How to Set Up a Yoga Store

Maybe you were teaching classes at the local rec center or gym, but have made a decision to open your own yoga studio. Setting up your shop will be exciting and intimidating. Follow the framework as you prepare for this venture.

Instructions

Location, Location, Location

1. Remember to start small. Yoga doesn't take very much room: a beginning studio can get by with 600 to 800 square feet. Larger means higher rent, which you want to avoid while you're growing.

2. Keep in mind your target demographic. If you're serving an upper-class client base, don't put your shop in an industrial park. If you're serving mostly families, don't open next to an adult bookstore.

3. Always have two or three sites in mind when you begin negotiating with landlords. This gives you a stronger position to demand concessions like build-ins and free rent.

The Training Floor

1. Your training floor is the center of your school and the most important factor in your layout. The floor will ideally cover at least 80 percent of the total area of your location. It should be visible from the door, and if at all possible, from the street.

2. Use a special surface for your training floor. Because yoga mats are inexpensive and easy to find, the specific surface doesn't matter. What does matter is that the floor of your training area looks noticeably different from the floor of the rest of the shop. This sets up a visual boundary that keeps students focused and spectators off the floor.

3. Many yoga studios have mirrors on their training-floor walls. It's not a requirement, but most students seem to like them. Mirrors are heavy and tricky to hang, so get help when you mount them. Avoid the temptation to glue them to the walls: You'll want to take them with you when you outgrow this space.

Entryway

1. Dedicate about 10 pcenter of your total floor space to your entryway. The entryway should include a waiting/spectator seating, a front counter and your pro shop.

2. The waiting and spectator area can be as simple as a row of chairs or as complex as a custom-made set of bleachers. Make certain people in the area can see the training floor, but that there is a visible barrier between their space and training area. One good technique is using a rack of cubbies about hip high. This creates physical boundary and a space for students to store their belongings.

3. Your front counter should be as simple as possible. It's really just a prop to help you look professional to newcomers. Set up the front counter either next to the door (on the side opposite the hinges) or across from the door. It should be the first thing potential clients see.

4. If you use a counter with a glass display case, it can double as your pro shop. If not, you can purchase inexpensive display racks from your supplier. Before paying full price, find out if any local businesses are closing. They might just have some racks to sell on the cheap.

5. Start with a very simple pro shop. Stock yoga mats, bottled water, yoga straps and any other tools commonly used in your workouts. Beyond that, keep a few fitness catalogs in the waiting area and be able to order other items on demand. This saves you from having to carry a large and expensive inventory.

Finishing Touches

1. Consider decoration. Paint your shop in warm, vibrant colors like golds and crimsons. Decide if you want a traditionally themed shop with callbacks to roots in India, or a modernistic approach that looks and feels like a health club. Buy a few appropriate posters and put them in inexpensive frames. If you have certificates or licenses, hang them in easy view of the waiting area.

2. Make sure there is a reasonably unobstructed path to the restroom. In many cases, this will be one of the most difficult chief design concerns of your studio layout.

3. Resist the temptation to have dressing rooms. They take up space, and most students don't mind showing up ready for class. Once you're ready to expand, consider dressing rooms for your next location.