Studio Policies + Operational Guidelines For Instructors

Our Class Mission + Vision:

We aim to provide mindful, focused classes that welcome everyone; especially beginners, physically challenged and disabled people. Our goal is to provide a safe (emotionally and physically), friendly and down-to-earth approach and environment where our members can learn the foundations of yoga, spin + pilates safely and mindfully. We offer an environment in which people can relax, feel comfortable and open themselves to healing and growth. Our aim is to teach people to go deeper into their practices, and to learn how to more deeply release and let go of stress. We support everyone on their path and always listen to the particular needs of the student.

We seek to operate our facilities with minimalism in mind and we opt towards eco-friendly, local and non-toxic products wherever possible.

Class Preparation:

Instructors should arrive 20 minutes before their scheduled class to be sure doors are unlocked 15 minutes prior, as well as to greet students, set up, open up the studio and take payments as necessary during times that we do not have a karmi on shift. Training will be provided for this once we are switched over to Wellness Living in the coming weeks. Remember to lock the front door at the exact time that class is to begin.

Instructors processing students at the desk should be trained and aware of operating procedures. There will be a checklist at the desk for opening + closing - please make yourself familiar with it.

No pay no class: No student can enter a class without paying. All payments are processed through Wellness Living with valid credit cards only, and we do not accept cash or e-Transfers. This is so that we can be sure that we are able to implement our cancellation and no show policy where applicable.

Supporting the studio to keep it clean + tidy: Please help us to keep the studio clean + tidy by leaving it as you found it, always. If you are teaching the last class of the day and there is no karmi on shift, use the closing checklist:

  • vacuum/mop the room you had taught in

  • tidy props

  • check that the bathrooms are tidy + stocked

  • check that enough towels are prepped for the next class + start a load if we are running low on any

  • turn off lights + turn off heat panels

  • lock the front door + be sure that the back white door is pushed closed all the way (+ arm the Nüd side if needed)

In Class:

Please start and finish on time, down to the minute. We know this can be difficult at times, especially if it’s busy, but some people are on a tight timeline and need to know that we respect their schedules. It’s important to build a reputation of reliability.

  • Spin classes run for 45 minutes start to finish unless otherwise stated

  • Yoga + Pilates classes run for 60 minutes start to finish unless otherwise stated

Spin Instructors:

  • You may start the music up to 10 minutes before class begins, and must turn the music off as soon as class finishes due to the overlap of yoga students getting settled onto their mats.

  • Please be sure to check if any of your riders are new riders, and offer to help get anyone setup properly on the bikes before class starts.

Yoga Instructors:

  • Please be mindful when leading only with Sanskrit terms and posture names since we welcome many beginners and also have many students who don’t know the terms or the postures and so cannot follow instruction as easily as those more experienced yogi’s.

  • Please also have the heat panels set to the right temperature that matches the description of the class you are teaching. Hot classes are to be set to 95-100 degrees, warm classes to 85-90 degrees, and regular classes do not require the heat panels be turned on, but may be set up to 76 degrees if preferred - no higher. We want to be sure that our students are receiving the type of class they are expecting.

Operational Stuff:

Subs: If you need a sub for your class, please use our sub requests group chat on signal to find one by asking if anyone is available in there. If you cannot find a sub and absolutely cannot teach one of your classes, please reach out to Mercedes or Savannah. And of course, if there is ever an emergency, please let us know how we can help.

Committing to your class: As much as we wholeheartedly support your teaching classes at other studios, subbing your class to go + teach a class at another studio is not welcomed where it can be avoided. Nor is promoting your other classes and workshops to our students where it conflicts with the interests of the studio. Please try not to schedule classes or workshops which coincide with ours- if there is an unavoidable clash with workshops or other situations you’re involved in, please let us know and we will find a way to work around it.

Sickness: If you are sick, please find a sub from the sub requests group chat. If you are unsure whether you will make it to the studio for any reason, get a sub lined up just in case.

Operational issues/problems: Please do not take it upon yourself to make any operational decisions that affect your class or the running of the studio. Contact Mercedes or Savannah.

Front desk etiquette: Be sure to bring your focus to our students up at the front before and after class. If you’re having any kind of issue with a customer, contact Mercedes or Savannah right away. We encourage an environment of equal respect.

Invoicing: As you are hired on a contractor basis, you are required to submit an invoice to us. Invoices may be sent out on the 15th of each month, including the 15th of the previous month up until the 14th of the current month. They will be paid within 15 days of us receiving them. We will always do our best to send payments within 24-48 hours, but we do need time to review each invoice to make sure they match our records.

Insurance: You must have liability insurance in order to teach in our studio. Please provide a copy to us via email to hello@homyogaandspin.com before teaching your first class.

First Aid: Please let us know if you are first aid certified. We will have a first aid kit in the hallway - any health or safety incidents must be reported to Mercedes or Savannah immediately after class.

Keys: Are given out to teachers and karmi’s to enable them to open + close before and after classes. If you need access to the studio at any other time, please contact Mercedes or Savannah to let us know. This is a security issue and avoids clashes with non-scheduled events.

Parking: There is parking along the side/east and back/south sides of the building. We ask that staff please park in the back/south side of the building to leave room for our students on the side/east lot as it is closer to our front doors.

Our Commitment To You:

  • To pay you on time (24-48 hours from the day we receive your invoice is our goal, but no later than 15 days)

  • Give you fair notice of changes to your classes

  • Support you in your other pursuits where it does not conflict with the interests of the studio

  • Endeavour to offer the best conditions and rates of pay as the studio finances will allow

  • Listen when you have any issues and work together to find a reasonable solution

  • Not interfere with your class approach unless there is an issue of safety, multiple complaints or risk of injury

  • Endeavour to support your personal goals in terms of the studio, classes, workshops, etc.

The Benefits:

Instructors can attend any of our classes unless they are full to allow for paying students/members to attend. Regular instructors get an unlimited pass. Sub instructors get 2 classes added to their system account in return for each class taught.

Workshops: Send your detailed outline with plan + cost etc. over to Savannah or Mercedes. Any and all ideas are always welcomed.

By adhering to these guidelines we aim to create a studio that works efficiently and comprehensibly provides an excellent and reliable service to our students. It also allows us to know what our expectations are of each other.

We intend to create a studio based on trust, fairness and equal opportunities for everyone. One where we can share together and grow together.

This is what building community means to hōm. Sharing with, and supporting each other and being open and direct and fair to each other. If you have an issue with a policy, or the way something has been handled, please speak to us about it. We are always trying our best to support you wherever you may need it and communication is very important to us.

Thank you for being apart of our cozy little studio and helping us to make it feel like our hōm away from home.

xx

Mercedes + Savannah