Hello yogis! I have a bit of an unusual question but I am looking for people’s opinions on this; I am opening a studio locally and the actual practice space is a rectangular shape (about 1300 sq.ft) However, because the main entrance opens right in to the ‘practice space’ I am having a wall put up so that upon entering the building you walk in to an entryway and then to the right through brick archway is ‘welcome desk area’.
Now, building this wall (it’s an “L” shape within the studio) now leaves the studio a funky shape–it will be more of a square shape studio with a corner section off the end.
Have you ever been to a studio that is not either square or rectangular? I personally have not and so I am curious what you, as students, would think of this shape studio. If the teachers, studio and instruction was stellar, authentic and quality, would the shape of the studio matter that much?
Thanks for your honest input! (We tend to think about things a lot more when we’re personally invested in them!)
The shape does not matter too much…but think about how mats can be arranged…can all students easily see the teacher?..are you using the space efficiently?..could part of the funky shape be used by a storage area for mats/blocks/bolsters/straps etc?
Will all students feel comfortable where ever they are within the studio?..or do particular mat spots feel pushed out/squashed/less prime than others?
Thank you YogaCambodia- those are all very good questions; And good food for thought. Luckily, the ‘corner’ that will be created as a result of the wall going up is in the ‘front’ of the studio (I figure teaching will happen from the front of the wide end of the studio).
So, that funky corner can be mindfully arranged to feel as good as the rest of the studio, as you make a good point that students should feel good no matter where they are in the studio.
I appreciate your input. 
Congratulations on opening a studio 
sounds like a dream come true!
I think if the teacher can transfer his/her calmness during the yoga, nobody will think of the shape of a studio… Good luck!
heh whenever i hear of it as called a studio i just cant stop laughing… 
namastey from india 
a nice tree with lots of shade and nice grass would be the more yogic way of life i suppose 
We just opened 6 weeks ago with almost an identical situation. Our space was 1200 sqft and I put a wall across 15’ in, with glass across the top to let in natural light, and of course the door to the “studio”. Left us with 800 sqft. In the entrance we added the desk area and two changing rooms, plus space for retail stuff. It works pretty well. Not sure why the L shape. We can “fit” 25 mats pretty easily with “mat management”. We don’t have that problem yet but getting there. Good luck !
Sonictantra–namaste to you as well Yes, I hear you…funny that we call it studio. Actually our name has the word ‘shala’ in it rather than ‘studio’.
Daves007–great to hear someone with a similar situation-congratulations on opening! That is a huge accomplishment! I see what your saying in your situation; With our studio the main entrance goes right in to the studio. Then off to the right you go through a doorway to another whole seperate ‘room’ that is long and narrow but that is where we will have welcome desk, changing rooms and retail area. Then you move through to the back and there is a small room in the back for private yoga sessions. We didn’t want people to walk right in to the sacred practice space from the street- we want transition space (and no shoes in the practice space!). Hence we are erecting a wall that will be an “L” shape so when you walk in, to the left is the short part of the ‘L’ and in front of you is the long part of the ‘L’ directing students to head to the right through the doorway to welcome area. We did an “L” shape wall because we didn’t want to do a wall all the way across, we are trying to spare as much practice ‘studio’ space as possible. Anyway–that is a very long response to yours, but I really appreciate your response. Greatest of luck with your studio!
Namaste
I don’t think the space would matter, as long as you have enough room for the amount of students and their equipment (mats, ect) you intend to have in the room. It might make it more interesting if its not rectangular or square! All that would matter to me is having enough room and having a great teacher!