One of the questions I see in Yoga Teacher forums the most is “What is the best booking system?” If you’ve worked with me before you can guess what I’m going to say: “There is no such thing as the best, as it entirely depends on your requirements.” 

But we can say that as a yoga teacher, your focus is on delivering the best possible experience for your students. And in order to do this, behind the scenes, there’s usually a lot of work that goes into making sure your classes run smoothly—from managing schedules to processing payments and keeping track of student attendance. That’s where booking software comes in. However, with so many options available, how do you choose the right one for your yoga business?

As an expert in marketing for yoga businesses at Santosha Marketing, I understand the unique needs of yoga teachers. In this blog, I’ll guide you through the key factors to consider when evaluating booking software for your yoga classes, ensuring that both you and your students benefit from a seamless and stress-free experience.

Whichever software you choose, the only thing I am absolutely militant about is… YOU MUST TEST IT AS A CUSTOMER. Sorry for the shouty caps. But please please go through your booking system like a customer would, ask friends and family (generate a discount code) - if they find it challenging this is not the software for you! You absolutely don’t want your booking system to turn people off. Okay I’ve got that off my chest, let’s carry on!

Why the Right Booking Software Matters

Puts on serious face…..The right booking software is more than just a tool; it’s an integral part of your business. It can help streamline operations, improve communication with your students, and even boost your bottom line by making it easier for students to sign up and pay for classes. I think the most significant thing of all is saving your time which is a very precious commodity. But you need to remember that what works for one business might not work for yours. So if you’ve had any recommendations for others, certainly take this on board, but also do your own research.

Key Considerations When Choosing Booking Software

Here are some crucial factors to keep in mind when evaluating booking software:

User-Friendly Interface: The software should be easy to navigate, both for you and your students. If it’s too complicated, you risk losing bookings. Think about your own experiences of booking classes, what puts you off? (For me, it’s having a huge sign up process before I can even see the timetable or price. Eurgh).

Booking & Payment Integration: A key point of the software is to take payment. So what are the options here? Remember you’ll need to pay a processing fee when you’re using a payment gateway like Stripe, Paypal etc - this is always the case. But the fees vary. It should be easy to locate on their website. 

Pricing Model: This is a great time to think about your pricing model, do you offer bundles of classes? Do you want people to buy a bulk or a course? Do you want to have pay as you go? Do you want memberships? - Do you want a blend of these? Think about some of the customers who come to you who are great clients, which option would they want? Are you being flexible but also ensuring you are getting paid your worth?

Scheduling Flexibility: Whether you offer in-person or online classes, courses, events, regular classes, the software should handle scheduling, rescheduling, and even managing waitlists with ease. Will you need a zoom integration? Do you want to have an online library or is this on the roadmap? - Remember not all booking softwares offer this.

Communication Tools: Does the software offer automated reminders? Does it have an email component or will that be managed separately?  
Branding Options: It’s worth thinking about what branding options you have available, can you create the vibe you’re looking for? 

Website Integration: How does this fit with your website? Can you embed it? Is it a standalone page? 

Reporting & Analytics: Do you need the ability to track attendance, generate financial reports, and are you a bit of a data geek who wants to gain insights into student behaviour?

Security & Compliance: Can you ensure the software is GDPR compliant and offers secure payment gateways to protect your students' data? Are you holding medical information? Can you customise the data you collect on students? Remember if you’re processing personal data you need to be registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) even if you’re a small one woman business.

Customer Support & Training: Are the customer support team quick to reply and are there comprehensive training resources? It can be a bit overwhelming when you’re new to software and you want to feel supported!

Cost & Contracts: How much does it cost? What are the tiering options? Obviously cost is a key factor for you, if you’re only going to use 20% of the functionality I’d advise against a software that costs double that of others. 

Integrations & Compatibility: Other than your website, where else do you need your booking system to integrate? Do you do emailing? Is it easy for you to use?

What booking software could you consider?

This is by no means a full compendium of all booking software but these are the names I see come up most in my work with yoga clients. I don’t get a commission with any of these and I don’t have a favourite. You need to look at what you like, and what your customers would like. 

Some are budget end and some are more all singing all dancing:

Acuity

Bookwhen

Booking Hawk

BSport

Glofox

MarianaTek

Mind Body

Momo Yoga

Momence

Offering Tree

Reservie

Wellness Living

Wix Bookings

Choosing the right booking software can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve created a little checklist to help you if you want to download it, I also offer Clarity Calls or Training in software if you need a bit more support.