With the rise of apps like Zoom, classes that were once in person are now able to reach both a larger and more diverse group. In the past, if you taught a class like a Yoga class, you very likely had the class in person and you were able to work hands on with your students. You had the exact supplies you needed set out but now that you’re going online, do you really need a full studio with a ton of personal equipment? You might need even more now that you’re going to have to start taking videos and posting them online.
So, now that you’re getting ready to take your studio and practice online what will you need? You need to start thinking about what you’ll be using to take the videos. You likely will want something better than a cell phone.
The types of equipment for teaching yoga online is video that has a clear picture as well as clear audio. Another thing you will want is a good mic that will help you speak loud and clear enough to be understood on film. You will want to make sure you have the right lighting in your studio as well and decide if you want a mock studio just for the online lessons or if you want to use your in-person studio. You will need the same equipment you typically use for in person classes as well and you’ll want to decide if you want helpers or to model the moves yourself.
Headset or Microphone
One of the first things you will need to find is a high-quality microphone. You want your voice to be crystal clear and relaxing. You want to make sure the quality is good, and you won’t have feedback or other annoying problems come up if you’re teaching live-in person classes.
You may choose to go with a good headset as well. It can give you the ability to listen to yourself in the headphones while you’re talking.
A cheaper route would be to bypass the microphone and get a video camera or webcam with built in speakers.
7 Of The Best Yoga Software For Memberships
Pick the Right Computer and Software
You will want a higher speed computer that won’t lag. Make sure it’s not too old and outdated and that you can easily hook a video camera in so you can use the video camera to livestream the classes. Nothing is worse than watching a laggy live stream.
You may also want software to watch a real time playback of your class to make sure you remain in view of the camera at all times.
For recorded classes that will be replayed, you want to make sure you have a good editing software to make sure your video runs smooth. You have many options and some that are right for some may not be right for you.
Find the Right Accounting and Business Software
This will be a business. You will want to keep a spreadsheet with costs vs profits, and you will want to make sure your accounting is done well enough to help during tax time.
You will also want to keep contact information from your students. You may select to have them sign up for a newsletter (Mailchimp is a great option that gives you up to 100 contacts free before you must pay)
Keeping tabs on students will help with further classes and offers you will offer, and it will give you a list of potential future customers.
Choose the Right Video Camera
When it comes to filming videos to post online, choosing the right camera can feel complicated, especially if you’re not used to using a video camera. You will want to make sure the video camera you choose creates a high-quality video. You will want to make sure it has high-definition video. You will want to get one you can put on a tripod and focus on your studio space.
Many laptops come with built in webcams, those are typically lower quality, and you will likely not be able to get as great quality video with those. Even if you choose to start with one, you will want to move on to a new and better camera when you get off the ground a bit more.
You will likely either want a webcam like the Logitech brand or an actual video camera that can hook into your computer. For livestreaming classes, pick a camera that can hook directly into your computer. You want to make sure
How To Best Promote Your Yoga Studio
Camera Mounts or Tripods
Once you find the right camera, you need to pick the right location to use it in your studio. Take the camera around a bit to see where you get the best angles and pick out a place to host the class. Once you find those, you will either want to mount it to a computer or preferably pick a tripod that will work for the location.
Decide if You’re Going to Have Students in Class
You may have a few helpers who will act as the “students” in your class. You will want to pick people who already know the poses and will help you model the poses while you teach. You may choose friends or in person students to act as the models, but you will want one who can show the beginner poses and adaptions for people who may not be able to do the moves as well as others. You will want to determine if you will pay them to help or ask them to do it in exchange for something else (money would be the best and look up legality, some places may have laws about it).
Some people may be willing to do it in exchange for free products or classes but be prepared to pay per video or pay per hour.
Decide What Props You Will Use
The last thing to consider is what props you will use with teaching. In an in-person Yoga studio, you may only use a mat. You may use Yoga blocks as well. You won’t need much depending on what you’re teaching but the mat is essential. You want to make sure that anyone attending your class will be able to do the moves in the comfort of their own home, so you don’t want to teach using a bunch of expensive extras that would be provided for free in the class.
Only you will know exactly what helps when you’re teaching your own class. You may see a particular computer is highly recommended, but your older computer may be all you can afford at the time. You can still use it, and Excel may be best for keeping tax records but there are free versions similar to Excel that work just as well. Research what will work for you personally and you’ll be able to host the best class you can. Remember to treat the camera like it’s an in-person audience member and speak as clear as you can and you will host a great online class.
Opening A Yoga Center In 7 Easy Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to keeping track of your online and in person classes for tax purposes, you will want to keep track of everything. You can write off expenses as well as keep track of profits. When it comes to what software to use, Excel wins. The spreadsheets are super easy to use, and the cost isn’t too bad. Microsoft office can be “rented” for only 10 a month (or a little over 100 a year).
Other alternatives that work just as well are LibreOffice (it’s free but there is a premium and in order to do some things, like convert to PDFs or convert from PDFs, you do have to pay for the premium.) it gives you the ability to write in a word like document and keep basic spreadsheets. It’s basically the free version of Microsoft office.
Two other alternatives are Google Sheets and QuickBooks. QuickBooks is offered on sites like Etsy and is a paid alternative, but it keeps tabs for tax purposes well.
You may be trying to figure out how often to host the live online classes. You can easily record them all and post them for people to take on their own time- as a way of bringing in extra money. How often you host live depends on your job, your availability and how successful your live classes are. If you can, try to get a survey from your potential and current customers to see when and how often they are interested in taking live classes. Once a week should be the goal unless you’re wanting to do it more often.
You may offer a series of both in person and live streamed classes (or in person and live stream for a larger audience). Ultimately, it depends on what you’re able to do and what you’re comfortable with. You may start with just a few students, but word of mouth can bring many more.
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.