Yoga industry gains strength
intense," Karen said. "It's a physical workout." The Hares spent more than $100,000 opening their yoga studio at 159 W. Mountain Ave., an expense that is largely attributed to the heating system needed for the 3,000-square-foot business. They're leasing their space from Antares Property Services in Fort Collins. While Bikram's Yoga tends to be more expensive to open because of the additional equipment, Slede said yoga studios typically are fairly inexpensive to open and often require an investment of less than $50,000. That's one of the reasons they've sprung up so quickly across the country, he said. "All you really need is floor space such that you can fit 10 to 15 to 20 people in the room and have some studios and mirrors," said Slede. Not only are stand-alone studios becoming popular, but many gyms across the country are incorporating yoga into their class offerings. About three years ago, owners of The Fort Collins Pulse, 2555 S. Shields St., renovated part of their facility to incorporate a yoga center, said Faith Brandt, director of The Yoga Center at The Pulse. The gym previously was offering classes in a small area of the facility, but as the popularity of yoga grew across the country, the gym ran out of space. "I think people are realizing the benefits more and more," Brandt said. Members of The Pulse can take yoga classes for free. Nonmembers can pay $12 a class or get a punch card and pay less, she said. The gym offers about 26 yoga and pilates classes a week and sees upward of 1,200 people a month in classes. "Our yoga center now is about three times the size it was," Brandt said. But while yoga's popularity is still thriving, some U.S. communities are becoming saturated with studios, Slede said. Areas that have had yoga studios for many years - such as New York and California - are now seeing some businesses close as consumers are faced with too many options. Typically, yoga studios have a better chance of surviving if they're reaching people in an underserved market, Slede said. "Basically a studio will survive if it's able to fairly quickly fill up classes," Slede said. "That will absorb the fixed cost of the rent and some of the overhead." Two years after Bikram's Yoga opened in Old Town, the Hares have about 2,500 people in their client database, Karen Hare said. The owners still advertise across Fort Collins and attempt to bring in new customers during off-peak times. "Anytime you're dealing with the public and their health, it's going to be a challenge to keep people motivated," Karen said. There are only a handful of yoga studios in Fort Collins, and studio owners say the competition isn't that strong. Most of the studios are far enough away from each other so they're not in direct competition, Brandt said. Katy Williams, 29, of Fort Collins, is a member of The Pulse and has tried yoga classes there but typically prefers other forms of working out. Still, it's a benefit to have the option of attending classes, she said. "I don't have the patience for yoga," she said, smiling. "But I'm three months pregnant now so I might have to try something different." Colorado State University student Kelsey Pohm, 23, often attends Bikram's Yoga classes as a way to relieve stress. When she was shopping around for a yoga studio, she opted for Bikram's not only because she enjoys the heated yoga, but also because the studio offers student discounts. "They have a good student package here," she said. "That's why I signed up." Published Sunday July 10, 2005 |
