Instagram Stories offer a variety of features that make it easier for students to keep in touch with instructors and studios. Stories can be composed of a series of photos, videos, and even live streaming video. Best of all, fresh new Stories are showcased along a horizontal bar at the top of every user’s home feed, making it easier for yoga instructors to inform and entertain students with fresh content. Here’s how it works:

Now, let’s take a closer look at available media formats:

Marketing and advertising largely rely on making customers understand that a particular product or service fulfills a need. For many yoga students, that need is transformation. Every day, yogis of all ages unroll their mats and turn off their phones simply because they desire the time and space to transform.

To build a following—both digitally and in the real world—instructors must understand this need and create unique content that helps to fulfill it. In doing so, genuine relationships can be built, nurtured, and grown in a way that benefits both student and instructor. Below are just a few examples of how savvy instructors can nurture those kinds of mutually beneficial relationships.

Themes are one of the greatest elements of in-studio classes. Instructors who can thoughtfully weave mantras, anecdotes, and visualization exercises into classes have the power to elevate their students into higher levels of physical performance and emotional clarity. Take these meditations from the mat and use them to create candid Instagram Stories. Think of it as a class-in-a-stream; for the students who can’t make it to the studio, what words could you share to keep them curious, thoughtful, and inspired throughout the day? Like classes, these meditations are best themed according to day of the week, season, holiday, or other significant event.

Most students aspire to improve certain postures. Whether perfecting alignment in Triangle pose or working toward the ever-elusive handstand, yogis always love instructional content that promises to improve their practice. Instagram Stories provides the perfect platform to deliver such content, enabling instructors to address critical factors when transitioning in-and-out of popular postures.

What makes your studio unique? Maybe you offer early morning classes, showers, and pristine locker rooms to help young professionals find flow on weekday mornings. Or, perhaps you are a quiet studio with a tranquil ambience where students are always greeted by warm and smiling faces. Take time to consider what students (and employees!) love most about your space, and post a studio tour to Instagram Stories that highlights all that makes you unique.

Few things trigger a decision to purchase faster than positive reviews and testimonials. With Instagram Stories, yoga instructors and studios have the ability to add a face and personality to positive reviews by sharing student feedback on classes and workshops. Of course, video testimonials don’t have to be forced, awkward, or uncomfortable. Often times, sharing photos and videos of smiling faces with the occasional “Loved it!” soundbite will do more than a lengthy paragraph of praise. If students want to share feedback but prefer not to be recorded, ask if they might consider taking a photo instead. Using the Stories text feature, you can then add a caption that expresses their feedback. Best of all, you can also take advantage of a variety of colors, emojis, and tags prior to posting!

Yoga festivals and workshops are more common now than ever before. Every year, events like Wanderlust 108 unite thousands of yogis across the country. Countless others do the same on a local level. Share the energy and excitement of live events with your Followers on Instagram by creating a Story whenever you attend. Live event coverage has a twofold impact on your Instagram marketing efforts. In addition to sharing the experience with Followers who might not have been able to attend, it also demonstrates your commitment to learning from, and contributing to, the global yoga community.

Yoga Teachers (L) @jessicaolie and (R) @lizettepompayoga share snippets from their daily lives on Instagram Stories

Extra credit: Take advantage of the following tips and tricks to make your Instagram Stories stand apart from the crowd!