In recent years people have become more accepting and open to virtual classes and options. Whether they feel safer taking classes in their own home or have a busy schedule and can’t make it across town for classes, they just work. It depends on preferences and individual needs however there is a ton of support for them. This means that virtual yoga studios have become more popular and in demand.
So how can you make a virtual yoga studio? There are a few items you’ll need to figure out. Such as your studio space, the classes you’ll teach, how you’ll teach them, how you plan to market your classes, and so on.
There will be a slight learning curve due to the virtual component, however, there are resources to help and processes that you can outsource if you are not a pro at them. Once you open your virtual yoga studio the rest will begin to fall in order as you test the waters and find what works. Every new venture is a learning process.
Start Early With Marketing
Even if you are not one hundred percent sure of your plans moving forward, start your social media accounts. As long as you are planning to open a virtual studio and are preparing for that, start marketing. Virtual classes will require a different type of marketing than in-person classes would.
Anyone can join, meaning that your demographic is not location-based or restricted. So the more people you target and engage with, sharing about your services, the better. So you should at least have a TikTok page, Instagram, Facebook, and website before you get too far into the planning process.
Early exposure will be key to a successful opening. Maybe one in every twenty or so videos you post online has the chance to go viral. Going viral nowadays can change a business’s whole trajectory. So posting, engaging, and building your community is a must at this point. Plus it will help you to gain insights into what people want to see later on.
It also allows you to add a personal component to the studio even though it will be virtual. People like to buy from other people. So the more familiar they are with you, the more they will associate you with the class they are paying for. The connection comes in handy and builds long-term clients.
Since many have turned to virtual classes, the market has several options for customers to choose from. Strategic marketing can turn them towards you and good communications and classes can cause them to be loyal customers.
Set Up Your Space
This is the time for you to rearrange the space you plan to teach in. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy unless you plan to offer in-person classes or one on one sessions as well. Just keep in mind that there are space requirements for each person you plan to have there.
So you will need to set up your mat, have any extra equipment (blocks, resistance bands) that you may need, and a microphone so that your students can hear you. Unless you plan to do a voiceover for the video detailing the instructions.
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Figure Out Your Game Plan
Before you can consider opening your studio, you will need to figure out its schematics of it. Questions like what classes will I be teaching? Will they be offered in real-time or prerecorded and sold? If they are prerecorded, will they be available on a subscription basis or a one-time purchase?
So let’s begin diving into some of these questions. Should you have a yoga teaching certification if you are planning to run a virtual studio? While it is not necessary, a certification would help to build your credibility and reputation within the community. Especially if people are not seeing you in person, but virtually. The distinction can make a big difference in how people perceive your business.
Should you prerecord the classes? This is a fabulous option if you worry about connection issues with your internet or if you just want another revenue option. You can still offer real-time virtual classes for those who want them. Just take a moment and gauge the interest your customers are expressing.
This is when that social media presence and the marketing that you have been working on will come in handy. You can go live, set up a poll, or send out a newsletter with the different options. Not everyone will respond but those interested in your classes will. Providing you with the feedback you need.
Once you have an idea of classes and options preferred you can begin to move forward. Planning out each class, the poses, stretches, instructions, and so on. Then you can begin prerecording them for those who requested them. Here you can charge a monthly subscription to your recordings, similar to how an in-person studio would.
The prices should generally be lower though since you have fewer overhead costs due to the nature of your classes. This would essentially allow your business to earn more passive income. Since you will be receiving monthly payments from customers after the video is posted. You don’t have to do much else with it after that point except add more videos as you go. Sure basic yoga may have a video already but realistically that may be a thirty to forty-five-minute video. There is so much more to the basics than that, so you can create and market an introduction to a yoga starter set.
Recommending one class for two weeks at a time, then the next for x amount of time before moving on, and so on. Then you can do the same type of plan for more advanced classes or even specialized ones that you may be certified to teach. You can also offer a shopping tab on your site. Allowing people to buy their resistance bands, blocks, mats, and so on from you.
This essentially makes your site their hub for all their yoga needs. Again, the more you offer and the easier it is for people to purchase the more they are likely to spend. People pay for convenience and accessibility.
The marketing for these classes is endless, which is why outsourcing your marketing plan for content could be an idea. Especially if you have never created one before. You can bundle, plan, and price them in a handful of different ways to ensure that people are happy with their purchase and you can continue to make a profit from your time.
For real-time classes, you may only teach a few times a week, depending on your schedule. Once you have an idea of days and times you can choose to charge per class or a monthly fee if that option offers a slightly discounted price. There are no class size limits to virtual studios because there are no accommodations needed which simplifies the setup process.
That is how you can make a virtual yoga studio. From setting up your social media accounts and marketing strategy to preparing and selling your classes. The whole process may seem daunting but once you begin it is very sustainable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is very beneficial for you to offer both for many reasons. First, if something were to happen and you could not teach your real-time classes for a few weeks, you have the prerecorded ones to fall back on. You can defer people to those and continue to have an income. They are also passive income once posted, so the time put in to create them is well worth it. Lastly, the more resources you can offer your customers the more they are typically willing to buy. So more offerings for a service like yoga is better than less.
You will need to sit down and calculate a few items. Such as the time it will take to record the classes, and edit them, the hourly wage you need to live, the cost of having good wifi to stream, the wage your experience details, and the overhead fees. After you know these amounts you can begin to plan. How much real-time classes should be based on X number of attendees, how long they run, and so on. Numbers will likely vary for everyone but you can shop around and see what others are charging to give an idea.
Absolutely! This is where the planning process comes into play. You can ask a friend or family member to show you how to stream and help you set up your studio for optimal angles and video. You can outsource work you don’t quite know how to do. People hire video editors and marketing assistants all the time. More and more people are freelancing nowadays, making it easier for you to find the help and skills you need. Or you could learn the skills yourself, however, that may be more of an ongoing option as you start your business while outsourcing. Just to get things started and moving along.
To learn more about starting your own Yoga Business check out my startup documents here.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Yoga Fan
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online yoga business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a yoga business owner in public at a studio or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Yoga Business Boss: I want to help future yoga business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.