About fifteen months ago my one-year old baby yoga practice came to an abrupt end when our twin sons arrived on the scene. More than a year later, it’s time to start figuring out how to get back into it.
The class I was in before isn’t available because the teachers left town, and that time of the morning doesn’t work anyway because I don’t want to leave my wife (and she doesn’t want to leave me) to care for twin toddlers who are just waking up and needing food, diaper changes, and everything else first thing in the morning.
So, I start looking for yoga classes online. And I saw the “yoga photo:”
And this one:
And this one:
What exactly do these yoga teachers think these photos are saying to me?
What the Yoga Teacher Is Thinking
“These poses transmit the essence of beauty and oneness that yoga brings the student. They also show that I have the skill, experience and serenity that students need to be successful.”
What the (Potential) Yoga Student Is Thinking
“Holy c$@&! There is no way in a million years I can do that, and there’s no way in a million years I’m going to make a fool out of myself in front of 20 flexible pretty people. Hmmm… maybe I’ll just go ride my bicycle.”
This Isn’t Just for Yoga Teachers
This problem of using images that intimidate, upset, or otherwise push away potential clients can happen in any business, in any industry. Don’t think you’re immune just because you deliver your services while standing still.
Time to Take a Look at Your Images All Over Again
Take a moment and think of a new client, and imagine their state of mind just before they hired you. What are their fears, worries, and concerns?
Now, take a look at the images on your site. How do you think those images are going to impact your potential client? Soothe their worries, or trigger them? Help them feel welcome as-is, or intimated?
Be honest, no matter how beautiful, or expensive your professional photos or images are, are they really helping your clients?
And if anyone has any examples of yoga studios, or other sites, that are doing it right, post’em here. Let’s take a look.
31 Responses
My yoga studio does it EXACTLY right – including making it possible for nervous first timers to sign up without speaking to anyone scary. Ahem.
http://prancingpeacock.com/
Yes! That’s what I’m talking about. Fantastic. Thank you.
This is absolutely beautiful Liz! And so inviting. Wish it was in VT.
Juno. Beautiful website!!
I would totally join if I wasn’t thousands of miles away…
It’s funny… I can’t remember what got me into yoga first. But I know it’s def not the pictures!!
Thanks for a great article Mark..
BK
You are so welcome- and it’s true- isn’t that a beautiful site?
I should clarify that it is the studio I practice at, not the studio I OWN. Liz’s son did the web design and I think hit the nail right square. It’s a very wonderful place.
.-= Juno’s lastest post: Things that people don’t believe me about. =-.
i have a 3 week old baby yoga practice.
the thought of going to any yoga class intimidates me at this point. i am doing yoga twice a day right now, at home, and totally in love with it. i am reading and researching and really getting into the philosophy of it and not just the poses.
i’ve set myself a goal to go to india in 2011 to do a yoga retreat with shiva rea: http://www.shivarea.com/
her poses and beautiful and perfect and her approach is holistic and inviting and i am so drawn to go to this retreat, and to keep working at it on my own so i can keep up when i get there.
but there is a new yoga studio opening up in my city that i feel i WILL go take classes at before i’m up to shiva-shape: http://www.yogapublic.com/
.-= ABCcreativity’s lastest post: creative visioning spotlight: mo =-.
Wow- I have to admit that the Shiva Rea site looked inspiring- and there’s no way I would go to a beginner class there, either. 🙂
I’m jazzed to hear that you’re going to go to India- can’t wait to hear about that once you do. 🙂
Oh, I LOVE the Prancing Peacock website! With the awkward feet! This would get me to sign up in a heartbeat. In fact, I’m wishing I lived in Yardley, PA right about now.
These yoga photos remind me of the “vaguely ethnic wail” that has become a cliche in movies. Salon did a write-up about it a few years back. (“Wail Watching” — http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2004/05/25/wails/ ) Now I can’t watch an epic-warrior-tragedy without giggling.
.-= Kelly Parkinson’s lastest post: The story of my worst client ever =-.
That’s hilarious about the “vaguely ethnic wail.” I hadn’t read that before, Kelly. And yes, I get the connection, too.
I know, the feet are wonderful, aren’t they? And it is exactly that kind of place, where it is 100% fine to be new to something.
.-= Juno’s lastest post: Things that people don’t believe me about. =-.
http://www.funkydooryoga.com
This is where I practice yoga. The entire place–including the back wall–is outfitted with Ed Renfro. It’s a lot of fun and reminds me not to take things too seriously!
Frankenstein yoga! If I were still in the Bay Area, I would be all over that one.
This is so true Mark.
Considering we can’t know for sure what 1000 word story a picture is telling any particular person, it can be a bit of a challenge getting the balance right between inspirational and unattainable.
One thing I didn’t like when I was looking for a place was how the photos seemed like stock photography generically placed on everyone’s site.
It makes it hard to evaluate the “personal” in something that’s supposed to be a personal service.
.-= Reeta Luthra | Stress and Health’s lastest post: Ask A Therapist =-.
Yah. I will give it to the yoga studio I attended- that the advanced photos were at least of the teachers themselves- but oh my goodness…
I like the way Bamboo Moves does it – they show a montage of beginning and advanced students from multiple classes.
http://www.bamboomovesnyc.com/
http://www.bamboomovesnyc.com/index.php/forest-hills
I like that one too- nice montage, indeed. Definitely felt more welcoming.
You have made an important point, here, for all teachers / centres. I’ll pass it on to my favourite yoga teacher (also husband
I’m so glad it’s helpful- and I hope it lands well with your beloved.
I like amrita’s website (they’re on SW Bancroft); the (very few) poses they show are doable. I also like them as a studio, especially because they have a Yoga Basics class on Sunday.
http://amritasanctuary.com/
.-= Elizabeth’s lastest post: sir atlas =-.
Nice! And by SW Bancroft- what city, what country? Readers here from all over the world…
Yes, this article does land well! This is something I hear quite a bit, ‘ I can’t do yoga, I am not flexible enough’.
The impression many people have of yoga, who do not yet practice, is that it is a physical practice, consisting of difficult positions that they cannot do. I agree completely with your comments regarding photos that many centres/teachers use to advertise.
So far, I have not used any photos of postures on my website. There is in one post, ‘Solar powered human’, footage of salute to the sun (me in jeans, not someone exotic!), and within the post I mention that this is a practice worked towards with other practices as preparation, and not just physical preparation, but the cultivation of awareness etc. And, that practice needs to be appropriate. Appropriate for the individual’s need.
I have discovered that it does not look like a typical yoga website!
I tend to discuss how the understanding gained from practice moves into the rest of life, naturally, not just intellectually, but as a feeling experience. I have not posted a lot yet, but you’ll get the drift if you have a look.
Yogamanas (Beloved of Cath)
.-= Yogamanas’s lastest post: Connected inside = connected outside (part 2) =-.
I did take a look at your site, Yogamanas, and so I applaud what you’re doing! Having experienced incredible benefits from yoga, I definitely support all of you fantastic teachers getting it out to more people. So woo-hoo!
Great point! Why are they always hyperflexible people auditioning for Cirque Du Soleil in the yoga marketing photos?
Nice info, quiet interesting, Thanks.
Actually, the first image is computer generated. It is not an actual photo. As for the other two images… They’re not that advanced. (If your instructor can’t help you into these poses-modified or otherwise- you need a new yoga teacher.)
When I was a beginner I wanted the teacher with the best practice. If I walked into a class and the teacher could not reach their toes, I’d assume they did not know how to teach.
Now-12 years later-I give the teacher the benefit of the doubt. But, it usually turns out that if they can’t demonstrate advanced postures, they can’t teach them either.
..and that does not bode well for the pranayama or meditation portion of the class… it means there won’t be one.
I don’t do yoga. Seeing pictures like those would amazed me on their flexibility however it doesn’t have an impact to invite people.
It is interesting, this is absolutely beautiful , thanks for sharing!
Excellent, what a webpage iit is! This wedbsite provides useful information to us, keep it up.
Very important topic! Thanks for bringing this up. Sadly, yoga today gets associated with the “image.” I often year people say “well I’m not good at yoga, I can’t even do crow pose.”
Glad you liked it.