| I once knew a great and charismatic yoga | | | | experience. |
| teacher that taught in a local fitness center. While | | | | While the practice of yoga is a bit different from |
| the yoga classes were only a part of the gym's | | | | shopping for fishing gear, the experience of the |
| actual focus, they were extremely popular and | | | | customer has a lot in common. We like to do |
| well known with men and women of all ages. You | | | | things that feel good. Part of this is the technical |
| had to get to class at least 10 minutes early or | | | | side, but the rest is all the other stuff that goes |
| else there would be no space for you to move. | | | | on around the activity. A first time customer is |
| Her classes were consistently packed every | | | | only trying to find what they want and to know |
| week no matter what. This teacher emphasized | | | | that someone actually cares to help them. By |
| the whole experience of the class - not just the | | | | simply making students feel welcome in your class |
| asanas. She created a warm atmosphere by | | | | you have already begun to create a pleasant |
| dimming the lights, lighting candles, and playing | | | | yoga experience for them. Students will trust a |
| soothing music. At the beginning of each class she | | | | teacher that is caring and patient with them |
| would tell everyone, "Forget about everything | | | | because they believe that the teacher truly wants |
| that you have do this week, today, or tomorrow | | | | to see them do better. This trust will no doubt be |
| and focus on your breathing and relaxing." She | | | | passed along to their friends, who are also |
| had a quiet confidence that radiated from her in a | | | | interested in yoga, and they may become |
| way that made students feel "I want to be more | | | | students as well sooner or later. The more |
| like her." We have all known teachers like this - | | | | students you have the more prosperous your |
| perhaps you are one yourself. | | | | studio can be. |
| At one point, she left the center in pursuit of | | | | A yoga studio should always want their students |
| other goals. Her replacement, while amply skilled in | | | | to come back to classes and enjoy their time |
| the technical aspects of teaching yoga, lacked the | | | | during, before, and after class. There are many |
| charisma and magnetism of her predecessor. The | | | | ways to provide a good experience for your |
| studio that used to be packed every Tuesday | | | | student. It is essential to have at least a couple of |
| and Thursday soon held only two or three | | | | positive-energy, charismatic teachers who will |
| hopefuls somehow wishing for the energy to | | | | draw and keep students. Remember, you can |
| return. Eventually, the fitness center decided to | | | | send someone to a workshop to improve their |
| get rid of the yoga program altogether because | | | | technical skill, but you can't really teach charisma. |
| of poor attendance. | | | | Another key component is having friendly and |
| It is important to realize that only half of a | | | | warm front desk staff that can support students |
| teacher's job is teaching, the other half is inspiring | | | | with any concerns that they may have. These |
| students in a way that creates the best | | | | employees are the ones that will establish a |
| experience for them. There are times when it is | | | | positive association and create good feelings |
| okay to sacrifice more advanced technical ability in | | | | about the overall studio and classes. |
| a teacher for the teacher who has personality | | | | Creating warmth and community outside of |
| and "magic" about her, but may not be as skilled | | | | classes |
| in advanced technique. It is far more important to | | | | Another idea to create a sense of warmth and |
| a new student that they feel supported and | | | | community outside of classes is by giving |
| guided by a charismatic teacher, as opposed to | | | | students an incentive to stay longer. Offer tea, |
| their teacher's ability to do amazing advanced | | | | coffee, cookies, etc. in a seating area where |
| poses. | | | | people can socialize before or after class. You |
| How you can create a deeper sense of | | | | may even be able to have different local stores |
| community in your studio | | | | provide these each day (for free or reduced |
| Lets say, for example, you want to try | | | | cost) in exchange for a sign with their name on it, |
| something new in your life such as fishing. You | | | | for putting free ads or coupons on the table next |
| get to the fishing store and you don't really know | | | | to them, or in trade for free classes. |
| what to buy or even how to fish. All the | | | | If you don't have a waiting/community area |
| salespeople are helping people who are | | | | outside of the space where classes are taught, |
| experienced fishermen and don't even glance over | | | | have a 15-minute break between classes for |
| your way or acknowledge you. After being | | | | people to socialize. Yoga has a way of breaking |
| ignored for a while, you decide maybe fishing isn't | | | | down barriers and relaxing people so that they |
| really for you even though you haven't actually | | | | feel comfortable around fellow students. Giving |
| tried it. The store may not realize they may have | | | | them the space and time to socialize will help |
| lost a potentially good customer who could have | | | | them to enjoy their experience of the class even |
| become an expert at fishing. You would have | | | | more. Have front desk staff personally introduce |
| continued to buy new line, poles, tackle, and other | | | | new students to their teacher to help make them |
| equipment from the store on a weekly basis if | | | | feel welcome. By creating a familiarity with other |
| they had helped you. | | | | students, a new student will feel a sense of |
| Now imagine a different scenario. When you | | | | belonging with the studio and look forward to their |
| walked in the store someone instantly greeted | | | | next class. |
| you and asked if they could help you in any way. | | | | As a studio owner, your goal is to create an |
| After showing you what equipment you would | | | | environment that makes people want to come |
| need for fishing and explaining how to use | | | | before class and stay late. It's not just about the |
| everything, you felt confident about trying this | | | | yoga - it's about how people feel when they are |
| new activity. The salesperson made you feel like | | | | in your studio, even what they feel when they |
| they cared about your needs, and you even had | | | | think about it later in the day. One of the keys to |
| a good laugh with them. From then on you | | | | a successful studio is creating an environment |
| associate this good feeling with this particular | | | | where the student's experience as a whole is |
| store, and decide that you will continue to buy | | | | truly exceptional. |
| from this store because of your initial positive | | | | |