From Chaos to Calm: The 48-Hour Studio Transformation That Shocked This Studio
Ara Lyman, Owner of Shala Living Yoga
“For the first time in years, I feel clear about where we’re going and confident that my team knows how to get us there. The pressure around sales has completely shifted. Now we’re having real conversations about wellness and community, and memberships are a natural result of those authentic connections.”
When Passion Meets Overwhelm
Ara was faced with a challenge that many successful studio owners face: having built something beautiful, but feeling lost in the day-to-day operations. Despite her passion for yoga and genuine care for her community, she was experiencing:
Operational Overwhelm: With multiple revenue streams including classes, wellness services, retreats, and teacher trainings, Ara felt pulled in too many directions without clear priorities.
Lack of Focus: Uncertain where to direct her energy for maximum impact, leading to scattered efforts across various initiatives.
Visibility Gaps: Unaware of specific operational gaps or sticking points that might be affecting student retention and overall studio performance.
Team Alignment Challenges: Struggling to get her staff fully engaged and ensuring they delivered consistent service that reflected the studio's values.
Lead Retention Issues: Concerned about converting interested prospects into committed community members, with uncertainty about where potential students were falling off in their journey.
As Ara put it:
"I know we're doing good work, but I feel like I'm constantly putting out fires instead of building something sustainable. I need to understand what's really happening in my studio and how to get my team aligned around our mission."
The Telomere Approach: Deep Dive Assessment & Training
After five years of working with Ara and the Shala team, we proposed an on-site visit with day-long sales training—two services that provide a comprehensive and thorough assessment of the studio's operations. This two-day Studio Visit and Sales Training would give Ara clear, actionable strategies and provide her with the tools she needed to take Shala Living to the next phase in it’s lifecycle.
Day 1: Uncovering the Reality
First Visitor Experience Audit
Our team conducted an assessment of the complete first-time visitor journey at Shala Living Yoga. This included everything from initial contact and arrival experience to class participation and follow-up communication.
Key Discoveries:
The physical space was welcoming, but was lacking a gathering space for community
The intake process lacked consistency depending on which team member was present
New students weren't receiving clear information about the full range of classes available
New students received inconsistent information about how often to visit, what classes would suit them best, creating a state of inaccessibility for some
Follow-up communication via email was consistent, but the in-person process for speaking with a new lead was falling by the wayside to other studio tasks
Class Evaluation
We attended multiple classes across different styles and instructors to assess consistency, quality, and alignment with Shala's mission.
Key Discoveries:
High-quality instruction across all classes, reflecting Ara's commitment to excellence
Inconsistent class experience from teachers—some instructors introduced themselves to new clients, others did not. Some made announcements and others didn’t close the practice with any sort of invitation to return
Missed opportunities to naturally introduce additional services and programs during classes
Schedule & Offerings Analysis
A comprehensive review of the class schedule and services revealed both strengths and optimization opportunities.
Key Discoveries:
Strong variety in class offerings, but the inconsistency in the class schedule could be a barrier for new clients navigating the schedule
Wellness services weren't well-integrated with yoga class offerings, operating as separate entities
Class titles and names might not reflect the actual class experience, especially for a newer client who is learning the naming conventions
Day 2: Empowering the Team
Mindful Sales Training
Rather than traditional high-pressure sales tactics, we introduced Ara's team to an approach that aligned perfectly with yoga philosophy: serving first, selling second.
Training Focus:
How to have authentic conversations about wellness goals and challenges
Developing natural transitions from class experience to broader community engagement
Creating a consistent process that felt supportive rather than pushy
Understanding how to present the full spectrum of Shala's offerings as integrated wellness solutions
Simulating real-client scenarios so that the team can feel more confident and comfortable when speaking to both new and returning clients
Management Training
We are continuing to work with Ara and her Studio Manager, providing them with the tools and processes needed to maintain momentum and continue developing her team's skills independently.
The Transformation: Results and Impact
Immediate Changes
Streamlined First Visitor Experience: Implemented a standardized welcome process that ensured every new student received consistent information and follow-up, regardless of which team member/instructor they encountered.
Focus on Community: Shala Living is focused on community but the entry space didn’t allow for natural connection between clients. With our guidance, Ara and her team remodeled the entry space to create a gathering area for lounging and connecting before and after class.
Unified Team Messaging: Developed clear talking points and conversation frameworks that allowed all staff members to authentically represent Shala's values and comprehensive offerings. The Studio Manager immediately felt more confident in how to develop the team to better suit the needs of the studio.
Operational Improvements
Focused Energy Allocation: Ara gained clarity on which initiatives would have the greatest impact, allowing her to prioritize her time and energy more effectively.
Enhanced Schedule Optimization: Adjusted class times and offerings based on actual community needs and attendance patterns, improving both student satisfaction and studio efficiency.
Improved Lead Conversion: With a clearer process and better team alignment, more prospects began converting to committed community members.
Cultural Shifts
Team Empowerment: Staff members reported feeling more confident in their interactions with students and more aligned with the studio's mission.
Authentic Sales Culture: The team embraced the mindful sales approach, leading to more genuine connections and reduced pressure around membership conversations.
Owner Confidence: Ara regained her sense of direction and purpose, feeling equipped to lead her studio's growth rather than simply manage its daily operations.
Ara's Reflection
"The Telomere team didn't just observe our studio—they truly understood our heart and helped us align our operations with our values. For the first time in years, I feel clear about where we're going and confident that my team knows how to get us there. The pressure around sales has completely shifted. Now we're having real conversations about wellness and community, and memberships are a natural result of those authentic connections."
Key Takeaways
The transformation at Shala Living Yoga demonstrates that even successful studios can benefit from objective assessment and strategic refinement.
The key factors in their success were:
Willingness to examine current reality honestly
Commitment to aligning operations with core values
Investment in team development and empowerment
Focus on authentic relationship-building over transactional interactions
Integration of all services into a cohesive wellness experience
Ara's journey illustrates how the right support and strategic focus can transform overwhelm into clarity, scattered efforts into purposeful action, and good intentions into measurable results.
“When I started working with Telomere in 2020, I was in a rough spot. My studio was shut down due to the Covid pandemic and then our building sold—essentially we lost our yoga business. Telomere guided us through not only a big online pivot but also through finding another space. Today we are a thriving studio! This wouldn’t have been possible without Telomere.”
Interested in discovering what's possible for your studio? Our Studio Visit service provides the clarity, strategies, and team empowerment needed to align your operations with your mission while building sustainable growth.
At Telomere Consulting, we believe every studio has the potential to create profound impact in their community while building sustainable success.
Our Studio Visit service goes beyond traditional fitness consulting companies by focusing on authentic relationship-building rather than high-pressure tactics. We come directly to your studio, providing hands-on assessment and training, giving you the tools, insights and strategies you need to grow.
