Ask Me Anything?

“If you get irritated with every little scratch, how are you going to cross the jungle?” – Vani

In this episode I’m sitting down with someone incredibly special — one of my long-time coaching clients and a true Yoga Studio success story, Vani Shukla, owner of Yoga Spirit Studios in Adelaide, Australia.

I’ve worked with Vani for over three and a half years, and I’ve watched her go from navigating the chaos of buying a legacy studio after COVID… to becoming a confident, grounded studio leader with a brand, schedule, team, and community that finally aligns with who she really is.

If you’re a teacher dreaming of owning a Yoga Studio — or you’ve taken over an existing one and you’re still figuring out how to make it yours — Vani’s journey is going to feel honest, relatable, and incredibly inspiring. I’m so excited to share her story with you.

We cover:
– Yoga as part of daily life growing up in India
– Four years of formal yoga + yoga therapy study before she ever taught
– Moving to Australia and the “meant to be” moment she found Yoga Spirit
– What it’s really like to buy an existing Yoga Studio post-COVID
– Team dynamics, member expectations, and making bold decisions
– Rebranding slowly and intentionally once the foundations were strong
– Balancing traditional lineage with a modern Western yoga market
– How mentoring helped Vani gain clarity, confidence, and direction

Links Mentioned:
Yoga Spirit Studios – Adelaide
and 2026 India Yoga & Ayurveda Retreats

https://www.yogaspirit.com.au


Yoga Spirit on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yogaspiritadelaide

Vani’s personal Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yogasadhanawithvani

Connect with Michael / Yoga Biz Champ
Free strategy call for Yoga Studio Owners
👉 https://www.yogabizchamp.com/book

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

“We built this studio by staying intentional with our teaching, our sequencing, and our community — one relationship at a time.” — Sam Megraw

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Megraw, the co-owner of Easy Tiger Yoga KC, a fast-growing Yoga Studio in Kansas City built on thoughtful sequencing, strong partnerships, and a real commitment to community. Sam shares how she went from teaching to running a thriving two-studio operation — and how listening to this podcast helped shape her founders presale before she even opened.

We talk about what actually matters when you’re launching or growing a Yoga Studio: great teaching, consistency, simple systems, and serving the people right in front of you.

In This Episode We Cover:
• Sam’s journey from teacher to studio owner
• The early days of Easy Tiger Yoga and how they grew quickly
•  Why intelligent sequencing has become their signature
• How Sam and her partner Emily balance strengths to lead the studio
• What makes a truly great yoga teacher in 2025– Building community through personal connection, names, and follow-up
• How thoughtful onboarding sets students up for long-term success
• Why authenticity and patience matter more than hype– Sam’s current plans for studio growth and teacher development

Connect With Easy Tiger Yoga KC:
Website: https://www.easytigeryogakc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easytigeryogakc

Work With Michael Jay – Yoga Biz Champ
I’m opening December appointments for studio owners who want to start a 6-month Start-A-Studio or Grow-A-Studio coaching package in January.

If you want 2026 to feel strategic, supported, and profitable — this is your window.

👉 Book your strategy call: https://www.yogabizchamp.com/book
👉 Grab free studio resources: https://www.yogabizchamp.com

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

“You can’t grow what you don’t measure — but once you measure it, you can design a studio that feels as good as it looks on paper.”

In this episode, Michael Jay breaks down exactly how he helps yoga studios around the world plan for the new year — using real booking system data, not guesswork.

You’ll learn:
• Why your attendance and sales tell two completely different stories — and why both matter.
• The high-energy windows every yoga studio should plan around: early November, Black Friday, early December, and early January.
• The natural low periods you need to protect (hello, February 👋).
• The five data checkpoints every owner should track — in normal human language, not “corporate KPI speak.”
• How to use your booking data to build your 2026 rhythm, plan cash flow, and stop scrambling.
• Michael also shares what he’s seeing across the studios he coaches worldwide — the real reasons some owners are thriving while others are still reacting to every dip and slow week.


“You can’t grow what you don’t measure — but once you measure it, you can design a studio that feels as good as it looks on paper.”

🎯 Next Steps:
• Pull your attendance + sales reports and look at your 2025 pattern.
• Color-code your high-energy and low-risk months.
Start designing your 2026 calendar with purpose.

🗓 Want help?
Book your free strategy chat at YogaBizChamp.com/book and let’s plan your studio’s 2026 together.

Or grab the Yoga Biz Champ 2026 Studio Planner at YogaBizChamp.com/plan26 — the same one Michael uses with his coaching clients.

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

“Your studio’s biggest differentiator isn’t your yoga style — it’s your people. Stop hiding behind your logo and start showing up on camera.” - Michael Jay @yogabizchamp

In this solo episode, Michael Jay pulls back the curtain on what’s really working in yoga studio marketing in 2025. Whether you’re trying to fill classes, boost intro offers, or simply make your marketing feel less chaotic, this episode breaks it down to five key must-haves — with real-world examples, client stories, and the truth about where studio owners go wrong.

Michael shares his decades of experience helping yoga studios across North America open, grow, and thrive — plus the mistakes that might be quietly killing your conversions. Expect straight talk, relatable studio stories, and practical next steps you can implement today.

⸻

What You’ll Learn
• How to define your real ideal client (and why “our classes are for everyone” doesn’t work)
• The anatomy of a high-converting Intro Offer landing page
• Why email and SMS automations are worth more than your Instagram feed
• How to get scrappy with guerrilla marketing that builds real-world awareness
• Why showing your face on camera is now your studio’s biggest marketing advantage

⸻
Mentioned in This Episode
• 2026 Yoga Studio Planning Calendar — your guide for monthly content ideas, holidays, and campaign planning: yogabizchamp.com/plan26
• Free Strategy Call with Michael Jay — talk through your studio’s marketing or systems at yogabizchamp.com/book
• Pixelity Design Blog (Connie Holen) — free resources on building studio websites and landing pages that convert: pixalitydesign.com/blog
• OfferingTree, Walla, Momence, FitDegree, Mindbody — explore their built-in marketing suites for email/SMS automations
• Yoga Biz Champ’s 100 Scrappy Marketing Ideas — coming soon; follow @yogabizchamp for updates

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

"Studios that win aren’t the cheapest in town — they’re the ones where people feel seen, supported, and connected."

In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Appiah and Stephanie Breaux Bradley of The Sales Arms for a deep dive into what’s really working for fitness and yoga studios moving towards 2026. We talk candidly about lead generation, why community beats discounts every time, and how studio owners can finally stop wasting money on ads that don’t convert.

Stephanie sharesthe importance of yoga as a “third space” for mental health and connection. Together, we break down how studios can stop chasing low-price intro offers and instead lean into the emotional benefits and belonging that people are craving.

We get real about:
• Why price-based marketing is a trap and how to shift into experience-based messaging
• The “three T’s” (tech, team, and training) that every studio needs to operate like a business
• How to create multiple doorways for new students beyond the standard intro pass
• What real lead follow-up looks like (hint: 10–20 touchpoints, not two emails)
• How to prescribe class schedules so students succeed instead of floundering
• Ways to use software properly — not just to collect leads, but to actually track, nurture, and convert them

Chris and Steph are in the trenches with studios every day, helping owners stop bleeding leads and start creating predictable growth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder than your marketing is, this episode is for you.

👉 Want support building the systems and strategy that make a yoga studio thrive? Book a free strategy call with me at www. yogabizchamp.link/podlink

To book a chat with Chris himself at TSA https://www.thesalesarms.com/yogabizchamp

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

"If you’re planning a Mother’s Day promo the week before, it’s already too late. Studios need to be at least 8 weeks ahead."

In this episode, Stephanie Breaux Bradley and I talk about something every studio owner struggles with: planning your year before it runs away from you.

We dig into how studio owners can finally stop winging their promotions and start using strategic calendar planning to drive revenue, build community, and keep their members consistent all year long.

Stephanie shares examples from her own community events — from football-themed challenges to car shows to candlelight yoga for charity — and how these grassroots promotions worked because they were planned with intention and tied to the local community.

We also talk through:
• Why being at least 8 weeks ahead on your marketing calendar is the minimum standard for success
• How to use local events, health days, and holidays to anchor your promotions
• The importance of documenting events right after they happen so you can refine and repeat them next year
• Balancing holiday promotions like Black Friday without overwhelming your members
• Creative ways to appreciate your staff and members through events and celebrations
• How planning provides control, structure, and routine for both you and your community

I also share a sneak peek at Plan26 — my upcoming free resource with World Health Days, seasonal prompts, and planning tools to help studio owners map out their 2026 calendar with less stress and more strategy.

If you want to start the new year with a plan instead of scrambling week to week.
👉 DOWNLOAD MY 2026 PLANNER  www.yogabizchamp.com/plan26

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

What makes a yoga studio thrive? It’s not the logo, the schedule, or even the space — it’s the teachers and the point of view that your studio holds.

In this special “podcast buddy” episode, I sit down with Francesca Cervero, host of The Mentor Sessions Podcast and long-time private yoga teacher and mentor. Francesca has been teaching yoga full-time for over 20 years, runs a teacher training called The Science of the Private Lesson, and mentors yoga teachers to develop a strong, authentic teaching voice.

Together, we explore the evolving yoga industry, the role of studio owners in elevating their teachers, and why having a clear point of view is more powerful (and sustainable) than trying to be everything to everyone.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How yoga studios have shifted from community-led to franchise-driven — and back again
• Why teachers fresh out of training aren’t always ready for studio life (and how to mentor them well)
• The difference between “niching down” and developing a true teaching point of view
• Why your yoga studio is only as strong as the teachers who represent it
• How community studios today can compete with franchise-level tools
• Real talk about industry changes, competition, and what makes studios sustainable in 2025 and beyond

Links & Resources:
Connect with Francesca → francescacervero.com
Listen to The Mentor Sessions Podcast with Francesca

Book a free strategy call with me → yogabizchamp.link/book

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

Have you ever thought about opening a yoga studio — or wondered how to take your current studio to the next level? In this special episode, the tables are turned! Instead of hosting, I’m the one being interviewed. My friend Shannon Crow, host of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast, puts me in the hot seat and asks all the questions I usually get from yoga teachers and studio owners.

We talk about my own journey from yoga teacher to studio owner to consultant, and I share real-world advice on what it really takes to build a profitable, sustainable yoga business. You’ll hear why planning ahead matters, why ClassPass may not be your best friend, and strategies you can use right now to create financial stability and grow your community.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
• My journey from yoga teacher to yoga studio owner to consultant
• What teachers should consider before opening a studio
• Why a business mindset matters as much as your teaching skills
• How to create financial stability and sustainability
• Why I don’t recommend ClassPass for studios
• Marketing strategies that actually work in today’s yoga business

Links & Resources:
Connect with Shannon Crow → The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Book a free strategy call with me → yogabizchamp.com/book

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

If you're tired of second-guessing every Instagram post, wondering if your studio emails are working, or avoiding video altogether... this episode is about to unlock something big.

Michael Jay sits down with Vancouver-based teacher and marketing pro Hadis Kiani, who shares her decade-long journey as a class-building yoga teacher — and how her background in marketing shaped her success.

Together, they break down what modern yoga marketing actually looks like in 2025 — from brand consistency and storytelling, to human psychology and meeting your students where they’re at (yes, even the ones who hate social media). Hadis also shares practical advice for how studio owners can build community and credibility with confidence... and yes.. make use of ClassPass!

In this episode:

• The real role of marketing in a yoga business
• Why your intro pass might be your most powerful tool
• How branding consistency helps build trust
• Marketing psychology: how people actually make decisions
• What makes students come back again and again
• Studio marketing mistakes (and how to fix them fast)

Ready to finally market your studio with strategy, not guesswork?
Michael is now booking for his September Start a Studio and Grow a Studio coaching packages. Begin with a 30-minute free call.
👉 Book now at yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Connect with Hadis https://www.instagram.com/moovinstylewithhadis/

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

Ask Me Anything?

In this episode of Yoga Biz Champ, I sit down with Marianne Buchilo, the heart and hustle behind Peaceful Yoga in Malverne, NY. This is a grounded, inspiring conversation about what it really looks like to grow a yoga studio—especially when you're not a franchise, not a chain, but a local community-based space.

Marianne and I have been working together for two years, and in that time, her studio has seen over 60% growth. We talk through the wins, the mindset shifts, and the behind-the-scenes systems that helped make it happen.

We get into:
• How Marianne took over her teacher’s studio and made it her own

• What it took to clean up legacy systems (goodbye 3-day payroll!)

• Finding confidence as a leader, a marketer, and a studio owner

•Using automation + daily detective work to keep students engaged

• Getting scrappy with local partnerships (coffee shops, cinemas, community events)

• Why studio owners need support—and how coaching filled the gap

• Whether you’re thinking about hiring a coach or wondering if growth is even possible in a small town, Marianne’s story will meet you where you’re at.

Resources & Links:
▶ Learn more about Peaceful Yoga: https://peacefulyoga.net
▶ Book a free strategy call with me: 
https://www.yogabizchamp.com/book
▶ Free resources for studio owners www.yogabizchamp.link/podlink
▶ Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yogabizchamp

Michael's Annual Planning Party is open to the public for the first time! Build your entire 2027 studio calendar live on Oct 14 with real numbers from your own booking software. Early Bird pricing is $47 for a limited number of spots before it jumps to $67. For existing brick-and-mortar community yoga studios only. Grab your seat: yogabizchamp.link/plan27

Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link. SIGN UP ON THE STUDIO PLAN AND GET A FREE 1-1 CONSULTING SESSION WITH ME Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast.

The Number Nobody Talks About: How to Prepare, Price, and Sell Your Boutique Fitness Studio - by Mitch McGinley. Grab Your copy on Amazon US Here

FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINK
https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink