Design

Rocktown Yoga is a studio that offers a specific type of Yoga practice known as "hot yoga." Because of the specific requirements for this type of practice there are many areas of design that must be considered to meet the specifications of the sport.

Heating and Humidity

Rocktown Hot Yoga practices a form of Yoga which requires a room of 100 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity under 40%. Because of this, the design of a Hot Yoga Facility must incorporate space to accommodate the production of great quantities of heat and regulation of humidity. Rocktown’s unique heating system features on demand hot water and a steamed HVAC system. This system has to have enough space for its housing and also for maintenance. It must have an exhaust to the outside environment while also not detracting from the aesthetics of the practice space. The practice space must also have some forms of insulation which will affect the cost and efficiency of the heating.

Flooring

Flooring can also be an issue for the maintenance and operation of the facility. Carpet must be sterilized and cleaned regularly to prevent growth of mold and bacteria while wood must be able to withstand the humidity and temperature changes. These things must be provided while also offering comfort for the participants while they are practicing in classes.

Locker Rooms

Due to the intense nature of the activity, participants should have enough space in locker rooms to use the bathroom, change their clothes, and shower. The locker rooms must have space for storage of personal belongings during the session. Shower curtains must be cleaned regularly for bacteria and mold and atmosphere conditions in the bathrooms must be suitable for regular room temperature operations. Air circulation and outlet placement for fans is also a consideration for Rocktown Hot Yoga given that exposed cords present a safety hazard. Mirrors in the bathrooms and in the practice room must also be cleaned regularly due to sweat and splashes.

Laundry

Yoga studios must have laundry services on site. Towels are provided for the yoga sessions and larger towels are offered for showering after participation. Towels must be washed and dried after each use. The facility design must include space for a washer and drier as well as storage for cleaning equipment.

Equipment/Storage

Rocktown offers yoga mats for rent which must be stored and sterilized. The studio must have space for storage and drying of these yoga mats. Rocktown also offers yoga mat storage for members as an additional source of revenue. These must be hung as storage to allow them to dry and be sterilized. Yoga studios also have several other types of equipment which must be stored on the premises. These include yoga blocks, dumbbells, rollers, and straps, depending on the variety of classes offered. These items are often stored in the practice room but closeted space is preferred. Additional storage room has been increasingly needed by the operators of the facility. This has been provided incrementally by the addition of shelving in storage areas.

Ceilings

Some yoga studios offer classes in which the participants hang from straps and ribbons attached to the ceilings. These straps must be anchored in a way that protects the safety of the participant. The ceiling must be designed to hold a threshold of weight of a certain amount of participants. This also must be managed in operations by capping the amount of participants for classes needing these straps/ribbons.

Electrical

The yoga studio must have an accessible speaker system for its classes. Outlets and power sources for these must be designed to be accessible from the location of the instructor. In addition, different classes require different types of lighting, so dimmer switches or Christmas-style lighting must be included in the design phase.

Acoustics

Design must include dampening of athletic activities noises from escaping externally but also must minimize sound from outside sources to maximize the quiet needed for some sessions. This includes design choices for the walls, floors, windows, and ceilings.

Kitchen

Rocktown has a cooler from which it sells beverages. This offering doesn’t require much extra design besides space, but in the future Rocktown may want to offer smoothies or shakes, similar to other studios. If so, the design of the facility must include kitchen space which includes a refrigerator, mixer, sink for the preparation of food, sink for employees to wash hands, storage for foods and serving-ware, and a dishwasher, as well as the electrical demands of the kitchen.