Much like working an irregular schedule and putting up with the smell of unwashed feet, a fluctuating client base is pretty much a given of being a yoga teacher.
It is not uncommon to see a drop off during the summer months when spending time outside is more inviting than practising yoga in a stuffy church hall. This year, however, the seasonal dip has been amplified by our release from lockdown. After months spent cooped up indoors, it’s unsurprising that many of us are now neglecting our practice for a return to “real life”.
To complicate matters, there is now the matter of online yoga and differing attitudes toward Zoom to contend with, both of which could well lead to a decline in class numbers.
So, what can you do to protect yourself against these changes in class turnout?
Setting up a monthly or annual subscription ties students into your classes and, in theory, creates a sense of commitment on their part.
And if the monetary exchange is not enough to make your students turn up for class in the summer months, at least you remain financially covered during such seasonal fluctuations.
While the long summer evenings present the perfect opportunity to socialise and embrace life post lockdown, the results of this are often seen in dwindling numbers later in the day.
Consider switching up your schedule to reflect your clients’ availability. If you are noticing a decline in attendance for your evening classes, trial switching this for a morning session instead. If you see a better turnout, you know what to do! These things are about trial and error, and assessing what works best for you and your students at any given time.
After an initial dalliance with online classes due to Covid-19, it now looks like they are here to stay long-term. While some students cannot bear the sight of the Zoom icon, others are taken with the digital format, resulting in a potential loss if you choose one platform over the other. The solution here is to do both online and live classes, enabling you to cater to a wider range of client needs and prevent any drop-out as studios reopen.
For those of us who are time-poor, hybrid classes are the way to go. Streaming your in-person classes to those at home allows you to accommodate both audiences by covering all bases, getting those bums on mats, virtually or otherwise.
Not confident teaching online? Check out our guide to setting up online classes
Like this? Find more useful tips and handy resources when you join us as a yoga teacher!
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