Online Yoga is a Blissful Business

April 7, 2009

It’s predictable, but very necessary (especially when you’re from Vancouver). I’m talking about taking your yoga practice and taking your asanas offline and putting them online. How? With My Yoga Online, a Vancouver startup that offers a cool video service–and a smart revenue-generation model to add.

The subscription service brings together a comprehensive library of on-demand yoga videos and music downloads, as well as pilates, meditation and health and wellness videos that area accessible from anywhere. The site charges about $10 per month or around $90 a year, which is not bad deal considering a drop in class in Yaletown can cost up to $17. This is also clever, as those in the industry can use this information and promote themselves.

Although there are other sites that offer free video tutorials and classes, like Yoga Today, I like the sense of community the site creates and I really like the downloadable music option. In addition, I enjoy the articles that you can read (free of charge). It seems the site makes money by offering an online affiliate opportunity, banner and google ads and selling their videos to partners such as Air Canada.

Since we’re on this topic, I wanted to feature a recent interview with a successful yoga blogger in Vancouver, who has really turned her online musings into making money. Lindsey Lewis is a writer and a yoga enthusiast who uses her blog Joy Yoga to promote her business and to keep in touch with her community.

How and why did you start blogging?

To be honest, I just needed somewhere for my yoga services to live online. A blog was the easiest and cheapest way to go. I had no idea it would become such a passion and so much fun!

How are you finding it?

I love it. It’s an amazing way to connect with like-minded people, and share yoga lessons, techniques, tools and practical, off-the-mat benefits.

What successes have you had in the recent months because of your blog?

I’ve linked up with some really great yoga teachers, and secured yoga workshops I otherwise wouldn’t have at this point in my yoga career.

What’s your readership like?

Small but passionate. They love yoga. What can I say? It’s Yoga for Joy, Joy for Life. And they get it. A lot of them are members of the Yoga Journal online community and Yogamates, and live all over North America. All of them are looking for an online outlet that represents a modern, fresh take on yoga–without degrading it.

Future plans?