How to Set Up the Perfect Yoga Studio

How To Set Up The Perfect Yoga Studio

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I’ve visited many yoga studios in my life, in many states and countries. A yoga studio can be in almost any type of building in almost any location.  But regardless of these architectural and geographic qualities, there are a few things I’ve noticed that every quality yoga space shares.  This made me wonder “what makes the perfect yoga studio?”

     To set up the perfect yoga studio, have basic supplies like mats, blocks, bolsters and blankets as well as fine-tune your ambience. Make sure the temperature, lighting and sound are setting the perfect tone and have an effortless check-in process and welcoming front area. An overall sense of professionalism will help the students to know that they are in a space to relax and release stress.

     The “perfect yoga space” is a teaching area where the student feels safe and well cared for.  Assuming that the teacher is qualified and rightfully has the trust of the students, we will focus this article on how to make the space warm, safe and relaxing.  

Supplies

How to Set Up the Perfect Yoga Studio

     The perfect yoga studio has all of the props and supplies that the student will need. No matter what the ability level is, students will have anything they need to help access comfort and/or alignment in any given pose or meditation posture.  Supplies are always clean and readily available.  

     Teachers often like to include certain props in their classes, and teachers that have their needs met are more at ease.  They in-turn share this ease with the students in class.  If a teacher sees that a certain prop would benefit a student, the perfect studio has it available.

     Mats will be the foundation of the practice.  Blocks, blankets, bolsters, straps and eye pillows will be the things that make the student feel well cared for.  

     The storage for these items is clean, organized and user friendly.  Shelves, baskets and decorative boxes with clean lines keep the area organized.  

Lighting

     Lighting in the perfect yoga is soft and adjustable.  Even at the brightest setting, the lights have good covers that minimizes glare and aren’t harsh on the eyes.  

     Every aspect of the studio should be soft and welcoming so that the class members can focus on refreshing their nervous systems. Invasive lighting could cause a subtle but noticeable distraction. In a high-energy class, or a morning class, the lights may be bright to match the energy in the room.  In a slower class or a class later in the evening, lights may be dimmed, and even accentuated with candles or twinkling lights.  

     Regardless, at the end of every class the students lie on their back in a savasana, or corpse pose.  This pose signifies the death and integration of the practice.  The students are lying on their backs and the ceiling lights are in their field of vision, so the teacher will dim them or turn them off.  The perfect studio will give the teacher an easy way to change the lighting with a variety of options. 

Sound

     Music is usually an important part of a yoga class.  The teacher carefully selects music that will reflect the journey on which they are leading their students.  The volume will need to be louder for some segments of class, and softer for others. 

     A good sound system is a part of the perfect yoga studio.  Surround sound and bluetooth will give the teacher options that will make the music an enhancement-not a distraction.  A bluetooth system will allow the teacher to change the volume or the track with ease from wherever they are in the room.  A surround sound system gives the music more dimension and lets the music seem to come from everywhere.  If the music is in one location, then the sounds are louder in one ear than the other.  This can distract the nervous system of the student.

     When considering the sounds in the studio during class, you’ll want to notice what ambient sounds enter from the outside.  If the location is undecided, this is something to consider when looking at real estate.  If the studio location is already chosen, use heavy curtains or sound tiles if needed.  This can cut down on any noise entering the class space from outside the studio or from the waiting area. 

Climate Control

How to Set Up the Perfect Yoga Studio

     During a yoga class, body temperatures can vary greatly.  Halfway through a class, a student may be pouring sweat from their pores only to wrap up in a blanket 30 minutes later for savasana.  

     The teacher should be able to adjust the climate control when preparing for class either because the class is a warm style yoga, or because it’s a slower class that generates less heat in the body.  Or perhaps, the class is geared for the older population that generally tend to be colder. No matter what the class style, the students should arrive at the studio in a climate-controlled environment where the temperature outside can be forgotten and the body can deeply relax. 

   In addition to an efficient and effective climate control system, fans should also be available to aid in the hotter moments. 

Decor

     To ensure that the student’s nervous system is not overstimulated and only pleasantly distracted, a minimalist space with muted tones is best when it comes to decor.  Simple furniture and clean unobstructed walls and doors give the mind a soft place to rest as the students make their way to class.  

     The front of the classroom where the teacher is placed may have an altar, keeping with the mood of a quiet reverence.  Furniture and lights should be solid, well placed and not in danger of being kicked, tripped on or knocked over.  Lamps and things that move should be checked for squeaky wheels or joints.  Install pads on the bases and feet. 

     Yogic decor is mostly minimalist, and most items will have a use.  Art will be in alignment with the reverent vibe only accentuating peacefulness and soft beauty.  

Professionalism

    In order for a yoga studio to cultivate a deep feeling of restful calm, the teachers and students will sense deep care.  This feeling of care will pervade a space where details have been considered.  

     Some details that will demonstrate professionalism include the things listed above, but also include a welcoming and mature demeanor of the staff, compliance with state, local and industry laws and also more subtle social guidelines.  A place that feels safe won’t have evidence of overt opinions regarding religion or politics.  Everyone who enters feels welcome and safe.  

     Standard protocols are a way that can show that a yoga studio is well-run and good communication is in place amongst the staff.  One example of this would be if a studio has a protocol where the door stays open or cracked for the 5 minutes of class for any late comers.  This is a small detail, but when all of the teachers do the same thing, this cultivates trust in the organization, as do other small details like this.

     Another way that a perfect studio may exhibit professionalism is in the subtle details of a yogic lifestyle.  One example may be that the classes aren’t scheduled close together.  The class who is leaving can emerge into the lobby and prepare to leave in peace without worrying whether they are in the way of the next class.  

How to Set Up the Perfect Yoga Studio

     When attending a perfect yoga studio, you may notice other markers of a yogic lifestyle like eco-friendly products, cleanliness, light and fresh non-chemical smells, shoes left at the door, and soft voices. 

The Perfect Studio

     The perfect yoga studio will be different for each yoga practitioner.  There are as many ways to make a perfect studio as there are asana poses; each person will have a different favorite.  But one thing is for sure: the perfect yoga studio will have all of the things listed above!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a red flag to look for during a yoga class?

 Yoga is a place to deeply care for the body under the direction of a guide.  If the teacher makes any indication that they aren’t looking out for your best interest, be aware.  This may be that money and marketing seem overly important, that they encourage everyone in class to do more difficult poses than they may be ready for, or if they don’t seem to be taking very good care of themselves or their teaching space. These red flags don’t mean that you shouldn’t go to this class if you like it, it just means that you may need to watch out for yourself a bit more.  You don’t have to do that harder pose if your body is saying ‘NO!”

Which is a better place to do yoga, the gym or a studio? 

Yoga has made its way into the gym world for a good reason.  It’s a great complement to every other type of exercise and owners of a gym membership are happy to add yoga movements to their repertoire. Teachers in a gym are often exercise teachers that earned an extra certification, which is probably not the intense certification that studio teachers earned.  Since studios are specifically designed for yoga, the teachers are focused on yoga first and they have a keen eye for alignment in asana and are also living a yogic lifestyle.  Therefore, a studio is a better place to go for someone who wants to explore the deeper realms of everything a yoga practice has to offer, such a mind-body connection.  

How can I start a yoga studio on a smaller budget? 

If there is a need in your community for a yoga studio and you are ready to open one, but don’t have a large budget, it’s ok.  The community will support your efforts.  If you can secure the space and few basic supplies, then you can continue to grow your studio as the community grows.  Adding more teachers and more classes as the student population grows will bring in the revenue you will need to slowly grow into the perfect yoga studio.  

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.