Yoga and Pilates
Yoga and Pilates classes, memberships, and instruction — not eligible CRA medical expenses because yoga and Pilates instructors are not authorized medical practitioners under the Income Tax Act
Are yoga and Pilates CRA eligible in Canada?
No. Yoga and Pilates classes are not CRA-eligible medical expenses. Fees paid for an instructor's services only qualify under the Medical Expense Tax Credit when the instructor is authorized to practise as a medical practitioner in the province where the service is provided, and yoga and Pilates instruction are not regulated health professions in any Canadian province. Because the service does not qualify, it cannot be reimbursed through a Health Spending Account.
What Does Not Qualify
- Yoga classes (studio drop-ins, class packs, memberships)
- Hot yoga, Bikram, Vinyasa, restorative, or prenatal yoga
- Pilates mat classes and reformer Pilates sessions
- Private or group yoga or Pilates instruction
- Online yoga and Pilates subscriptions (streaming apps, course bundles)
- Yoga mats, reformer machines, Pilates rings, blocks, and straps
Good to Know
- Clinical Pilates by a physiotherapist is different. When a licensed physiotherapist uses Pilates-based exercises as part of a treatment plan and bills the session as physiotherapy, the full session is eligible under physiotherapy. The receipt must come from the licensed practitioner — not a Pilates studio.
- Doctor's notes don't change the answer. The CRA does not allow yoga, Pilates, or general fitness programs as medical expenses even when recommended by a physician for a condition such as back pain, arthritis, or stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is yoga CRA eligible?
No. Under paragraph 118.2(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act, fees qualify only when paid to a practitioner authorized to practise in the province. Yoga instructors are not a regulated health profession in any Canadian province.
Can I claim yoga or Pilates through my HSA?
No. Because these services are not METC eligible, they cannot be reimbursed through a Health Spending Account.
What if my physiotherapist prescribes Pilates?
Sessions billed by a licensed physiotherapist — including clinical Pilates as part of a treatment plan — are eligible under physiotherapy. Classes at an unrelated Pilates studio are not, even with a referral.
Source
Based on the CRA's official eligible medical expenses list and the CRA's Authorized medical practitioners for purposes of the Medical Expense Tax Credit list.
This information is sourced from the Canada Revenue Agency's official Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) reference guide (lines 33099 and 33199). This is not tax advice. For the most current rulings, consult the CRA directly or speak with a qualified tax professional.
Based on CRA data last updated 2026-01-20. Page last reviewed 2026-04-22.