Can I Provide Food or Refreshments During a Class?
Offering refreshments can be a lovely way to enhance your classes, whether it’s creating a welcoming atmosphere, supporting community, or adding value to workshops and events. However, it’s important to understand where your insurance cover applies, and where additional responsibility sits with you.
When to Use This
Use this guide if you:
- Want to offer tea, coffee, or light snacks during or after classes
- Are planning a workshop, retreat, or event with refreshments
- Are unsure what your insurance does and does not cover
- Want to make sure you are operating safely and professionally
What Your Insurance Covers (YogaPros Member Policy)
You can provide light refreshments alongside your yoga classes, such as:
- Tea or coffee
- Water or soft drinks
- Pre-packaged snacks or simple items (e.g. biscuits, cake)
However, your insurance policy does not cover catering activities.
This means you are not insured for the preparation, handling, or serving of food when providing catering services.
Why You Might Offer Refreshments
Many teachers choose to include refreshments to:
- Create a more welcoming and relaxed environment.
- Encourage connection and community after class
- Add value to workshops, longer sessions, or events
- Support specific themes (e.g. wellbeing days, retreats)
When done well, this can enhance your students' overall experience.
Important Considerations
If you offer refreshments, consider your responsibilities beyond the gesture:
Food Safety & Hygiene
- Avoid preparing food unless you are appropriately qualified and insured
- Stick to low-risk items (e.g. pre-packaged or shop-bought)
- Ensure clean handling and storage
Allergies & Dietary Needs
- Be mindful of common allergens (e.g. nuts, dairy, gluten)
- Clearly communicate what is being provided
- Avoid making assumptions about what is safe for others
Duty of Care
- Remember that even informal offerings still carry responsibility
- If in doubt, keep it simple or ask participants to bring refreshments
Best Practice Approach
A simple and safe approach is to:
- Offer drinks such as tea or water
- Provide clearly labelled, shop-bought snacks
- Keep refreshments optional and separate from the core teaching
For larger events, workshops, or retreats, you may want to:
- Use a professional catering provider
- Check whether additional insurance is required
Action Steps
- Review what you plan to offer and keep it low-risk
- Avoid preparing or serving food beyond simple refreshments
- Clearly communicate any ingredients or allergens where possible
- Consider using external catering for more complex events
Small details like offering refreshments can make a big difference to your students’ experience.
Taking a thoughtful, informed approach ensures you create a welcoming environment while staying within your professional and insurance boundaries.
When in doubt, keep it simple, and always check your insurance before expanding your offering.
FAQ
For any queries about the YogaPros member insurance policy or to check if your qualification meets Balens requirements, please contact Balens directly.
This guidance applies specifically to the YogaPros member insurance policy arranged through Balens. If you hold your own separate insurance policy, you should check the terms, conditions, and coverage directly with your insurer, as provisions may differ.