YogaWorks in
Yoga done in the "Mysore style" is to be followed strictly 6 times a week, so this does not go very well with their "customers". I learned this through a blog I was lucky to discover.
Another YogaWorks' student, Ray, wrote a letter to them praising the ashtanga teacher, explaining the Mysore Style needs for regularity, and saying:
"If the proposed schedule change takes effect, I predict that we Ashtangis will go elsewhere. I know that I will be disinclined to continue my membership because there are other studios where I can continue to be consistent in my weekly practice..."
The underline is mine. That was not the only letter. YogaWorks has a big opportunity here.
If I was YogaWorks I would listen!
Then I would:
Then I would:
- Read both letters again, and if there are more, read those too.
- Get on the case, and drop everything else.
- Get Informed. Understand what Mysore Yoga style means. Visit the Pattabhi Jois website, read a book
or two
, talk to a few teachers.
- Fulfill their request.
- Forget costs! think: "word-of-mouth", "Thank you Economy
".
- Balance your short-term satisfaction with your brand-building long-term vision and loyalty
- Write a letter to these students, in plain English, appreciating their input and reassuring them that it will be rectified immediately.
- Thank them for talking to you. In person all the better. (How else would you ever know what your customers are thinking?)
- While at it, offer them a nice discount for the next 6 month membership renewal. Win them over.
- Advertise what you have just done everywhere, in a sweet way, do not go over the top. Keep it cool and show that you care. Because you do.
If you have trouble coming up with the right wording for your response here is a perfect letter that the CEO of Zappos wrote to every employee the day they merged with Amazon. No legal jargon. Just the facts, and human touch.
That book (left) is quite a read too.
That book
(left) is quite a read too.Will YogaWorks get it?
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RELATED POSTS:
I hear you.I am an Ashtangi myself but it is not fair to say "forget your costs". Who can forget their costs? Everyone has bills to pay even Yoga Works. I don't know their financial situation but I have seen business and people who look like they are rolling in money but they actually are struggling.
ReplyDeleteI hope they can keep the classes but forget the cost is a little bit much to ask for a business or anyone with bills to pay.
Shanna, I hear you, perhaps forget the costs completely would be non-realistic. That is why my next point was to balance short term gain with long term loyalty.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it is that if these students are paid attention to, treated very well, heard, then word-of-mouth is a fact of life that would help attract others, which in turn would cover the cost problems.
I understand not everyone sees things as I do, I was inspired however by the Book "The Thank You Economy", and because of how businesses are changing I believe this could be a good opportunity for them to put it to the test.
I know if I was one of those students and those 10 things happened I would be very impressed and happy and would talk about it every where.
Claudia,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this! I want to make clear that, to my knowledge, YogaWorks is cancelling their Tues & Thurs classes at their westside studio in NYC, not at all their studios.
I agree with your post. The bottom line here regarding costs, is that they might well lose money in the end, if we all have to take our business elsewhere. There were a few canned replies, but most writers got nothing.
Great points. Much appreciated!
Cocco, thank you so much for that clarification, I misunderstood somewhere and will correct it in the article, I never thought it was all studios but for some reason I thought it was in LA, my bad...
ReplyDeleteI am with you too, and I hope people reading would not think I am against the making of a good living through yoga, on the contrary I am all pro it (even wrote articles about "how money is good" etc), I just happen to realize, especially after reading taht book, the Thank You Economy, that things are changing....
Like you say, if you all take your business somewhere else they do not benefit, so in the end it is a great opportunity for them to use it to try and retain you and win you guys over, I hope they do! it will make for good word of mouth, students would be happy with their teachers, the studio would benefit and everyone wins...
What I gather as a main point from all of this is that we are moving to a new time in which one-on-one relationships are very important
Thanks for your comment.
Could it be that Yoga Works is cutting back on some of their mysore classes in NYC because there are already quite a number of ashtanga studios offering mysore classes already, and the few students who are coming to that studio aren't enough to keep things running?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe the teacher isn't able or willing to be there for all 6 days, due to personal commitments/schedule conflicts, and they haven't been able to find another teacher for those other days of the week?
Just wondering.
I don't know, that may be it, but if that was the case, the point being is that the students do not know either. If there is a valid reason then it would be good to let students know, at least that is what is being suggested on this new trends of doing business... which somewhat resonates with me.
ReplyDeleteI for one will be quite pleased if they shoot themselves in the foot & lose all their Astangis. The independents seem to provide far better teaching, in my opinion, and the independents tend to have smaller groups. Bring on the new blood & down with the corporations!
ReplyDeleteHi B, yes, I suppose that is one very good reason why they should be paying attention all the more. Maybe independents get the "one-on-one" relationship as it is a lot more clear to the way in which business is run.
ReplyDeleteAshtangis have very specific needs!!! At least this one does. (I know I'm a demanding student in some ways.)
ReplyDeleteWell, you are right, ashtanga is a very specific type of yoga, it has its requirements, and as per you, well you are the queen after all ;-)... hee hee, I do not think you are the only one B. I think we all like consistency in our Mysore classes when and if possible
ReplyDeleteaw, I like Evan! I hope he is doing something interesting - I wonder where he will end up. And the UWS Yogaworks mysore yogis should not have to suffer with Zoe and John nearby...we are lucky around here
ReplyDeleteI anpnymous. I have not met Evan but for what I read in Cocco's blog sounds like his students do, and I think that is great, there is no better feeling than connecting with a teacher, it is lucky.
ReplyDeleteAs per Zoe and John, I am not sure what you mean by "suffer", I know both and find them very magical. I actually think it is a blessing they have other choices. But I have a feeling maybe I misunderstand what you meant...
No, I agree with you Claudia! I meant that the yogis of yogaworks have fantastic alternatives in John and Zoe, if they have to leave their current studio. And how lucky we are in New York to have so many options close by! Where I grew up there is not a single studio offering mysore...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you know? as I was doing my practice this mornign it dawned on me! of course you were agreeing!!! I appreciate the clarification nevertheless, and you are right, we are VERY lucky here in New York to have so many talented teachers.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to pick up Gary's new book and glad to see that you recommend it. Will pick it up soon. Let us know what YogaWorks ends up doing.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria, it is a great book. The latest I heard is that the studio did give back the classes to the students but for what I read in the blogsphere the students were not completely happy about it and could not really talk about it either as it could be compromising to some of the parties involved...
ReplyDeleteI guess making everyone happy is not always that simple...