Webinar Membership Area/How to Heat a Hot Yoga Studio
How to Heat a Hot Yoga Studio with Lucas Rockwood
Agenda for Today… • Explore various professional (and homemade) heating options • Uncover best choices for you based on cost, efficiency, ease-of-use, and longer term plans • Talk about “next steps” and resources for you
About Me… Yoga teacher & teacher trainer Founder of Absolute Yoga Academy Taught 10,000 students in 4 countries Over 1,000 students have graduated from my teacher training programs • Own & operate a studio & studio franchise • • • •
Lucas Rockwood
About Our School • Started out of necessity • Huge success right from day 1, our first course was completely sold out • Students come from all over the world • International courses taught in English • Thailand is our “home base” but we now are introducing courses all over the world
My “Heating” Perspective • I’m not an electrician, contractor—not even “handy” • Every situation is different—each and every studio, every time • Whatever works can often be the best solution (as long as it doesn’t burn the studio down) • Heating a studio properly is challenging, always • Plan to “work on your heat,” it’s rarely a set and forget it thing
Getting Started • Insulation matters • Vaulted ceilings are not great for heated studios • You absolutely need fresh air / exhaust air • What’s already in the building (gas or electric) will often limit your options
Questions About the Space • Is there natural gas? • Is there electric heat? • Is there enough electricity for your needs? (there almost never is) • How is the insulation above/below/around? • Are there too many windows? • Can you cover some windows (if needed)? • Do you need to lower the ceiling? • Where will your heater(s) live?
Cost Considerations • Natural gas is usually cheapest all around • Electric (forced air) is usually most expensive to operate • Radiant heat panels usually cost more initially but have lower electricity costs than forced air electric systems • Running costs might be as low as $500/month or as high as $2000+/month per studio
How Heating Works • Forced Air Systems Air is heated either with gas or electricity and “forced” over the heat and into the room, like a hairdryer or a fan and a toaster oven • Radiant Heat Panels Electric panel that heats objects (not the room), no blowing air or hot coils
Forced Air - the Good More “even” heat Faster/more predictable You can “feel” it intuitively You can measure with a thermometer Very common in industrial & home heating • Easier to find service/support • • • • •
Forced Air – the Bad • Can be very loud • Ducting can be surprisingly expensive • Ducting and heater itself can be bulky and ugly • Most systems require regular maintenance and upkeep
Ducting & Humidity • • • • • •
Avoid “hot spots” and drafts Want it hot & humid so people sweat 2+ rows of ducting for 3 rows of mats 60%+ humidy makes sweating very easy Adding humidity is relatively easy and makes a huge difference Add a humidifier to your system in advance
Air Exchange • Low O2 high CO2 levels are really common and not safe • Air exchange systems pull old air out and/or fresh air in • This ads to cost of build and operation, but it’s essential • Exchange systems also allows you to “flush” your studio after class
Radiant Heat: the Good It’s quiet… oh yes! It’s easy to install, looks nice Can “retro-fit” an existing space more easily If you’re choosing between electric forced air and radiant, radiant is usually cheaper to operate • It’s a different type of heat you might like, might not • • • •
Radiant Heat: the Bad Uneven heating is a huge problem Cold room/hot body is common Hard to gage the temp by “feel” or thermometer Initial setup can be expensive Running costs are more expensive than gas (if gas is an option) • Servicing panels can be more expensive and difficult • Some people just don’t like it • • • • •
Cost Considerations $8-12K: homemade, inexpensive, short term and potentially dangerous $12-20K: great value, probably cut some corners $20k-30K: common budget for solid system $30K+ is for higher tech systems or complex systems Almost all system break—a cheap system that breaks and needs service can end up costing more • Fires & burns do happen—be careful • • • • •
Yugo vs. Rolls Royce The Yugo • 2-4 hanging or floor-stand “toaster” style heaters or forced-air electrics blowers • 4 tea kettles, 1 in each corner Rolls Royce • Touch screen controls • Virtual on/off/timer settings • Real-time analysis of functioning • Heater has it’s own “shack” (this is BIG)
Getting Help & Next Steps… • Chad Clark – www.HotYogaStudioDesign • Local heating & cooling contractor • You usually need more heat and more electricity than your contractor will recommend • Hire someone who has done it before, if possible • Work with your existing space—don’t be married to one setup or another • Do a rational cost-benefit analysis, make a logical decision based on all factors
Teach Yoga, Inspire Students, Change Lives
www.AbsoluteYogaAcademy.com
Agenda for Today… • Explore various professional (and homemade) heating options • Uncover best choices for you based on cost, efficiency, ease-of-use, and longer term plans • Talk about “next steps” and resources for you
About Me… Yoga teacher & teacher trainer Founder of Absolute Yoga Academy Taught 10,000 students in 4 countries Over 1,000 students have graduated from my teacher training programs • Own & operate a studio & studio franchise • • • •
Lucas Rockwood
About Our School • Started out of necessity • Huge success right from day 1, our first course was completely sold out • Students come from all over the world • International courses taught in English • Thailand is our “home base” but we now are introducing courses all over the world
My “Heating” Perspective • I’m not an electrician, contractor—not even “handy” • Every situation is different—each and every studio, every time • Whatever works can often be the best solution (as long as it doesn’t burn the studio down) • Heating a studio properly is challenging, always • Plan to “work on your heat,” it’s rarely a set and forget it thing
Getting Started • Insulation matters • Vaulted ceilings are not great for heated studios • You absolutely need fresh air / exhaust air • What’s already in the building (gas or electric) will often limit your options
Questions About the Space • Is there natural gas? • Is there electric heat? • Is there enough electricity for your needs? (there almost never is) • How is the insulation above/below/around? • Are there too many windows? • Can you cover some windows (if needed)? • Do you need to lower the ceiling? • Where will your heater(s) live?
Cost Considerations • Natural gas is usually cheapest all around • Electric (forced air) is usually most expensive to operate • Radiant heat panels usually cost more initially but have lower electricity costs than forced air electric systems • Running costs might be as low as $500/month or as high as $2000+/month per studio
How Heating Works • Forced Air Systems Air is heated either with gas or electricity and “forced” over the heat and into the room, like a hairdryer or a fan and a toaster oven • Radiant Heat Panels Electric panel that heats objects (not the room), no blowing air or hot coils
Forced Air - the Good More “even” heat Faster/more predictable You can “feel” it intuitively You can measure with a thermometer Very common in industrial & home heating • Easier to find service/support • • • • •
Forced Air – the Bad • Can be very loud • Ducting can be surprisingly expensive • Ducting and heater itself can be bulky and ugly • Most systems require regular maintenance and upkeep
Ducting & Humidity • • • • • •
Avoid “hot spots” and drafts Want it hot & humid so people sweat 2+ rows of ducting for 3 rows of mats 60%+ humidy makes sweating very easy Adding humidity is relatively easy and makes a huge difference Add a humidifier to your system in advance
Air Exchange • Low O2 high CO2 levels are really common and not safe • Air exchange systems pull old air out and/or fresh air in • This ads to cost of build and operation, but it’s essential • Exchange systems also allows you to “flush” your studio after class
Radiant Heat: the Good It’s quiet… oh yes! It’s easy to install, looks nice Can “retro-fit” an existing space more easily If you’re choosing between electric forced air and radiant, radiant is usually cheaper to operate • It’s a different type of heat you might like, might not • • • •
Radiant Heat: the Bad Uneven heating is a huge problem Cold room/hot body is common Hard to gage the temp by “feel” or thermometer Initial setup can be expensive Running costs are more expensive than gas (if gas is an option) • Servicing panels can be more expensive and difficult • Some people just don’t like it • • • • •
Cost Considerations $8-12K: homemade, inexpensive, short term and potentially dangerous $12-20K: great value, probably cut some corners $20k-30K: common budget for solid system $30K+ is for higher tech systems or complex systems Almost all system break—a cheap system that breaks and needs service can end up costing more • Fires & burns do happen—be careful • • • • •
Yugo vs. Rolls Royce The Yugo • 2-4 hanging or floor-stand “toaster” style heaters or forced-air electrics blowers • 4 tea kettles, 1 in each corner Rolls Royce • Touch screen controls • Virtual on/off/timer settings • Real-time analysis of functioning • Heater has it’s own “shack” (this is BIG)
Getting Help & Next Steps… • Chad Clark – www.HotYogaStudioDesign • Local heating & cooling contractor • You usually need more heat and more electricity than your contractor will recommend • Hire someone who has done it before, if possible • Work with your existing space—don’t be married to one setup or another • Do a rational cost-benefit analysis, make a logical decision based on all factors
Teach Yoga, Inspire Students, Change Lives
www.AbsoluteYogaAcademy.com
