6 Simple & Ethical Ways To Create Referrals & Increase Class Attendance 

Running your own yoga classes or studio is a labor of love. 

You pour your heart into your teaching, your students, and your space. But when class numbers are low, you might feel tempted to try marketing tactics that just don’t feel like you.

It’s that familiar catch-22:

“I want to grow my classes, but I don’t want to come across as too pushy or salesy.” 

The good news is you can boost attendance and increase your income in ways that feel ethical, simple, and aligned with your values. 

You don’t need complicated funnels, high-pressure sales tactics, or expensive ad campaigns. In fact, some of the most effective strategies are the simplest—and they often come from creating deeper connection and community.

Let’s dive into some ideas that double your reach without doubling your effort.

1. Offer Bring-a-Friend Incentives

One of the easiest and most heart-centered ways to grow your classes is through “bring-a-friend” invitations.

We yogis love introducing our friends and family to the practice, and we jump at any chance to do so.

“Bring-a-friend” promotions offer the opportunity for your students to invite a friend—either a fellow yogi seeking a new space to practice or someone brand new to yoga.

The most common way to offer this is by letting regular students bring a friend for free once a month.

To bring a friend, a student must register their friend’s details, which will enable you to add them to your email list.

In addition, you could offer a two-for-one drop-in pass for new pairs of students. This removes some of the intimidation factor for newbies and helps grow your community in a natural way.

2. Run Casual Referral Programs 

A referral program rewards your current students for spreading the word and inviting others into your space. But many teachers hesitate to set one up because it can feel “too commercial” or awkward to mention.

Here’s how to do it in a subtle, authentic way:

• Frame it as gratitude, not a promotion. For example:

• “I’m so grateful for those of you who share my classes with friends and family—it means a lot. To say thank you, I’m now offering £10 off your next class pack when someone you refer signs up.”

• Keep it simple and low-pressure. There is no need to set up any complicated tracking system to monitor referrals. You can keep it simple by asking new students who they heard about you from, and making a note to thank that person personally.

• Mention it casually during class intros or in your newsletter:

• “If you’ve been loving the classes and know someone who might too, feel free to bring them along—there’s a little thank-you gift in it for you.”

Just be sure to make the incentive something they actually want, like a discount on their next pass, a free class, or entry to a special event. This will inspire your students to want to help you grow the community.

3. Design Classes That Are Socially Shareable

Forget TikTok or Instagram. Old-school word-of-mouth promotion remains the most powerful (and authentic) form of marketing.

A smart yet ethical way to boost your word-of-mouth marketing is by running special social events. 

Partner-themed or connection-based classes encourage students to bring someone along. Moreover, they are typically a little different from regular yoga classes (and more memorable), so people are more likely to share their experiences with others.

Here are some ideas for socially shareable events:

• Weekly AcroYoga classes

• Mother & daughter yoga (for Mother’s Day)

• Couples’ restorative yoga & sound bath (for Valentine’s Day)

• Friday evening “Connection & Stretch” workshops for yogis looking to mingle and meet others.

4. Use Ethical Urgency With Limited-Time Offers

Promotions don’t have to be gimmicky. In fact, offering limited-time passes or event pricing can actually help your students commit to a more regular practice.

The key is to frame offers as a way to support your students (not pressure them). When you do this, the offers feel more like gifts than pitches.

For example, if you want to bring back previous students who have not attended class in a while, you can offer a “Back to the Mat” 3-class bundle at a reduced rate, valid for only 2 weeks. 

Or, to gain new students, you can create a “New Student Summer Pass” where newbies can practice all summer long for a discounted rate. 

By extending the duration beyond just one month, you give them the time to build a consistent habit. When students have the chance to truly experience the benefits of yoga over a few months, they’re far more likely to fall in love with the practice—and by the time summer ends, joining your regular membership will feel like a natural next step. 

Lastly, if you plan to host special workshops or events, you could also offer early-bird discounts or member-only rates.

5. Let Your Community Market For You

The most trusted form of marketing isn’t what you say—it’s what your students say. And there are several ways you can make it easy for your current students to share your offerings, such as:

• Handing out beautiful, branded class cards or flyers that they can pass on to a friend.

• Creating shareable posts or stories that your students can repost on Instagram.

• Posting class schedules or upcoming events in visually engaging formats that they’ll want to screenshot and send to others.

 You could even create a short post-class email or text message that says something like:  

“If you’ve found this class helpful, would you consider sharing it with someone who might need it too?”

6. Give Value Without Selling

Sometimes, the best way to fill your classes is to focus on giving value rather than selling. You can offer small bites of value outside of class, such as: 

• Posting short practice videos or breathing techniques on social media.

• Sending monthly newsletters with mindful living tips aligned with the seasons.

• Sharing inspirational quotes or reflections along with a link to your class schedule.

This kind of content keeps you at the top of your student’s minds. It also builds trust, strengthens your reputation, and gently nudges people closer to joining you—without you ever having to “sell.”

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to become a marketing guru to increase your class attendance. You simply need to stay grounded in your values, connect with your community, and think beyond the traditional marketing box.

Building your community doesn’t have to look like full classes and waiting lists.

Every time you welcome a new student who came because a friend shared your class…

Every time someone returns because they felt supported and seen…

That’s true growth, and it’s built one ethical, human interaction at a time.