If you’re a certified yoga teacher with big aspirations, you will want to start building your business by starting a yoga studio. However, while you might require one type of environment for practicing at home, yoga in a group setting needs a space that’s better designed. Here’s what your first yoga studio needs.

Pick a good open space

Each yoga type has different requirements, but most need a large, open space that will allow multiple people to enjoy their sessions. The open space is also suitable for releasing negative energy—practicing in a tiny space will make you feel constricted. You’ll also need to provide a space that will give learners an unobstructed view of the teacher. This means you might want to avoid designing any nooks and crannies that might make it hard to see the instructor. Ideally, you want to have enough wall space for posture assistance, especially when you’re doing inversions.

Go easy on colors

While there are no rules that forbid experimenting with color, you should keep in mind that the main purpose of yoga is to relax, find inner peace and recharge your batteries which can be hard when you’re surrounded by bold colors. Instead, play safe and choose soothing colors like grey, beige, white and blue.

Control the lighting

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of designing your yoga studio. Good lighting can have an amazing influence on one’s session, so you shouldn’t settle on anything. If possible, you might want to concentrate on natural lighting. People from sunny places like Australia are truly lucky since natural light boosts concentration, enhances good mood and improves general health. But, even Aussie yogis need some artificial lighting for evening sessions. Make sure to find an experienced electrician from Western Suburbs to fill your space with LEDs that mimic natural radiance. Professionals can also include practical dimmers into your lighting setup perfect for meditation and light stretching sessions.

Provide storage

Your studio will also need plenty of storage for towels, props, mats and bolsters. No matter if stored inside or outside of the practice room, they still need to be accessible and designed in a way that all users can quickly grab what they need.

Provide ventilation

This is easily one of the more important aspects of designing your own yoga studio. Why? Well, most practices require fresh air to fill your lungs and enhance your spiritual development. So, if you provide your students with uninterrupted oxygen flow, they will have a much better yoga experience. Without good ventilation, you also risk heat strokes and breathing issues which you definitely don’t want.

Reception and check-in are very important

If you want to leave a good first impression on your students (as well as keep a good track of your business), you need to design a proper reception area. One of the best ways to make check-in easy and fast is to install a bar-code type scanning station. You’ll also need some cozy seating for waiting students and a few vending machines for refreshment and pre- and post-workout snacks.

Supporting facilities

Depending on how many students you’re trying to welcome to your practice, you’ll need showers and bathrooms. Make sure to include a good percentage of those that can accommodate people with disabilities. Another mandatory facility is a changing room where people can change clothes, put on makeup, fix their hair and so on.

If you provide your students with a studio designed according to guidelines listed above, you’ll get many new and loyal clients. People will not only enjoy your yoga expertise and your ability to inspire and teach but also love your space and the peace and motivation that it provides during your sessions.