For Business Archives

Yoga Mat Cleaning Machine Mitigates Post-COVID Spend

Cleanliness and sanitization is a top priority for every business. Gyms and fitness studios are no exception. Yoga mats are a magnet for germs and it’s important to clean the yoga mats in your studio. Many offered tea tree oil, sprays, or wipes to students on a minimal basis pre-COVID. But, these times have pushed owners/operators to adopt new CDC cleaning protocols and in some industries, these charges have been passed onto the consumer. It is common now for restaurants to charge customers an extra 3-5% surcharge to make up for lost revenues. When every dollar matters, one way to help improve cleanliness and add to the bottom line is with MatFresher, the yoga mat cleaning machine.

time is money

Installing a MatFresher yoga mat cleaning machine in your studio can help you sanitize yoga mats and increase revenues. The best part is that MatFresher is free. Here’s how you can influence your students to use MatFresher.

Here are four ways to keep cleaning expenses down and get your students to use MatFresher, the yoga mat cleaning machine.

Make clean mats mandatory. Many students have a relationship with their yoga mat. It’s loved and cherished but who knows where it’s been? Ask students to clean their outside mats right when they enter the studio. This will create a new check-in ritual and help keep your yoga studio germ-free. Have students who rent mats clean it at the MatFresher to show others how easy it is to use.
Make a partner pledge. Ask students to do their share in keeping the studio open and safe by asking them to pledge a clean mat after every class… or at the very least once a week. Have them sign a board that they’ve cleaned their mat and raffle off a free class or yoga mat to the person with the most cleans in a month.
Show and tell. You may not feel comfortable mandating people to clean their mats, but you can show them how to use the MatFresher. Simply designate certain desk, instructors or ambassadors to bring one student to the MatFresher machine after each class. People follow others when they see something going on Plus the first few cleans are free for everyone.
Tell them all about it. You have many ways to reach your customers. Social media, newsletters, and word of mouth are some. Make sure you are getting the message out about having a MatFresher in your studio. If they don’t know about it, how can they know to use it. You know best what works for your clients.

MatFresher is a new tool to clean and sanitize your yoga mats for free. In fact, using MatFresher in your studio helps increase your bottom line. Your studio earns money for every clean yoga mat sanitized with MatFresher,

Share the Love with your Clients with Complimentary Yoga Mat Cleaning

Posted on by Andrea Metcalf

February is here and Valentine’s Day is coming – the day when lovers and loved ones express affection with greetings, cards, and chocolates. Around the country, exercise enthusiasts are returning indoors to workout and enjoy fitness classes. It’s time to show your members the “love”. MatFresher is the only yoga mat cleaning machine that loves your studio and clients. Here are 3 ways to share the love with your clients.

3 Ways to Share the Love with Your Clients

Buddy Pass. A great promotion for the month of February is selling a buddy pass. For some gyms and studios, one more person taking up space with limited numbers due to COVID restrictions can be a challenge but, a buddy pass for the month can bring in additional referrals and revenue. Friends gift buddy passes for free virtual classes and then attend in-studio class together.
Clean their mat for them. A sign of affection is doing something nice for someone else. What better way to say “I love you” then sanitizing their yoga mat. Have each instructor bring out one special member (or two or three) to your MatFresher. Then clean their mat. With MatFresher every new student gets three free cleans! In addition, your instructor will be their hero and it won’t cost a thing.
Call them by their first name. It’s not easy getting to know every student’s name. It shows you care. Take photos of each student and then place them on a wall in the shape of a heart. Students can take their own picture with an inexpensive Polaroid camera and share in the love.

If your studio doesn’t have MatFresher yet, now is the time to get on board. Love your students a little more by giving them an easy-to-use, novel way to clean their yoga mats in under 30 seconds.

clean yoga mats = happy students — Friends clean their yoga mat together.

Why MatFresher?

MatFresher is the only hands-free, multi-step solution to clean and sanitize mats. MatFresher brushes away dirt and debris, kills germs with powerful UVC light, and applies a great smelling essential oil spritz. Mats are then neatly rolled and ready-to-go in 30 seconds!

What Does it Take to be the Best Yoga Teacher

Posted on by Andrea Metcalf

Yoga is growing in the United States. There are more than 6,000 studios currently offering classes. Most owners dedicate more than half of their space to the yoga practice. And, there are more than 300 million yoga practitioners worldwide with estimates that 62 million Americans participate in some type of yoga workout. Yoga teachers make an impact on every student.

Great Yoga Teachers

But what does it take to be a great yoga teacher? The same as being a great teacher generally…and more! Students are drawn to their teacher’s passion. Therefore, yoga teachers who are passionate about their practice have a lasting impact on their students’ lives. They believe in the power of yoga to heal, refresh and restore – both, physically and emotionally. The best yogis share the impact yoga has had on them personally and they are truly dedicated to educating and inspiring their students. Being prepared for classes and understanding that students are at different stages in their practice and abilities are other key attributes. It is not enough to recite the Sanskrit poses, the best teachers guide others to their full potential and physical limits.

A Yoga teacher needs to be:

Authentic
Caring
Sincere
Empathic
Empowering
Passionate

The perception of a yoga studio is a reflection of the experience they have with their instructors. In order to build a successful studio, owners should understand their teachers’ communication style, method of instruction, and encourage relationships with students.

Yoga students

Cleaning during COVID

Instructors have always helped to keep the studio clean. However during COVID times, extra steps are needed to keep students safe. It takes extra time. Mat cleaning, floor cleaning, and sanitizing equipment are among the best-practices for studios. Foggers help germs from spreading. New ventilation systems and fans keep air circulating to dissipate harmful particles in the air. Also, to make yoga mat cleaning more effective, MatFresher machines are available.

Yoga student

MatFresher Yoga mat cleaning machine

In yoga, students typically bring their own mats. This brings germs from the outside to every class. Spray bottles and wipes are pretty ineffective, expensive, and chemical-based. The best way to detox a mat is with MatFresher. MatFresher’s unique 3 step process cleans both sides by brushing away hair, dirt, and debris, applying powerful UVC germicidal light to kill up to 99.99% of the bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and applying an essential oil spritz to make the mat smell great.

As a yoga teacher, you care about each and every student. Help them make the best of their yoga experience, stay healthy and keep their mats sanitized and clean after every class. Be the leader and contact MatFresher to create new rituals.

Three Things to Learn from COVID for Studios Owners

Posted on by Andrea Metcalf

There is endless talk about COVID-19 and how it’s been affecting fitness and small boutique fitness studios. Although many face mandatory closings, limited class sizes and other restrictions, there is a little sunshine from the tragedy. This is a great time to re-evaluate how you’re doing business. Taking a hard look at expenses is never easy, but is always a good step to increasing overall profits. With a little extra time on your hands, consider these three things to learn from COVID for studio owners.

Improvements to learn from COVID for studio owners

1. Staff. The most valuable part of any business is the people that come in contact with customers. Now is a good time to evaluate who’s working for you and how they handle your most precious asset: your customers. During the pandemic, many people were let go…Who will you bring back may take some evaluation. You may rethink your front desk staffing in total. Many front desk workers are paid minimum wage to keep expenses down. Minimum wage may bring minimum excitement to the job. Think about other creative ways for staffing from trading membership for staff help to discounting memberships for those who help volunteer in sales and staffing.
Students with clean mats

2. POS Systems. Having your customers easily book services and pay for them is key to a successful business. There are many booking platforms on the market. Now is a good time to start looking if there is a better solution for your studio. Ask your customers which platforms they have used in the past and which they prefer. Have your staff contribute to the conversation. Since many instructors work at multiple studios, they may have experience with the new platform you are considering. Also, talk to other studio owners about which systems they use to help better determine which one is best for you.
Studio systems

3. Adding Revenue Streams. As much as you need to examine expenses to improve financial performance, look for where you can add profitable new revenue. Online streaming and on-demand classes have blown up due to stay-at-home restrictions. So, adding live stream and on-demand classes for your following is a must. Other revenue streams include items you can sell when you fully reopen. MatFresher cleaning machines help generate new revenue without any upfront or on-going cost. MatFresher keeps your customers’ mats sanitized while you make money with every clean. A MatFresher clean takes only 30 seconds, bringing peace of mind to staff and members while helping to stop the spread of germs. And don’t forget logo apparel, water, power snacks and other grab-n-go items.. Every dollar adds to the bottom line and your studio’s overall success.
Revenue and profits

Take respite and make long-term lemonade out of the short-term lemons COVID has brought to small businesses like yours. Start by contacting MatFresher and begin implementing the things to learn from COVID for studio owners.

How to increase studio profitability

Posted on by MatFresher

Business owners must continuously find new ways to attract members and revenue. Here’s one way you can increase profitability.

Losing money — Every penny counts to be profitable.

Safety procedures for sanitizing facilities have never been more important. People do not realize regular disinfecting spray or wipes are not enough to truly clean their mat.

Germs — Eliminate germs while finding a new revenue stream to become profitable.

A mat is a perfect incubator for many of our skin infections. Mats have contagions lurking on them including strep, flesh-eating strep (yikes!), and a variety of staph, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These do not go away with just sprays or wipes. When they hang out, they can cause real problems.

Feel safe, more effective than cleaning supplies

While members and staff may have previously considered mat sprays or wipes as sufficient sanitation measures, heightened concerns have led to higher expectations for how to keep their mats free of harmful germs. Providing the most effective and convenient method of cleaning a mat can be an important element in retaining and expanding your clientele while making staff feel safer.

The MatFresher mat cleaning machine is a game-changer! MatFresher will kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi, removing the guesswork from sanitization keeping your members safe and clean. Plus it happens in under 30 seconds.

MatFresher is the perfect partner for your business and your staff. Returning staff may have concerns about safety and sanitation. The MatFresher cleaning technology will help you re-opening at scale while giving staff peace-of-mind and confidence in safety.

MatFresher also provides added value as a revenue-driver for your gym and studios. More effective than DIY yoga soaps or harsh antimicrobial chemicals, MatFresher is an encouragement to attend class in person and then EARNS YOU NEW REVENUE with each check-in. MatFresher creates a new residual revenue stream for your business.

Compare how MatFresher saves money — Save money with MatFresher and feel confidently clean

How MatFresher works for gyms and studios:

Schedule an introduction Simply schedule a call with one of our yogi’s to learn more about MatFresher and to request machines for your studio today.
Get MatFresher Once you sign up to be a MatFresher studio, we will coordinate a convenient delivery time for your studio. Roll it in, plug it in and turn it on.
Clean with MatFresher With the MatFresher installed in your gym or studio, your students and staff can use it for mat washes before and after class.

MatFresher can increase profitability by providing a new income stream for your studio during COVID. This will bring peace-of-mind to your members. The machine does not cost you anything, so you can focus on increasing your bottom line. Contact us to schedule a free demo today.

The Cleaner the Mat, the Clearer the Mind

Posted on by MatFresher

“Saucha” According to Wikipedia, “Saucha” refers to the purity of mind, speech, and body. Yoga is associated with purifying and clearing the mind. But how often do we emphasize the impact of cleanliness on a practice? The cleaner the mat, the clearer the mind.

Saucha’s applies to the body and the environment. Our environment includes our equipment, like yoga mats. Thus, having a clean mat is essential. Staying in tune with the naturalness of yoga, cleaning your mat should be done without harsh chemicals. Cleanliness should be achieved through methods that don’t harm the environment. Many cleaning products like bleach can harm both the environment and the body. MatFresher is a one-stop solution to safely sanitize and clean yoga mats.

It is the only multi-sanitizing mat cleaning machine that seeks to promote Saucha. Yoga studios and gyms use MatFresher so that students and staff can safely clean a mat before and after class.

How does MatFresher work?

Before sanitizing, MatFresher uses a two-sided roller system with soft brushes to gently remove hair and debris from the mat.
Then, the machine applies a powerful, germicidal UV light to the mat’s surface. This application destroys up to 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Next, a 100% all-natural cleaning solution sanitizes the mat. This chemical-free solution is 120x more effective than bleach and provides a fresh, undistracting scent.
Finally, MatFresher neatly and automatically rolls the mat for you so you’re on your way in 30 seconds or less.

MatFresher’s main purpose is to promote cleanliness for the body and mind. When the concept of MatFresher was born, the premise that a clean environment is crucial to a clear mind.

MatFresher cleaning machines decrease the use of disposable wipes and spray containers. It uses a completely all-natural cleaning solution that is safe for the air and human skin. It uses germicidal light to deactivate germs. . We maintain balance when we protect our bodies against germs and chemicals. When the body is healthy, peace of mind is possible, and this is what we seek when we practice yoga.

Schedule a demo at MatFresher.com to learn more about how MatFresher can promote yoga mat Saucha at your studio. Learn what makes MatFresher different from other mat cleaning machines: MatFresher.com/mat-cleaning-machine-comparison.

Mat Cleaning Machine Comparison

Posted on by MatFresher

Mat Cleaning Comparison

New CDC cleaning protocols ensure the safety of staff and customers and have resulted in a proliferation of vendors selling cleaning technologies with efficacy claims that are not always easy to understand.

UVC light, to eradicate pathogens on exercise and yoga mats, is one such example. Despite some companies’ claims, a couple of bulbs in their machine, no matter how expensive, does little to make studio-owned mats safe for staff to handle or for customer-owned mats to use.

MatFresher, the patent-pending mat cleaning machine, offers a number of advantages in safety, convenience and cost. Here’s a comparison of MatFresher to Matsana.

UVC Can Be Effective

First, it’s important to understand that UVC light is proven to be highly effective in sanitizing surfaces. Unfortunately, it’s not so simple as just turning on a switch. Two critical requirements are that 1) the proper amount or dosage is applied and 2) the surface is flat.

Dosage

According to international public safety and health organizations, the UVC “gold standard” to provide protection from disease-causing microorganisms is at least 40,000 microwatts per centimeter squared. Cleaning machines that output less don’t meet that standard. And they can’t be relied on to effectively remove 99.99% of bacteria and viruses — as specified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF).

What About Hair and Dirt?

UV light and cleaning liquids can’t remove hair, dust and dirt. Recommendations by vendors to towel clean a mat before you use their machine seems senseless – and totally unhygienic. And what about the added expense of the wipes and towels? When selecting your cleaning machine, look for one that starts with bristle brushes, the third cleaning modality, to effectively eliminate these problems.

Sweaty, Smelly Mats

Hot yoga is popular. And mats become soaked with sweat. No wonder they emit that awful smell know as “yogaroma”! Why is it then that some vendors advise that “mat health” requires drying a mat before using their machine? Following a vendor’s instructions and manually drying a mat means that the health of the user has been forgotten.

How Much Does This Cost?

While it’s true there are vendors selling machines that don’t actually do what they advertise, it’s NOT true that well-engineered machines need to cost you money. During times like these, owner/operators can least afford to invest in cleaning products. It’s important to identify products that MAKE you money instead of cost you money while keeping staff and students safe. Contact us to learn more about MatFresher, the true mat cleaning solution.

What Makes MatFresher Different

Posted on by MatFresher

What is MatFresher?

Today, health and sanitization are the highest priorities for gyms and exercise studios to retain staff and bring back members. Every facility needs to to invest in new cleaning protocols and alter schedules to ensure their safety.

But, it didn’t take a worldwide pandemic for MatFresher to be born. There’s always been an underlying need for more efficient and cost-effective methods for cleaning exercise and yoga mats. MatFresher began in 2018 as a proactive solution for ensuring the safety of your staff and members. This revolutionary mat cleaning machine, in development for nearly two years, is the only mat cleaning technology to eliminate microscopic threats while boosting revenue.

Cleaning should be simple – so members can focus on cleansing the mind and body, not their yoga mats. Better yet, providing staff and students with a safe way to clean should also be beneficial for your bottom line. Rather than padding the pockets of companies who produce UV bulbs, chemical wipes and sprays, providing a MatFresher at your facility can increase profits with every use.

MatFresher is Different

You may be aware of other mat cleaning machines and wonder what makes MatFresher different. Unlike machines that simply illuminate UV light, MatFresher utilizes a comprehensive, three-fold approach for effective sanitization. Here’s how we do it:

Step 1

First, MatFresher utilizes an advanced, two-sided roller system with soft brushes to gently remove the hair and topical debris that stick to sweaty mats. After all, what is sanitization without first removing unwanted particles and dirt? Other vendors recommend that users wipe down their mats before using their machines, exposing customers and staff to harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi.

MatFresher’s advanced, two-sided roller system, which gently removes hair and debris from exercise mats.

Step 2

Next, powerful, germicidal ultraviolet light is then applied to the entire mat. This step destroys up to 99.99% of the most common bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Systems that don’t meet National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF) guidelines for proper UVC light dosing, can’t come close to this level of cleaning effectiveness.

Four bulbs signifying MatFresher’s powerful germicidal ultraviolet light, which is applied to the surface of mats.

Step 3

An essential oil spritz is applied, leaving your mat smelling great.

MatFresher’s 100% all-natural, chemical-free solution, applied as a third sanitizing step on exercise mats.

Step 4

After completing these three steps, MatFresher automatically rolls your mat, all in ~30 seconds! Yet again, MatFresher differs from competitors, who require users to roll their own mats to insert in the machine and again after exiting the machine, creating opportunity for reintroducing germs and rendering your cleaning efforts almost null.

A neatly-rolled and freshly sanitized exercise mat after exiting the MatFresher mat cleaning machine.

And, when it comes to the environment, there’s no comparing chemical wipes and sprays to MatFresher. Along with its sanitization measures being safer on the skin, MatFresher is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Create additional Profit

Just how much can your exercise center increase profits with MatFresher? With no machine acquisition cost, a studio averaging 200 check-ins per day can earn more than $50,000 per year. On top of improving hygiene for students and staff, removing the need for manually cleaning mats, and growing confidence that safety is your top priority, a revenue boost like this is a game-changer for gyms and studios everywhere.

The MatFresher mat cleaning machine beside a chart displaying increased revenue.

Why not improve the ease and effectiveness of mat cleaning AND increase profits by bringing MatFresher to your facility? There’s no investment and no commitment, and we guarantee results. If you’re interested in learning more or to register for MatFresher, contact us today.

How Safe Are Your Mat Cleaning Methods?

Posted on by MatFresher

Health and sanitization are at the forefront of everyone’s minds these days, and we’re all wisely thinking more about the surfaces we’re contacting. Going even further, many are considering the ingredients and chemicals found within everyday products, like cleaning solutions. For yogis, it’s a question of how safe the mat sanitizing products are that we often use mindlessly. Are your mat cleaning methods actually effective against harmful bacteria and viruses?

With the increase in demand for cleaning solutions, costs have risen, and you may consider DIY cleaning methods or alternatives to sprays and wipes. Since these methods provide more control and result in fewer harsh chemicals, these attempts at saving money could be appealing. Has your studio or gym considered the pros and cons of standard cleaning methods? Let’s take a look at how your traditional products, and even DIY solutions, may be costing you more than dollars and how MatFresher saves money while cleaning mats safely.

Solutions That Do More Harm Than Good

Just last year, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization, completed an audit of over 2,000 general cleaning products. Sadly, they discovered that over half of those reviewed contained ingredients that are harmful to lungs. Even worse, these pollutants can be up to five times more potent when used indoors versus outdoors. The mission of yoga and other exercise is to cleanse our bodies and minds and become healthier versions of ourselves. If we contact dangerous chemicals when cleaning mats, this defeats the overall purpose of our yoga training.

Don’t assume that a mat cleaning wipe or spray labeled with buzz words like “green” is a fix-all. Unlike many other industries, companies are not required to disclose ingredients for cleaning products. Many solutions are mislabeled as “all-natural” despite containing non-organic, unsafe ingredients.

DIY Solutions

As stated previously, some people have resorted to DIY solutions for cleaning their mats. Perhaps a mixture of known ingredients could be healthier and greener than chemicals inside a bottle of bleach. However, can you be sure that your exercise mat is getting properly disinfected? The point of spraying or wiping down a mat is to rid your equipment of dangerous germs, so a “safer” cleaning solution may not be an effective one. Though a home-made product may lack a distracting scent that other chemical-filled solutions carry, there must be a way to clean a mat safely and with desirable results.

Along with the potential bodily harm, the ingredients of many cleaning products break down the surfaces of mats over time. This wear from cleaning results in purchasing equipment more often, leading to additional expenses. With so many negatives and question marks regarding the effectiveness of cleaning products, there is a gap. An opportunity exists to save your facility money on cleaning solutions – one that doesn’t cost your studio at all. MatFresher exists for that very reason: to promote a healthy and highly-effective clean for yoga mats while increasing studio revenue.

What is MatFresher?

MatFresher is the only multi-sanitizing mat cleaning machine. While there are machines that clean mats with UV-C light, most do not utilize a multi-fold approach. MatFresher 1) removes hair and debris from the mat, 2) uses UV light over difficult-to-reach surfaces, and 3) applies an essential oil spritz. With this thorough approach, the machine is up to 99.99% effective in destroying harmful bacteria. Without harsh chemicals or odors, MatFresher cleans in under 30 seconds and neatly rolls the mat so it’s ready for class or home. Having a MatFresher machine inside your facility allows members and employees to quickly and effectively sanitize equipment while saving everyone time. On top of these benefits, your studio shares in the profits as members pay a low fee for each wash.

So, why risk the problems associated with household cleaning products and DIY mat cleaning methods? Why not provide your members the best mat cleaning methods? Learn more about the machine built to solve the cons in cleaning.

Boost Your Revenue or Bust

Posted on by MatFresher

The cost of cleaning

As studios and gyms reopen their doors to students and staff, all eyes are on the cleaning measures required to bring peace of mind for all involved. With new levels of cleanliness comes heightened cost for owners/operators. Purchasing cases of wipes and disinfectant sprays is not cheap, particularly now that demand is higher than ever. Added to this, studios incur the cost of disposable masks for staff and infrared thermometers to comply with regulations. No one knows when these measures will be relaxed. Your studio needs to explore ways to boost your revenue.

Not only are there higher cost implications for your gym or studio, safety measures cost your employees more time. As you clean more diligently prior to classes and spend additional time between classes sanitizing, those additional hours clocked are adding to the cost of more cleaning supplies. A hidden cost is the staff time lost on other important activities that don’t get done because of the additional time needed for cleaning, checking temperatures, and following guidelines properly.

The good news (and yes, there is good news) is that it doesn’t have to be this way. What if new cleaning protocols could boost your revenue rather than add to expenses? That’s what we’ve done with MatFresher, the only multi-sanitizing mat cleaning machine.

New expectations

A recent survey by ClassPass indicates that some gym members expect rates to be reduced. They want lower pricing because demand decreased and their safety concerns increased.

As you know, when prices decline in one area, revenue must increase in other areas to balance your ROI impact. Studios and exercise centers should determine a course of action that makes up the deficit for pricing decreases.

Time is Money

Social distancing means fewer students in each class and fewer classes on the schedule. Some studios may opt to continue offering virtual classes for expanding capacity, but how do you ensure that your revenue increases at a time of reduced capacity? While time between classes is increased for cleaning and to reduce contact between those arriving and leaving, fewer classes means lost profits. Your exercise center deserves an opportunity to increase profitability at a time when many members hope for lower fees.

Staff will spend more time disinfecting the studio and equipment between classes, and students will spend less time in the gym before and after class. Now needed is a method of cleaning yoga mats that is quick and effective in order to maintain the flow. More than fast, mat cleaning needs to be thorough and meet safety guidelines.

The MatFresher mat cleaning machine cleans an exercise mat in about 30 seconds, destroying up to 99.99% of harmful pathogens. MatFresher enables your staff and members to practice and clean efficiently – all resulting in a more safely sanitized mat than personal disinfecting would. On top of being the most effective machine of its kind, MatFresher generates new revenue for studios and gyms. MatFresher costs your facility nothing, and your students pay individual for each mat wash. Comparable to a vending machine, you benefit monetarily from those who benefit from a safe and convenient mat cleaning solution inside your walls.

Providing Value

Becoming a MatFresher studio shows students and staff that you take sanitization seriously. It’s a smart way to stand out among other studios and gyms. Some members may look for a location with lower membership fees. However, knowing that you provide peace of mind through strong disinfectant measures may prevent them from doing so.

While saving money on cleaning supplies and machines, you’ll also save your team and students time and energy. If a machine could alleviate some of the revenue and expense challenges currently at play and boost your revenue, at no cost to your studio or exercise center, why not jump at the opportunity? Learn how MatFresher can help you increase revenue today by contacting us.