Photo by Elina Fairytale: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-in-sports-bras-and-leggings-doing-yoga-3822356/
Yoga has exploded in popularity over the last fifteen years, not only because it’s an incredible physical art form, exercise regimen and meditation practice combined, but because it can help people of all ages unlock their mobility and feel more confident in themselves.
It’s also a lovely practice to be part of if you join the right class or studio, with a heartfelt focus on restoration and wellbeing. As such, many people have decided to open their own yoga studio, going through the standard instructional advice, perhaps gaining entry qualifications, and renting out space in a local hall or event space to run a class a couple of times per week.
Maybe you have everything put together as intended, but you’re wondering why your joining numbers are still quite low. Odds are, there’s competition in your area, so trying to reach out and encourage people to your club will take a little more effort.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to leverage your marketing simply, but effectively. If you’re attentive, you may be surprised at the results you could achieve:
Emphasize Accessibility
Even though people do it to relax, yoga can seem intimidating to someone who’s never tried it before. They might think they need to be flexible already, or that they’ll be the only beginner in a room full of experts doing headstands and talking to each other upside down without breaking a sweat. Your marketing needs to break down those fears and make it clear that your studio welcomes everyone, no matter where they’re starting from, and especially if they’re older or overweight, for example.
If you can, talk about modifications for different skill levels in your ads, and show pictures of varied body types and ages in your class. Mention if you offer beginner sessions or slower-paced classes, or even one-on-one sessions if that’s how someone would like to start. It’ll help.
Showcase The Space
Your studio’s atmosphere is important to promote, even if you’re renting space in an event hall that you don’t actually own. After all, if someone’s scrolling through options online, they want to know what they’re walking into. They want to see if it’s private, open and airy, and if you have all the equipment they need, like exercise mats, or should they bring their own?
Take good photos of the space when it’s set up for a class. Natural lighting is generally fine, but show the little details that make your studio special, such as any plants in the corner, soft lighting, or how you arrange the class for students. You could do a quick video walkthrough too, just to give potential students a feel for what they’re walking into.
Provide Free Tutorials & Centre Your Personality
Giving away free content might feel counterintuitive, but it’s one of the best ways to show a little about who you are and maybe even give a few pointers.
For example, you could post short videos showing basic poses, breathing techniques, or stretches someone can do at home, so they know what your teaching approach is like and if they can connect with it. Let your personality come through, and be warm and open. It’ll help a great deal.
With this advice, we hope you’ll feel confident in perfecting your humble yoga class or studio.
