13 Types of Lighting for Yoga Studios

If there is an industry that is reaching new heights, it is undoubtedly the industry of wellness, specifically the business of yoga. People, belonging to different walks of life, have started showing a growing interest in yoga and its innumerable benefits.

Owing to the popularity of yoga, it is not surprising to come across yoga studios everywhere you look. If you are planning to open up your very own yoga studio, you will find this blog post extremely useful.

Besides discussing the types of lighting for yoga studios, we talk in detail about what your overall yoga studio must look like. So, keep reading!

Related: 23 Types of Wall Art Perfect for Yoga Studio

Types of Lighting for Yoga Studios

The kind of lights you choose for your yoga studio will set the mood and atmosphere of your space. Go for the wrong lights, and there will be something off about your studio. It’s important to feel at home while practicing yoga. But if the choice of lights is of the beam, chances are that members wouldn’t enjoy the yoga practice at your yoga club.

Below are some of the kinds of lights that you can choose from for your yoga studio:

1. Natural Light

This idea is best for yoga clubs that offer early morning classes to help awaken one’s body and mind. To ensure that yogis make the most of the sunshine, design the yoga club in such a way that boasts openness and spaciousness.

Your yoga club must feature large, open windows so that not only soft sun-rays enter the club, but the calming breeze as well. You can also hang curtains to avoid unnecessary heat and sunlight. The windows should ideally be facing the east or north directions as they both are favorable for spiritual practice. And it is likely that you and your members may witness sunrise and get thoroughly inspired.

Don’t forget to give your yoga club a homely feel by placing indoor plants and flowers in various corners of the space. This will not only help purify overall air quality but also increase the aesthetic appeal of your club.

2. Wall Sconces

While practicing yoga poses, yogis turn their faces in all sorts of directions including the upward direction. Having a light right above their head could interrupt their focus and concentration. Therefore, a far more appropriate option for them could be installing up-light wall sconces.

How are they better than a typical lighting system? Well, the best aspect about up-light wall sconces is that their light doesn’t directly shine into your eyes. The direction of light is directed straight towards the ceiling. You can find various types of wall sconces on the market. The best ones are discussed below:

Half-Moon Sconces

Although wall sconces come in many types, this one is the most popular one. And that’s due to its remarkable qualities including being small, compact, and super stylish. They are tightly fixed against the wall, washing the entire wall with luminosity. The best part about half-moon sconces is that it keeps the room dimly lit – ideal for pure bliss yoga.

Candle Sconces

Candles are a brilliant way to set a soothing mood and atmosphere in a yoga studio, which encourages people to unwind. In addition, they also make the space more comfortable and bring out a home-like feeling to the space. If you want your yoga studio to radiate calm and relaxing vibes, install candle sconces today.

They come in a variety of styles and designs from offering electric candle sconces to sconces with candle holders. Go for the one that matches well with the overall theme of your yoga. These lights will instantly create an intimate environment, allowing yoga members to feel free and easy.

Swing Arm Wall Light

Unlike other kinds of lights, the swing arm wall light gives you the liberty to move the unit whichever way you want. The increased mobility will allow yogis to position the light in the direction that they find better and convenient. Since yogis practice various yoga poses, they wouldn’t want the light to be a major distraction. Hence, having swing arm wall lights would be the best option for them.

If you are planning to design your yoga studio in a modern European style – sleek and stylish, this kind of light should be your ideal pick.

3. Color Lighting

Most modern yoga clubs are seen incorporating light technology into their yoga practices for special effects. Color Lights in different colors will create a relaxing experience for the entire class especially if the chosen lights are in soft, dim colors.

Color lighting will also give you the opportunity to promote color therapy that may help treat various ailments. Some of the best color lights that will enhance your yoga classes are:

Green

Green lights are the safest hued lights that you can go for without getting dissuaded by your second thoughts. They are good for all kinds of healing. Most importantly, they give off safe and soothing vibes that will encourage yogis to practice their yoga with ease.

Blue

The blue light will send all the yogis in an absolute state of calm and peace, separating them from the outside world completely.  A blue-light cocoon will also help members of your yoga club to feel fresher and energized.

Experts tell that blue lights have a direct effect on melatonin – a hormone that controls the sleep cycle. When yogis are surrounded by blue lights they are able to perform better as it makes them fully alert.

Red

Practicing yoga in red lights helps boost blood circulation, improve metabolism, and elevate your energy levels. The light frequency of red color is highly penetrable and stimulating.

If your yoga members happen to suffer from various physical and mental ailments, installing red lights would do a world of good to them.

Violet

Violet lights are installed in yoga studios that encourage the promotion of inner peace and mental calm. They are also great for stimulating meditation, inspiration, spirituality, and wisdom.

4. Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights are also called downlights and pot lights in Canadian English. They are light fixtures that are installed into hollow openings inside the ceiling. When they are switched on, it looks like a light is shining from a hole in the ceiling. The light also concentrates downward. Depending on the dimmer setting, they can look like narrow spotlights or broad floodlights.

They are perfect for yoga studios as they allow you to easily control the amount of light flooding the room. When you are doing difficult asana to get the heart rate up, you will need broader light. On the other hand, when you are doing relaxation or breathing exercises, you will need dim lights to create the right atmosphere.

5. Track Lighting

Track lighting refers to when the light fixtures are attached in a single continuous track device. This device contains several electrical conductors, which is a better option than creating different electrical wiring in individual areas. Track lights can be mounted to walls or ceilings similar to beams. You can also attach them to joists or rafters.

Yoga studios need plenty of light so that your space feels clean and inviting. The light from track lights is really bright and will definitely help to make the room feel more open. You can also get dimmer attachments so that you can turn down the light when you are practicing a relaxation technique or conducting breathing exercises.

6. Flush Mount Ceiling Lights

Modern flush lights are easy to install and they can provide light to large spaces without wasting energy and money. They are available in all sorts of fixtures and styles so you can get the perfect one for your yoga studio.

Flush Mount Ceiling Lights are mounted onto the surface of the ceiling. An oval orb is usually installed so that the light spreads in a broad fashion. However, users are, by no means, restricted to the orbs and can pick any of the other available styles. The problem with this light is that even if you get dimmers, the light spreads at a wider angle and may not soften as you want it to in the yoga studio.

7. Ceiling Fan with Light

Ceiling fans with lights are perfect in the center of the room where they allow smooth airflow and plenty of light. However, in larger rooms, you may need two fans to properly ventilate the room. You will also need a high ceiling to install this lighting fixture to avoid bumping into the fan while stretching. You may also need to pair the fan with other lighting fixtures since one light may not be enough for the studio.

8. Floor Lamps

Floor lamps are a staple in most interior home decorations. No wonder, they have emerged as a lighting option for yoga studios as well. They are highly functional since the light isn’t far away on the ceiling but rather close by. Depending on their positioning, they also create amazing shadows which can add a nice atmosphere to the room.

Types of Lighting to Avoid

There are some lights that should never be used in a yoga studio since it may be dangerous or otherwise less functional. The following lighting options are not entirely suitable for yoga classes.

1. Pendant and Chandelier

Chandelier or pendant lights are common lighting types in many homes. The light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling and look really beautiful. However, they have different suspension systems.

A chandelier hangs from an intricate branched system so that you can attach several light bulbs together. On the other hand, pendant lights hang from the cord or chain and have single or multiple lights at the end.

While they may look classy, these lights are not suitable to be installed in a yoga studio. You need a really high ceiling for these since they often hang too low and bother the students during asana.

2. Candles

Candles are becoming more and more common for yoga and meditation. This is because scented candles often provide aromatherapy to relax the body and mind. They also give a gentle light that can be very soothing.

However, for yoga studios where there are a lot of students, candles can be quite dangerous as they can lead to fire hazards. If you enjoy practicing yoga with lit scented candles, keep in mind that doing meditation at home with some scented candles is very different from having 20 students in a yoga class full of candles.

3. Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lamps have mercury and gas-based system that produce visible light. The electric current makes the mercury vapor active, which produces a bright ultraviolet light.

While the light they produce is bright, they are an expensive option since they use a lot of energy to work. They are also noisy and unpleasant to deal with in the yoga studio where you need pin-drop silence to meditate.

Other Important Things to Consider

Flooring

The most popular flooring choice for yogis and studio owners includes hardwood and reclaimed wood. Both of these types of flooring elevate the overall beauty of your space.

Similar to hardwood is bamboo flooring that is as durable as hardwood floor is. This type of flooring is contaminant-resistance and shock-absorbent as well. The types of flooring that you should avoid are tiles, vinyl, and concrete as they are cold and hard.

Ceiling Height

Ideally, the maximum height of a yoga studio should be 10 feet or higher. Some yoga studios are constructed with an 8-foot ceiling. However, they may appear to be cramped up slightly. This is why it is better to go for higher ceilings. It will be far comfortable and easier for yogis to stretch their arms and feet in an upward position.

Reception Area

A yoga studio is not all about having a large, spacious room to practice yoga in. It is imperative for it to have a reception room as well.

If someone has to wait or process payment, then a proper area must be designated for it. The reception office can also accommodate lockers for keeping the personal belongings of yogis such as bags, shoes, clothes, etc.

Scents

Millions of people enhance their yoga practice through aromatherapy. It has a rejuvenating effect on the body, mind, and spirit. With the help of diffusion or purification, you can help yogis to indulge in aromatherapy.

All you will need is an essential oil to make aromatherapy work. There are multiple kinds of essential oil with distinctive scents from which you can choose. Lavender oil, frankincense oil, lemongrass oil, cedarwood, and sandalwood are some of the many kinds of essential oils that are packed with peaceful and calming properties.

We bet, designing your very own yoga studio won’t be much of a challenge, now that you know so much about it. Go over this post again to know all the essential things that your yoga studio must-have.