By Kimaya Singh
Studio ownership is not for every yoga teacher, but to others it becomes a deep desire. Some people want to make a go of it and have a business plan. Other teachers have no desire to take on the responsibilities of ownership. In order to run a studio, you have to know what attracts students.
What are Students Looking for in a Yoga Studio?
It is hard work to keep a yoga studio running. Not only do you have to be a good teacher, but also you have to make smart decisions about the studio itself to make it successful. Even if you are the best yoga instructor in the world, you will not find great success unless you make your studio the type of place that people are drawn towards. To help you out, consider these important factors when you are planning your yoga studio.
Location
Like many things in life, location is crucial in determining the success or failure of your yoga studio. Your yoga studio should be in a hip neighborhood. You don’t want it to be in an area that students feel uncomfortable visiting. You should try to locate your studio among other businesses that people who enjoy yoga will frequent. Places like coffee shops, natural food stores and juice bars are all good neighbors for yoga studios.
Schedule
As previously mentioned, hard work is a critical factor in a yoga studio’s success. If you want your yoga studio to survive, you will have to be open long hours to give your students as many opportunities as possible to attend class. This means that you need to open early in the morning so students can come in before work.
You definitely need to have classes over lunch hour. Also, try to stay open until 10 in the evening so that busy folks can make it in for a late session. Don’t forget that the weekends are important as well. You will need other instructors to teach some of these classes, but you should try to be in the studio yourself as much as possible.
A Beautiful Space
The interior space is the most important part of your building. The exterior should be welcoming, but the interior is the most important thing to focus on. You should have lovely wooden floors that give off a feeling of warmth and natural beauty. Make sure to incorporate as much natural light as possible into the studio. Large windows and light shafts are ideal tools for this purpose.
You need to keep the studio heated during cold seasons to make it feel good and to keep students muscles loose. A changing room and showers will be a nice draw that many other studios are lacking. When you provide the extras that students crave, you will help to ensure the future of your studio.
Making Your Yoga Studio the Best Choice
If you are the owner of a studio and you want to make it the best choice in town for all yoga enthusiasts, doing so is possible by spending a bit of time shaping your business model and even remodeling the actual studio itself. The more time and effort you put in to creating a yoga studio that truly stands out, the easier it is to build and retain a clientele that is sure to be satisfied with the services you have to offer.
Offer a Range of Classes
Offering a range of yoga classes from beginner courses to advanced yoga is an ideal way to set you apart from potential competitors near you and also in the industry. Providing different classes each day of the week will optimize the number of clients you have dropping in or signing up for specific classes based on their own personal schedules.
Provide Individual Time With Students
Provide individual time with your students to stand out among other yoga studios that focus on larger groups. Spending a bit of time with each student is a way to make a connection with those you are working with, helping to build a better reputation for your business altogether.
Positive Encouragement and Teachers
Always be sure to provide positive encouragement while ensuring all other yoga teachers and instructors do the same. Building the confidence of your students is a way to truly keep them coming back for more while also enjoying themselves during each session.
Create a Desirable Atmosphere
Redecorate your yoga studio and create a desirable atmosphere with a new logo, pillows, mats and even a fresh coat of paint.
Integrate Social Media
Integrating social media for your yoga school is a must in today’s fast-paced society. Using networks such as Facebook, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Twitter is a way for you to share photos, videos and live updates right from your studio. Updating your fans and followers online is a way to build your credibility as a yoga studio while attracting new clients.
Knowing how to go about making your school the best choice for all residents near you is a way to boost business and provide even more clients for years to come. Getting involved with your community and local businesses is a great way to build your school whether you have just launched it or if you have been operating it for years.
© Copyright 2010 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about teaching therapeutic yoga sessions and our selection of online yoga instructor training intensive courses.
If you are a teacher, yoga school manager, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is. Namaste!
