It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned expert—there are things that you need when you’re practicing yoga. If you’re opening your own yoga studio or you’re just signing up for your first class, it doesn’t matter—there are still items that you may need to get everything out that class that you can.
When you’re starting out in your first yoga class, you’ll need the proper attire, a non-slip yoga mat, a mat bag or sling, blankets, yoga blocks, yoga straps, and yoga bolsters. Optionally, you could use a yoga wheel, and the studio should also have a sound system. In many cases, studios will provide any or all of the items.
Whether you’ve started your own yoga studio or you’re attending your first class at one, the following items are key to making your first session a success.
The proper attire: loose fitting, comfortable clothes.
The first item on the list isn’t necessarily a piece of equipment, but it’s one of the most important things to remember: your attire. What kind of clothing should you wear in a yoga class? You should be wearing a loose-fitting tank top or t-shirt, along with something like leggings, yoga pants, or comfortable shorts. Exercise clothing is your best option when it comes to what to wear for a yoga class.
When it comes to footwear, in many cases, you will be barefoot during your class. Why? It allows you to have a better physical foundation and better structure when performing your yoga positions.
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- Non-slip yoga mats.
The next most important item is your yoga mat. What kind is best? It doesn’t matter the brand, but make sure that they are non-slip. Especially when working with beginners or if this is your first attempt at yoga, non-slip is a priority as it will help make sure your mat doesn’t shift on you when you attempt each yoga pose.
In some cases, yoga studios will provide these for you or allow you to rent one. As a business owner, it’s up to you whether you want to provide these for free of charge or if you would like to rent these items. If you’re going to your first class and find that you want to stick with the activity, it’s advisable to bring your own yoga mat to class. Retailers usually start around $20 for a basic mat, while premium mats can cost upwards of $100. Each mat is different, as you have to consider their durability, comfort, material, thickness, size, and cleaning regimen.
- Mat bags or slings.
Whether you’re starting a business or starting a class, a mat bag or a sling is important if you’re carrying around your mats regularly. These are essentially the carrying case of the yoga mat—either a bag for your rolled up mat, or Velcro straps that wind around your yoga mat that allows you to throw it over your shoulder.
Depending on what you want or what you need, you can actually get a gym bag that has a sling attached to it, letting you have additional space for your gym clothes, water bottles, wallets, phones, etc.
- Blankets.
What do you need a blanket for if you already have a yoga mat? Easy—they’re for students to use during class to help lift the hips during certain poses or even offer support during others. Especially if you’re doing sitting poses, they can be used to place under you to elevate your hips above your knees, making it much more beneficial to your yoga position.
- Yoga Blocks.
Another item to provide comfort during a yoga class, a yoga block helps similarly to the blanket in providing support, making you comfortable, and improving your alignment. While blankets help with more sitting and lying down poses, yoga block assist more in standing poses where your hands are flat against the floor. What the blocks do is give you something to rest on instead forcing you to reach down all the way to the floor, which can change the pose and essentially make it less beneficial to you. If you don’t have the core strength or the hamstring flexibility to execute certain poses, blocks can make it so you can achieve those poses without straining your body.
Depending on their material—foam, wood, or cork—they can vary in pricing. They are extremely adaptable, and many will be able to expand or retract to several different heights. For most yoga classes, studio provide blocks to those who need them.
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- Yoga Straps.
A different item from the mat sling, a yoga strap actually helps you during yoga poses. Also called belts, they act essentially as an arm extender. Similarly to the yoga block, if you’re completing a yoga pose where you can’t reach your feet, you can use yoga straps to do so. If you’re not flexible enough to do other poses, you can also use that strap without adding extra strain to your body.
If you’re planning on doing yoga at home, you don’t necessarily have to buy a strap—you can use a belt or a towel. Yoga studios, on the other hand, provide them for use during classes.
- Yoga Bolsters.
There are so many ways that you can help out yourself or your students when doing yoga, and yoga bolsters can add to that list of ways. Essentially, they’re used in the same way a stack of blankets would be used—you can use bolsters to make forward bending poses and seated poses more comfortable. You can also put them under your knees for stretching poses.
These items are provided during class, but they are very helpful for those who are doing different types of yoga at home, including prenatal yoga. There are two options when it comes to shapes, including round or flat. Flat bolsters are better on your body, but round bolsters are more supportive and allow for a better stretch. They can be expensive—up to about $100—but can be helpful if support is needed.
- Yoga wheels.
These are new items used in the activity of yoga, and they’re helping people learn how to further their stretch. Yoga wheels are typically about a foot in diameter and four inches wide and are used to deepen stretches while providing support. These aren’t typically used by beginners, and if they’re used in studios, provided by the studio itself.
- A sound system.
This is a decision that lies completely with the business owner—consider purchasing a sound system for your yoga studio. For those students who may be harder of hearing, it will be a benefit to them, and you can play music before, during, and after your classes to make the process more comfortable for everyone.
This doesn’t have to be a major system that you have included in your décor or even your construction costs. Consider a smaller machine with a speaker and a microphone—almost like a karaoke machine—if budgets are tight.
Regardless of whether you’re attending your first class or if you’re teaching your first class in your new yoga studio, it’s important to remember that you are all there for the same thing: learning or teaching the authentic yoga lifestyle. While these items assist with that, the most important things you need are a yoga mat and the right mindset. If you go into your class hoping to learn or teach to the best of your ability, everything else will come easily. The other items may help those struggling in class, but the most important aspect of yoga is making sure you try. If you’re just starting out, make sure you ask for help, and if you’re a teacher, make sure you check in with your students after class. That personal touch will make all the difference and mean more than any sort of yoga equipment could do.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on where you plan on opening your business and the amount of experience you have in both yoga and business, you could spend between $15,000 and $100,000 to start your own yoga studio. Your costs would include your physical space, permits, staffing, insurance, equipment, marketing, and a scheduling system.
There are three things to consider when pricing your yoga classes. One, you need to consider your competition. What are other businesses charging in your area, and what are they providing for that cost? Two, consider your budget. How much do you need to make to break even? Three, consider your classes. What are you providing, and what is your education level? To get a fair price for your class, consider all three.
In most cases, with an average amount of classes and classes running about $10 to $12 per person, a yoga studio can make about $75,000 annually in net profits.
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.