Have you just completed a yoga teacher training course and struggle to start your teaching journey? Or have you recently felt tired of running around to teach at different studios? Probably it’s time to think about setting up your own studio.
We might right away think of the capital issue that constraints us from opening our own studio. Yes, it will be a constraint if the studio is big. No, if it is a home-based studio. I had experience in both cases. Below are a few studios that I already set up.
- Dance studio ($40,000 investment)
In 2010, I set up a dance studio, which looked premium, luxury, beautiful with 3 sizable rooms, 2 office rooms, and 1 rooftop cafeteria for students.
I started it with passion, and ended it with depression. It was a failure (in terms of business) that taught me a lesson: do things with great passion/love, but do it with a small (humble) start, unless you have abundant of money and don’t know what to do with them.
- Home-based yoga studio ($700)
In 2016, with a more cautious move, I set up a small yoga studio in my living room (30 square meters), which can host about 6 – 7 people. It turned out amazing, not just because of the fact that I didn’t have to travel to somewhere else to deliver my class, but also people just loved the cozy and warm atmosphere of the studio. I love how people come to the class, practice with me, share things with me, and we together started to build an intimate community.
- Garage-based yoga studio ($4,000 with mirrors, $2,000 without mirrors)
This is my current yoga studio, Yogattitude Melbourne, converted from an old garage located just behind my house – it is a place with a lot of characters, being raw, rustic, and surprising. It is a bit bigger than my previous home-based studio, but still provides the warm and homey atmosphere. I need to make this move as there are more students, more classes that it is quite challenging to continue at my small living room.
Which one do you prefer? If you find number 2 and 3 are inspiring, you might be interested in some pros and cons of teaching yoga at a home-based studio.
| Pros | * Low investment: mainly the purchase of mats & props, plus simple decorations
* Low fixed cost: Less stressed about rental * No travelling: just a few steps, you are already at the place. |
| Cons | * Multi-tasking: You will not just teach, be ready for lots of other things: decorating, cleaning, marketing, designing, managing, which might not be as enjoyable as teaching * Time managing: instead of 1-hour teaching, it might take 2 or 3 hours as people enjoy your place so much |
It is always hard to take the first step. I still remember how I was nervous when I first placed the signage board in front of my house, wondering if anyone would come in. But you will be surprised how many people look for a different place to practice yoga (not everyone looks for big professional studio). Home-based studio is just one of the ways for you to teach yoga. There are still other options like teaching in the park, at the beach, private garden, at community centers, private class at people’s house…But if you still find a home studio suit you the most, you might be inspired by my article “How to set up a home-based studio with limited budget”.
Original article was published here
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Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.