Podcast
Yoga Biz Champ with Michael Jay
Hosted by Michael Jay · ENGLISH
Join Michael Jay, the Yoga Biz Champ studio consultant (@yogabizchamp), on the "Yoga Biz Champ" podcast, your essential guide to thriving in the yoga business world. With a rich background as a yoga teacher, former studio owner, and marketing expert, I bring you the insider's perspective on making your yoga studio a resounding success.
What You'll Gain:
- Insightful Conversations: Listen in as I chat with dynamic yoga studio owners and top industry experts, sharing their journeys, strategies, and secrets to success.
- Practical Advice: Each episode is packed with actionable tips and practical steps tailored to help both budding and seasoned studio owners flourish
- Real-World Success Stories: Be inspired by real-life examples of yoga studios that have transformed challenges into triumphs.
My Approach:
As your host, I blend direct, fair, and humor-infused coaching to demystify the complexities of running a yoga business. My style is about being in the trenches with you, offering guidance that's relatable and effective.
Why Listen?
- Experience & Expertise: Leverage my 14+ years of experience in running and selling a profitable yoga studio and my proven track record as a yoga business consultant.
- Diverse Topics: From branding and marketing to pricing and sustainable growth, we cover the A-Z of yoga business management.
- Join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about turning their yoga dreams into profitable realities.
By tuning into the Yoga Biz Champ podcast, you'll gain the knowledge, inspiration, and confidence to navigate the yoga business landscape successfully. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, these conversations will be your roadmap to becoming the next Yoga Biz Champ in your community https://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
89episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ask Me Anything: Community Yoga Studios, Business & Life
6d ago00:43:12Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.“You don’t build a successful community yoga studio by making perfect decisions. You build one by making the next right decision, over and over again.”For the first time on the Yoga Biz Champ Podcast, we’re turning the microphone around. In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m answering some of the questions I get asked most—about coaching, running a community yoga studio, business, and a little about the person behind Yoga Biz Champ.We talk about the biggest mistakes I see new yoga studio owners make, why leadership and marketing are investments rather than expenses, what makes my coaching style different, and a few personal stories that have shaped the way I work with community yoga studio owners today.In This Episode* The biggest mistakes I see when opening a Yoga Studio.* Why leadership is one of the best investments you can make.* Where I think Yoga Studio owners overspend.* The one budget I’d never cut.* What makes my coaching approach different.* My favourite text message to receive from clients.* My most unpopular opinion about the yoga industry.* The one business rule I’ll never break.* Stories about my first job, confidence, family and growing up.* A few things you probably didn’t know about me.Grab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Find Your Axis: Burnout, Boundaries & Community Yoga Studios
2w ago00:30:54Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.“Burnout doesn’t happen because you stop caring. Burnout happens because you care so much that somewhere along the way, you stop taking care of yourself.”If you’ve been feeling tired lately, you’re not alone.On recent coaching calls, Michael Jay has been asking studio owners to rate their energy from 1 to 10. The answers have been surprisingly low. Lots of 3s. Lots of 4s. Even the 7s came with a laugh and a disclaimer.So why are so many community Yoga Studio owners running on empty?In this episode, Michael is joined by former studio owner and consultant Stephanie for an honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, self-care, and what it really takes to sustain yourself while leading a community Yoga Studio.Together they share stories from their own experiences as studio owners, discuss why summer can be an ideal time to reset, and explore the habits, systems, and mindset shifts that help owners protect their energy without losing momentum in their business.The conversation touches on everything from taking time off and finding your personal rhythm to delegating tasks, reconnecting with your own practice, and remembering that the health of a community Yoga Studio starts with the health of its owner.This episode is especially valuable for owners who love their community Yoga Studio deeply but have started to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected from the reasons they opened their doors in the first place.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why so many community Yoga Studio owners are feeling burnt out right now• The warning signs that your energy tank is running low• Why summer can be the perfect season to rest, regroup, and prepare for fall• How dedicated time to work on your Yoga Studio—not just in it—can reduce stress and improve focus• Why delegation, systems, and asking for help are essential skills for community Yoga Studio owners• How finding your own rhythm can improve both your health and your business• Why attending classes as a student can reignite your passion and creativity• The importance of practicing what you preach as the leader of a community Yoga Studio• Simple self-care habits that can help prevent burnout before it starts• Why building a thriving community Yoga Studio begins with taking care of yourselfGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →NEW DATA: What Boutique Fitness Can Teach Yoga Studios About Retention
3w ago00:21:41Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.What if your biggest opportunity isn't getting more leads?What if it's helping more of the students you already have become consistent?I recently attended a boutique fitness webinar packed with data around member behaviour, retention, revenue and community. The examples weren't Community Yoga Studios... but the lessons absolutely apply.In this episode, I translate the findings into practical ideas you can use right away in your own Community Yoga Studio.In this episode:• The 4 member segments every Community Yoga Studio has and how to identify them• Why the "Situationship" group makes up over 70% of members and may be your biggest growth opportunity• The surprising 5-visit milestone and why getting students to class quickly matters• Which members drive the biggest impact on revenue and retention• Why quarterly challenges can improve attendance long after they end• Practical ways to increase visit frequency and engagement• How leading studios are using loyalty, referrals, milestones and automations to grow smarter• Why human connection is still the secret ingredient behind every successful Community Yoga StudioThe Community Yoga Studios growing sustainably aren't just getting more leads.They're helping more people build routines, feel seen, and become part of the community.And the data gives us some pretty amazing clues on how to do exactly that.Grab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Marketing Month: Stop Scrambling and Start Marketing Ahead
May 2200:29:44Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.If your Yoga Studio marketing always feels last-minute, you are not alone.In this solo Marketing Month episode, Michael Jay breaks down why so many Yoga Studio owners feel like they are constantly scrambling to promote programs, manage the schedule, answer emails, lead the team, and keep the business moving.The issue usually is not a lack of ideas. Most studio owners have plenty of good ideas. The real problem is that those ideas are often sitting in the owner’s head, being launched too late, or getting buried under everything that feels urgent.This episode is a practical reset for Yoga Studio owners who want to feel more prepared, more organized, and more in control of their marketing.Michael shares simple steps to help you block real marketing time, delegate the tasks that are slowing you down, look at your energy as well as your schedule, create repeatable systems, and finally get your marketing projects out of your head and onto a project board.This is not about becoming a perfect marketing machine. It is about creating a better rhythm so your Yoga Studio can grow with more clarity, more consistency, and less owner overwhelm.In this episode:Michael talks about why last-minute marketing rarely works well, how to protect time for business-building work, why successful studio owners stop trying to do everything themselves, and how one simple checklist can make future launches feel so much easier.He also shares how success starts to look different when your systems, team, marketing, and community all start moving in the same direction.Grab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Marketing Month: Smarter Yoga Studio Marketing with Jennifer Kolbuc
May 1100:56:56Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.Marketing Month continues on the Yoga Biz Champ podcast, and this week I’m joined by Jennifer Kolbuc from Mountaintop Consulting and MarketingClub.ca.Jennifer helps business owners create smarter, more strategic marketing without making it feel overwhelming. In this episode, we talk about what Yoga Studio owners need to be thinking about right now when it comes to social media, email marketing, lead generation, websites, paid ads, and showing up in a way that feels real.We also get into why niching down matters, why your email list is still one of your strongest marketing tools, and how Yoga Studio owners can stop trying to speak to everyone and start creating content that reaches the right people.This is a great episode for any Yoga Studio owner who knows they need more new students in the door, but wants their marketing to feel clearer, more human, and more connected to their community.In this episode, we cover:• Why Yoga Studio owners need to understand their audience before outsourcing their marketing• How niching down can actually help you grow faster• Why authentic, less polished social media is working right now• How to use stories and behind-the-scenes content to show your studio personality• Why email marketing still matters, especially for time-sensitive offers• How to use lead magnets and email opt-ins to build your listWhy high-performing organic content can become strong paid ads• How AI is changing website visibility and online marketingWhat Jennifer’s Marketing Club offers business owners looking for support and accountability“Your marketing gets easier when you stop trying to speak to everyone and start speaking to the right people.”Resources:Website: https://mountaintopconsulting.ca/ Marketing Club: https://www.marketingclub.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialwithjen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkolbuc/ Sign up for the marketing club 10 day free trial https://www.marketingclub.ca/freetrialFree Yoga Studio resources:yogabizchamp.comBook a free strategy call:yogabizchamp.com/bookGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Marketing Month: How Yoga Strong Turns Real Community Into Real Marketing
May 400:55:33Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.Marketing Month is here on the Yoga Biz Champ podcast, and I’m kicking it off with my client Samantha from Yoga Strong.Samantha is one of those Yoga Studio owners who really studies marketing, tests what works, and shows up in a way that feels real, confident, and connected to her community.In this episode, we talk about what is working for her right now, how she thinks about social media, why she studies marketers like Alex Hormozi, and how Yoga Studio owners can get better at creating content that brings new students in the door.This is a great episode for any Yoga Studio owner who knows they need to stop overthinking their marketing and start showing up with more clarity, consistency, and personality.In this episode, we cover:• How Samantha approaches social media for her Yoga Studio• Why studying strong marketers outside the yoga world can help• What makes content feel more real and less forced• How to create posts that speak to future students• Why consistency matters when building trust• How marketing can help people feel your community before they walk through the door“Your marketing should help people feel the energy of your Yoga Studio before they ever walk through the door.Resources:Learn more about Yoga Strong:https://www.yogastrongnc.comFollow Yoga Strong:https://www.instagram.com/yogastrongncFree Yoga Studio resources:https://www.yogabizchamp.comBook a free strategy call:https://www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →What I Learned at HFA That Every Yoga Studio Owner Needs to Hear
Mar 3000:24:43Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.Things have changed for the Yoga Studio owner.After spending time at HFA, sitting in sessions, listening to operators, consultants, and studio owners from all over… one thing became very clear:What used to work… doesn’t work the same way anymore.In this episode, I break down what’s actually happening in the industry right now—and how it directly impacts your Yoga Studio, your growth, and your day-to-day experience as an owner.This isn’t theory.This is what’s happening on the ground.If your Yoga Studio feels harder than it used to… if you’re doing all the things but not seeing the same results… this episode is going to hit.We get into why competition has quietly changed the game for every Yoga Studio, why relying only on “being good” isn’t enough anymore, and how the studios that are growing are thinking differently about marketing, systems, and community.I also break down one of the simplest but most powerful shifts I heard at HFA—how to think about your marketing as both “fishing nets” and “fishing poles”—and why most Yoga Studios are missing half the equation.We talk about referrals (and why your Yoga Studio doesn’t actually have a referral problem), what’s really going wrong with lead follow-up inside studios, and how a lack of structure—not effort—is holding a lot of owners back.There’s also a real conversation here around team, burnout, and what role you need to play as the owner of your Yoga Studio right now.Because whether you like it or not… your presence still matters more than anything.And finally, we bring it back to what actually moves the needle:- Your team.- Your tech.- Your training.If one of those is off, your Yoga Studio feels it.This episode is about getting honest, getting clear, and tightening up what actually drives growth in your Yoga Studio—without overcomplicating it.If you’re building a community Yoga Studio, trying to grow one, or just trying to get things back under control… this one’s for you.Book a free strategy call with Michael:www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Overworked Yoga Studio Owner? Do This Before You Hire Anyone
Mar 900:22:28Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.Many community yoga studio owners reach a point where they feel like they are doing everything.Teaching classes.Answering emails.Posting on social media.Processing refunds.Updating schedules.Managing teachers.Running a community yoga studio requires wearing a lot of hats, especially in the early stages. But as the studio grows, the owner’s role needs to evolve too.In this solo episode, Michael Jay shares a simple exercise he uses with community yoga studio owners to help them understand exactly what work is happening inside their business before they hire help.The process starts by documenting every task happening inside the yoga studio for one full week. From there, those tasks are organized into categories like marketing, administration, operations, and community building.Once everything is visible, it becomes much easier to see what the owner should keep doing, what should be delegated, and what tasks could even be outsourced.For many community yoga studio owners, this exercise reveals the exact role the studio needs next — whether that’s an assistant manager, an operations administrator, or project-based support.When the right people are handling the right work, the owner can focus on leadership, marketing, and strengthening the community inside the yoga studio.If you’re feeling stretched running your community yoga studio, this episode offers a simple framework to bring clarity, build support, and move the business forward.⸻In This EpisodeHow to document everything happening inside your community yoga studio in just one weekWhy most yoga studio owners underestimate how many operational tasks they are actually doingHow to organize studio work into clear business bucketsHow to decide what the community yoga studio owner should keep doingHow to turn your task list into a real job descriptionWhen outsourcing small projects makes more sense than hiringWhy every role in a community yoga studio should help move the business forward⸻“Most community yoga studio owners don’t need to work harder. They need clarity on what work actually belongs to them.” - Michael Jay⸻Book a free strategy call with Michaelhttps://www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →Buying & Selling a Yoga Studio in 2026 - with Mitch MgGinley
Feb 2300:43:36Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.What is a community Yoga Studio actually worth in 2026?In this episode, I sit down again with Mitch to break down what’s really happening in the buying and selling market right now — no fluff, no myths.We talk valuation, clean accounting, leadership structure, the impact of ClassPass, and why community-driven studios continue to hold strong resale value when they’re built properly.If you own a community Yoga Studio and assume selling is too hard or not possible, this episode will challenge that thinking.In This Episode:• Why community Yoga Studios often outperform trend-based concepts in resale• The biggest mistakes that quietly kill deals• Why owner-dependency lowers valuation• How retention directly impacts what your studio is worth• When to start planning your exit — even if you’re not selling anytime soonA Quote from Mitch:“Wrap your business in a pretty bow — clean books, strong systems, real leadership — and you create options.”Connect with Mitch:BOOK VIA MY DIRECT LINK TO MITCH: https://yogabizchamp.link/bfbWebsite https://boutiquefitnessbroker.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitch_mcginley/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchmcginley/If you want help strengthening your community Yoga Studio — or preparing it for an eventual exit — book a free strategy call at: https://www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGrab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Transcribe →The First 90 Days of a Yoga Student: Where Retention Really Begins
Feb 900:45:05Tap to summarizeText me what your #1 studio problem is right now for my research. Add your email.“Retention doesn’t begin at six months. Retention begins in the first three weeks of a student’s journey, and it’s built quietly, class by class, in the first 90 days.”It begins the moment a new student walks into your community Yoga Studio for the first time.In this episode, Michael Jay breaks down what’s really happening during the first 90 days of a student’s journey—and why this period quietly determines whether someone becomes part of your studio’s community or drifts away before the habit forms.Drawing on real studio experience and industry insight, this episode explores the psychology of new students, the common points where studios unintentionally lose people, and the practical systems that help students stay consistent long enough to truly feel connected to a Yoga Studio community.You’ll also hear what typically happens between months three and six, why attendance patterns matter more than most owners realize, and how small, consistent actions inside a community Yoga Studio often matter more than big marketing campaigns.This episode is especially valuable for studio owners who want to build a strong, steady community Yoga Studio—one where students don’t just attend classes, but feel like they belong.In this episode, you’ll learn:* Why the first three weeks are the most fragile part of a student’s journey* What should be happening in the first 90 days to help habits form* How automation and follow-up messages can support students without feeling robotic* Why teachers and culture are the foundation of a strong community Yoga Studio* What happens between months three and six—and how to prevent the silent drop-off* Practical steps any Yoga Studio can implement immediately to improve retention and build communityResources & LinksBook a consultation with Michael Jay: https://www.yogabizchamp.com/bookFree resources for Yoga Studio owners: https://www.yogabizchamp.com/Grab a spot in Michael's calendar for the GROW-A-STUDIO coaching package. Get 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
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