Solo sadhu practice is the rule. Group sadhu practice, when it works, can be one of the most powerful additions to a yoga studio's offering. The format is unusual enough to interest curious students, accessible enough for beginners, and deep enough to keep advanced practitioners coming back. Here is what we have learned, both from running sessions and from supplying boards to studios across Europe from our Kostopil workshop.
Why Group Sessions Work
The strong sensation of standing on a sadhu board produces a particular kind of attention. When a room of practitioners is sharing that attention, the silence becomes denser, the breath collective, the experience deeper than the same session alone. There is something irreducible about practising hard things in good company.
Group sessions also lower the barrier for newcomers. The first time on a sadhu board can be intimidating alone. With a teacher, a small group, and a clear structure, the first session becomes manageable and often inviting.
Format That Works
The format we recommend is sixty to seventy-five minutes total, split into clear phases. Anything shorter feels rushed. Anything longer overstays its welcome.
- Ten minutes: arrival, gentle stretching, breath introduction
- Five minutes: brief teaching on the practice, demonstration
- Twenty-five to thirty-five minutes: standing practice in waves
- Ten minutes: closing meditation seated or savasana
- Ten minutes: discussion and questions
The standing phase is the variable. Beginners might do three short sessions of three to five minutes, with brief seated breaks between. Intermediate groups can do two sessions of seven to ten minutes. Advanced groups can do one continuous fifteen-minute session.
Spacing for Groups
For group classes, use 8mm or 10mm boards. 20mm is not suitable for a class format. The risk is too high that someone untrained for 20mm steps on out of curiosity or pride and either injures themselves or has a frightening experience that ends their interest in the practice.
If your studio has students at very different levels, have boards of both 8mm and 10mm available so students can choose appropriately. Be clear about the difference before the session starts.
Boards Per Student
One board per student. Sharing a board mid-session is awkward, slow and breaks the energy of the room. If your studio has limited boards, run smaller classes rather than asking students to share.
For studios buying boards in quantity, our workshop offers studio packs. See our balance boards collection or contact us through the about page for studio orders.
Floor Setup
Boards need a stable floor. Most yoga studio floors are fine, but check for soft spots in cork or sprung floors that could let the board rock. Place boards in a wide circle or in rows with enough space between students that no one feels crowded.
Provide a wall or sturdy prop within reach of each student for first sessions. Not for leaning on, but for reassurance. Most students will not use it, but knowing it is there reduces anxiety.
The Teaching Voice
Sadhu group sessions need a calm, steady voice. The teacher's role is to guide breath, normalise sensation, and reassure without minimising. Avoid pushing students to stay on longer than is right for them. Avoid praising endurance over honest practice.
The teacher should be on a board too, leading by presence as well as voice.
What to Say When
In the first minute of standing: invite slow breath, call attention to the stance, normalise the strong sensation. In minutes two and three: lengthen exhales, remind students they may step off at any time. In minutes four and beyond: drop into longer silences with occasional breath cues.
Resist the urge to fill the silence. Group sadhu practice works best with quiet.
Safety and Honest Limits
Be clear with students before the first session: this practice is intense, sensation is normal, and stepping off is always available. Do not promise medical benefits. Avoid language like 'relieves stress' or 'reduces anxiety'. Use neutral, honest language. Practitioners report a calming effect that many find valuable.
Have a first-aid kit available. Genuine injuries from sadhu practice are very rare, but the occasional scrape from stepping off awkwardly does happen.
Pregnant students, students with diabetic neuropathy, students with open foot wounds, and students with certain neurological conditions should consult their doctor before joining. Be direct about this in your booking text.
Common Group Dynamics
One student will inevitably try to outlast the others. Address this gently before the session: this is not a contest, and stepping off when it is right for you is the practice, not a failure. Most groups settle into honest practice within the first session or two.
One student may have a strong emotional reaction. This is uncommon but not rare. Have a quiet corner of the studio where they can sit, breathe, and rejoin when ready. The teacher should check in afterwards but not make a scene during the session.
Pricing and Format
Sadhu group sessions can be priced as workshops rather than standard classes. The format is different, the equipment is specialised, and the experience is novel. Many studios charge between drop-in class price and full workshop price. Find the level that fits your community.
Some studios run a weekly evening session at a fixed time. Others run monthly extended workshops. Both work. A regular slot builds a community of returning practitioners.
Eugene's Experience
Eugene Oliynyk, who has practiced daily since 2018 on every level including 20mm, has led group sessions in Ukraine and Poland. His advice to studio teachers is consistent: keep the teaching simple, the silences long, and the boards good. The boards in particular matter. A studio full of well-made boards lifts the whole experience. A studio full of flimsy boards distracts from the practice.
One Honest Closing
Group sadhu practice is one of the most distinctive offerings a yoga studio can add. It attracts curious newcomers, deepens the practice of regulars, and creates a kind of shared attention that few other formats achieve. Done well, it becomes the session students plan their week around. To equip a studio properly, see the balance boards collection or the full catalogue.