Is my studio space a life preserver or boat anchor?

The decisions you make before you open the door to your yoga studio can catapult or kill your business. One of the key choices you’ll make is your yoga studio space.

It’s said that the desirability and value of all real estate is location, location, location. But when it comes to leasing a space for a profitable yoga studio, the definition of “location” needs to be a bit broader in scope. Simply being on the trendy strip will not ensure you of a financially successful enterprise. It will ensure that you’ll be paying high rent. It will also mean that because your higher rent you will have less flexibility to last when and if your studio stumbles. Don’t get me wrong. Being on the most popular street with unbelievable foot traffic and exposure can be a boon to opening a studio and could ultimately be a fantastic choice. But it is a calculated risk and one that should be considered greatly. Continue reading

Are Yoga Teachers the soul of a yoga studio?

There are some studio owners who feel that teachers are simply an exchangeable part in the business of offering yoga classes. They come and they go. I think this is an incorrect assessment, and a missed opportunity. When a yoga student has found the right teacher for them they can become unbelievably loyal, a lasting devotee of that teacher and the studio. This continued membership is exactly what yoga studios need to succeed. Continue reading

Does my Yoga Class Schedule make sense?

Is there a magic formula for creating a successful yoga schedule? I wish there was. The problem is there are so many variable’s it would take an algorithm sophisticated enough to send a man to mars. No, instead, we use a lot of intuition and plain cutting and pasting to imagine what will resonate with our local student base. Over time one can get a feeling for what is working and what isn’t. But when you first start out it’s a bit of a crap shoot. There are some relatively simple rules to follow though. Continue reading