5 points to consider when choosing a venue for your yoga class
Starting your own yoga classes can be quite daunting. Finding a suitable venue even more so. I've complied 5 key points to consider when looking for your ideal space for a yoga class and identified potential areas to think about and learn from my mistakes!
1.Cost of room hire
This has to be main priority. Finance always pays a significant part in venue choice. In such a competitive market you need to make sure that you are able to cover the room hire costs as a minimum for your classes. Remember this is your employment not a hobby. Do you have to pay a cancellation fee if you had to suddenly cancel a class. If so how much cancellation notice is required.
What are you planning on charging each person per class? Think about the local area and what other yoga teachers are charging. A central location will have a premium price attached but think about your target market: is it local to where you live, what is your identity as a yoga teacher, what type of student are you targeting?
2.Venue timetable
There are many yoga teachers out there and competition can be quite intense for students so consideration should be given to other yoga classes being held at the same venue or time. You may be offering a completely different style of yoga but its worth checking out the venues full timetable of classes.Does the venue have potential for more classes or workshops? If you wanted to expand your class profile could this be accommodated? Holding your sessions in one venue makes organisation easier and prevent confusion with people attending the wrong venue!
3.Noise
Are there other classes being held at the same time? In a multi room venue you could find yourself being next door to a dance class or a children's party . Unless sound proofing is in place you are likely to have noise, music coming through to your class. i had a weekly class in a room opposite a room where line dancing took place. Generally it was ok but just as i was bringing my group out of shavasana, one week we had the opening beats of 'Everybody dance now' by Snap. We all saw the funny side but some people may not!.
Think about external noise. Is the venue next to a busy road? In a busy industrial estate? Noise may peak at certain times of the day and be quieter in evening and weekends or vibration from traffic on a busy road.
4.Car parking
Adequate car parking for you and your students? Sometimes I feel like I'm moving house with the amount of equipment I carry to classes, blocks, belts, spare mats..... it all adds up! The less distance you have to transfer equipment is good manual handling practice. Is the venue accessible for any of your students with mobility problems?Is there allocated disabled parking? Does the venue have disability access and toilets? Are they able to store equipment for you? you do hold all your classes in one venue, are they able to store your equipment to minimise transportation? This is a great help but not available everywhere.
5.Room temperature
Finding that ambient temperature is never easy. Yogi's generate heat during asana practice so checking room ventilation and heating is a must unless of course you are offering 'Hot' or 'Bikram' Yoga and heat is a requirement. Can you open windows, turn heating up or down and is there air conditioning? If you do open windows do you lose any sound proofing?
Finding the right venue for your yoga class can be difficult. With the key points above you should have a baseline from which to work from when viewing venues. If you find that the venue doesn't work out as planned don't be afraid to change venue. Your students will move with you.