Common Mistakes A Yoga Studio Owner Makes

In this article I would like to share some of the common mistakes that most of the studio owners make. If you have fallen prey to these its time for you to solve it, and if not, make sure you don’t fall into it.

Mistake 1: DO NOT BE IN A RUSH: Many of the studio owners are in a rush to start and promote their workshops. Keep this in mind that business, whatsoever it is, takes time. You cannot sleep and then become a flourishing business overnight. The perfect solution for you is to ask someone else who has become successful in their own. Think about holiday promotions a month back and not at the last minute. This can help in long term planning.

Mistake 2: DO NOT BE DRIVEN BY EMOTIONS, USE YOUR LOGIC: Sometimes you get so emotionally attached to a plan that you forget what you really wanted to do. That is a usual feeling that newcomers have. But keep in mind you are starting a business not some charity. You are doing it to earn some money. So go by your head not your heart. When we get emotionally driven in our business we lose our focus and our strengths become our weakness. Self confidence goes down.  A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IS DRIVEN BY FACTS AND NOT EMOTIONS.

Mistake 3: RUNNING OUT OF CASH: This is the most common mistake that a person makes. They start a business and then leave it mid way because they do not have enough money to carry it ahead. The best way to avoid lat minute rush is to plan. Plan ahead. For example if you plan to start a yoga workshop think about the various materials and equipments needed. If your budget says $20000, see that you have at least $30000. It is better to have extra cash with you in case of last minute rush. If you do this you can even recover back at least 2/3^rd of your expenses when your students join you.

Mistake 4: DO NOT BE OBSESSED WITH YOURSELF OR THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE:  You should let go of your obsessions with certain products or services. You should learn to meet your customers satisfaction and not your own. If your client says that he wants a particular service, make sure you serve him. Customer satisfaction should be your priority if you want to your workshop to be one of the best. Always remember it is your customer or your students who indirectly promote your business and not you.

I myself am running a very successful Yoga Workshop. Found it a bit difficult in the beginning but since I was well aware of the common mistakes could overcome all the obstacles.  

What Does Om Mean In Yoga??

                        Om or Aum is a mantra that is often chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. Om is both a sound and a symbol rich in religious meaning and depth. It is said to be both the sound of the creation of the universe, and the sound of silence. It represents both the highest level of divinity and the path to enlightenment. Om is often used as a yogic chant to calm the mind, create a peaceful setting or achieve a higher level of consciousness.

                      The Mandukya Upanishad, a sacred Hindu text written in 800-500 BC, presents the concept behind both the sound and the symbol. The syllable OM, which is the imperishable Brahman, is the universe. Whatsoever has existed, whatsoever exists, and whatsoever shall exist hereafter, is OM. And whatsoever transcends past, present, and future, which also is OM. Om is thus a broad universal concept with many mystical meanings, rather than a specific definition in the traditional sense.

                 In the Hindu religion Om is considered a sacred sound. Many Hindus consider Om to be the first sound of creation. Hindus also believe that everything in the universe, even inorganic objects, originated in Om and are therefore alive, with a vibration based on the sound Om. According to yogic tradition, once you are able to achieve true silence within yourself, you can hear, experience and even participate in these universal vibrations. This is why Om is also considered to be the sound of silence, the silence within yourself that allows you to tune out your thoughts and listen to the world within and around you. 

                 In India, Hindus use the Om symbol throughout their daily life. They may chant it at the beginning of the day, at the beginning of a journey or before undertaking a difficult task. The symbol is an integral part of the design of all temples and family shrines.Yoga Travel is a good way to strengthen your spirit.

Retreat Planning

It's not enough to choose a retreat destination, plan your lessons, and plan the menu (although that probably seems like plenty). There are several important details to take care of. There are  three key considerations for conducting a good yoga retreat. They are

• ·         attracting students,
• ·         making them feel well cared for,
• ·         and dealing with the inevitable legal considerations protecting both them and you.

Retreat planning is a risk. Most locales require deposits, from several hundred dollars to thousands, to reserve guest rooms. To cover your investment, you need to enlist enough students.

The second most important is advertising. We can advertise by making posters and handing out flyers, send e-mail invitations. We can also broaden our invitations to people we don't know, via the Internet, newsletters, or magazines. Having a toll-free number also helps attract new customers as they can call and connect with you, which helps soothe their fears and decide whether they like to join your studio.

Finally, make your students feel special, So that they feel free with you.

Some key things to consider before deciding to lead a yoga retreat

• ·        Leading a yoga retreat is not just a vacation:: Since your customers have paid some serious money to learn and transform themselves, you need to take the retreat seriously.

• ·         Leading a yoga retreat is not just about teaching yoga:: You also need to guide them. In some countries yoga retreat guiding is also offered as a college degree. The knowledge required is a serious business.

• ·         Be a student first, then a teacher::Just like in teaching yoga, we can only teach what we know so before you consider guiding a retreat, it is best to go on as a client. Apply what you learn into how you want to guide a retreat yourself. Talk to them as you will want your students to talk to you.

• ·         Retreat planning and preparation is extremely time-consuming:: Retreat planning can be really time consuming. So you need excellent organizational skills and marketing experience, so as to gain some profit. The revenue you collect from these yoga retreats shows the amount of hard work you have put into designing these yoga studios.

Some reasons to Go on a Yoga Retreat

• ·        YOU ARE LOST:::::Sometimes we ask ourselves”where are we going with our life”. Its hard to figure out what we want to do ourselves. All of this sets into anxiety and mental confusion.

• ·        YOU ARE EXHAUSTED:::::Poor mental digestion leads to poor sleep, lethargy,fatigue,worry,etc. Going on a retreat helps you renew your commitment to yoga to help you mentally digest your way towards optimal health whether you are wired or tired.

• ·        YOU ARE SAD OR BORED::::Doing things that you feel like you have to do instead of wanting it will just make you feel bored. And lose your passion for life. Yoga therapy is the best way to leave all our past behind and move forward.