Reflection Report ☯
The one wellness experience that I had was attending a class on Yin Yoga at Art of Yoga. The class took place in the late afternoon. The purpose of the class was to target on tissues in the hips, pelvis and lower spine area. The entire class was rather relaxing as it was passive with stretches that had to be held for 5 minutes. In the beginning, the stretches were a little uncomfortable noticing that the instructor came over to assist me. She did this throughout the class knowing that it was my first time. Halfway through the class, I began to enjoy the experience of taking time to unwind and relax my mind while stretching areas of my body that I usually don’t. At the end, I felt relaxed to the point I felt that I was in a different environment the hour lesson felt rather short. To sum up the experience I thought it was a great one overall, detached from my phone and to focus on my body. I will definitely give yoga another shot as well as try out other forms of yoga as well.
· Operations
- Reservation and website
The reservation system in the Art of Yoga is straightforward where students have to create an account via their website. After creating an account, students would need to sign off on a liability form. After which, students are able to book the class they prefer according to the time slots and instructors. In my opinion, the reservation system is a great one due to how convenient it is. Most of the students are working adults having a reservation system online. Helps students to save time and reduce the hassle of needing to call to book a time slot.
The website has an easy user interface where students are able to learn more about the classes and the purpose of them. The website also allows the users to learn about the teachers which add to the credibility of the yoga studio. The studio also uploads their weekly schedules online for students to get a better glance of the classes scheduled each day. This makes it easier for the students to plan their days and book a slot that ties in with their schedule.
The Art of Yoga also has an app supported on Android and Apple where students can download and book their classes. The app can be easily accessed by students and do not have to visit the website constantly.
- Flow of work
The receptionist greeted us at front letting us know that the class has started. When we walked in, we noticed our names on the iPad at the front of the studio. We clicked on our names to check in. The receptionist guided us to the studio she instructed us to grab a mat then head into the class. She also showed us to the lockers where were can store our items. She then told us that we can make payment for the class after we have ended it. We headed into the class where the yoga instructor greeted us and told us to place our mats and take in sit. After the class ended, I noticed that the iPad indicated the names students who are attending the next class. We then head to the registration area to make our payment and left the studio.
- Cleanliness
The yoga studio was clean and hygienic. After every class student are told to clean their mat with disinfectant and a towel. This is to ensure the mat will be clean for the next person using it. The studio was clean overall there wasn’t any visible dirt or dust.
- Toilets
The toilets were clean with separate showering and restroom facilities. There were extra paper towel rolls and soap for the students.
· Sales and Marketing
Art of Yoga carries out promotions on their website, for example, the flash five sales where 5-class passes are at $100. Art of Yoga market their classes through social media and their website. They are very active in their social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter as well as YouTube. Hence, they market their classes to their students mainly via social media platforms. The studio has an online store where they sell Art of Yoga tote bags, yoga rugs, and towels. On top of that, they also sell natural soap bars, stretch bracelets and straws for students to purchase online. On-site students are able to purchase teas to rejuvenate themselves after their lesson.
· Programming
The art of yoga has a total of 26 different classes with one dedicated just for women called Yoga for ladies. The other variation of yoga classes includes Restorative Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga as well as pre and post-natal Yoga. The different variations provide students with different purposes and choices depending on their liking. The art of yoga also carries out workshops and events example, Ashtanga Yoga workshop which is a 3-Week course. Hence, Art of Yoga has plenty of options for their students
· Customer Service
The receptionist, as well as the instructor, was warm and welcoming. They greeted us and then towards the end of the lesson the instructor check-in with us if we liked the class. The instructor was very helpful during the class and give good instructions so that we could follow her with ease. She also prompted us to use the blocks and how it could help aid us to stretch that region of the body. The instructor also gave us some information about how each pose will benefit the body. The website also has a chatbox where students are able to type out their questions and where the AI answers the questions swiftly. By answering their student's queries, they are providing better customer service to their students.
· Recommendation
Community Engagement
Art of Yoga should engage more with their community. This can be done by carrying out trial lessons at the park near their studio called the Siglap Linear Park. From my observation, many of the neighbourhood’s residents engage in evening jogs and runs around the park. By adding a class at the park not only engages the neighbourhood resident’s but also draws more attention to Art of Yoga as a Yoga studio. By doing so also increase interest amongst residents thus, creating word of mouth and students. The support from the residents can help Art of Yoga gain more support and increase of students. Existing students might also find outdoor Yoga as something interesting to try and attend.
Outdoor yoga is currently being done by Meetup is a website where people with same interest come together. Through Meetup, instructors organize outdoor yoga sessions for their members. They have a large and growing membership where students meet at various parks and beaches to do Yoga. Outdoor Yoga has many benefits the benefits include, spending time in outdoors with nature. Gaining confidence by practicing yoga outdoors. Doing yoga outdoors also increases meditation benefits.
One Wellness Trend
One wellness trend that has been growing in Europe as well as America is sensory deprivation tank also known as isolation tanks. The tank was first developed in the US and started to gain popularity in Europe in 2013. It then became popular again in the US as the prices of the tanks reduced thus, allowing business to charge clients an affordable price. The sensory deprivation tank is a dark, soundproof tank filled with salt water tank that helps the participants to float. The trend started early in 2018, Men’sHealth magazine in the US covered the story on how celebrities such as basket player Stephen Curry use sensory deprivation chamber to better mental health like anxiety, help their performance and speed up recovery.
Isolation tanks began to gain more recognition when YouTube channels such as Buzzfeed sent their producers and made a video on their experience and that video has a close to 3 million views. This video is a news story covered by CBS this morning in the US about how sensory deprivation tanks impacts the brain.
According to a Singaporean lifestyle blog and magazine, recognizes an isolation tank is an alternative form of meditation trend that has been growing in the Singaporean market. The only company in Singapore that provide sensory deprivation tanks in Singapore called Palm Ave Float Club. The company has plenty of good reviews on their client’s experience.
There was also an article covered by Shaped Magazine about a reporter’s experience at Palm Ave Float. She had a great experience being switched out from the outside world contributing to her feeling extremely relaxed.
According to an article covered by Channel News Asia on Sleep deprivation and how there is a steady increase of patients with sleep deprivation. The article highlighted that Integrated Sleep Service Clinic in Changi hospital has seen an average of 2,160 patient over the past 5 years from 2011-2016 and number constantly rising by 30 percent. It also highlights that Singaporeans have spent $1.3 million on sleeping aids in 2016. The article also shines the light on alternative sleep method such as the sensory deprivation tanks that help users sleep better.
Thus, I conclude that sensory deprivation tanks have plenty of benefits that have not been highlighted well to consumers. This has led to a lack of demand amongst Singaporeans. Since there is only one company which provides this service the general Singaporean may not know about the existence of this service. But if there are more aware and more companies coming into the Singaporean market. There will be an increase in people engaging in sensory deprivation tanks. As the tanks will be known to increase the quality of life for Singaporean in terms of sleep deprivation and other physical and mental health.
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