Weekly Newsletter

The Death of The Yoga Studio

The death knell for the independent yoga studio rang recently. Some people heard it and are preparing. Others won't hear it until it's too late.

No, this isn't a joke. The latest addition to the yoga world is a mega yoga studio called Pure Yoga.

Funded by a wealthy group based in Hong Kong, they have set their sights on conquering the yoga world by crushing the competition.

They've just opened their first studio in New York. It's on the Upper East Side and it's over 25,000 square feet. Take a look at their website and you'll see what they are investing. There's a lot of money behind this group.

Their goal is to open 5-6 studios in New York. They are connected to a group that has successfully (and profitably) operated several health clubs. Now, like a monster from one of those old horror movies, there setting their sites on yoga.

Make no mistake about it. These people are constructing studios with huge meditation rooms, a true yoga environment, and plan on making their yoga studios THE place to be.

The good news for yoga teachers is that they plan on paying higher wages than any other yoga studios. (Yey!)

On the other hand, they are going to suck the best teachers away from the independent studios by offering them higher wages. (Boo!)

And did I mention benefits including health benefits for even part time employees.

So what does this mean for you? Well, if you are a yoga teacher and are good enough (or lucky enough) to get a job at Pure Yoga, you are in luck.

On the other hand, if you are a yoga studio and they move in next door.... they're going to steal your lunch money.

So what's a local yoga studio to do to stay in business? You must begin to build raving fans.

First step, get a hold of this book Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless: How to Make Them Love You, Keep You Coming Back, and Tell Everyone They Know. You will want to get a copy of every member of your staff.

Second, the old way of paying for yoga sessions by selling a book of class passes must go the way of history. You absolutely must learn to follow the model of the gyms and go to a membership model. You get an upfront membership fee and automatically hit their charge cards monthly. People do this at gyms all the time and they do it at yoga studios smart enough to implement this model. If you think people won't be willing to do this, you'd be surprised at the number of studios already on this model.

Third, Pure Yoga isn't the only mega yoga studio on the way. They are going nationwide. Of course, they are going after the biggest markets first. So if you run a tiny yoga studio out in the woods some place and you're the only game in town, you're safe. For now. So you need to become smart marketers.

If you would be interested in becoming members of a small coaching club for studio owners, please respond to this email with your name and phone number.

Yoga Site Critique

It's been a while since we've done a video site critique. This video shows a studio with lots of potential and one or two small problems that could significantly lower their response.

If you'd like a review of your site in our newsletter, let us know!

Is Restoraflow right for you? Call Sara

We've noticed that people planning to attend a retreat want to speak to a live human being first. That's okay. We know there are a lot of scams on the internet.

If you've been wondering if Restoraflow is right for you, call Sara at the office: 561-395-7400. Sandra, Harlan's assistant will likely be answering the phone. She'll arrange a time for you to talk with Sara directly.

Florida Restoraflow Retreat

Where's Sara?

Sara is off on vacation on an island someplace. I'm not sure they've even heard of the internet where she is. Is that possible? In any event, rumor has it that she'll be back next week.

Musical Interlude

Sara introduced me to the music of the Idan Raichel Project. Idan Raichel is an Israeli singer who combines Hebrew music with Ethiopian influence. This is a love song with a translation of the Hebrew part on the screen. The Ethiopian part is not translated. Enjoy.