a tangible way.
The creation of a yoga teacher guild or union could be a step toward establishing these protections. By drawing on the example of SAG, yoga teachers can advocate for fair treatment, better pay, and the kinds of benefits that make a career in yoga sustainable over the long term.
