I took a mat teacher training at a near by pilates studio i am also planning on opening my own yoga studio soon. is it bad to write a good review for them as a fellow competitor? how can it negatively affect me?
If that studio did a good job, then it would be great to give them a good review! Who knows... maybe you'll collaborate at some point. Have enough confidence in yourself to give someone else a good review.
Writing a good review will enhance your reputation. Once your own studio opens, people will notice and the positive reflection will end up generating business for you.
Most important, it is the right thing to do.
That’s a really fair question, and honestly, you’re not wrong to pause and think about it.
The short answer is: no, it’s not wrong to write a good review for a studio where you trained, even if you’re planning to open your own yoga studio. A lot of people in the wellness space go through this exact situation.
Where it gets tricky isn’t the review itself—it’s how you write it.
On a human level, that studio was part of your journey. You learned there, grew there, and gained real skills. Acknowledging that doesn’t make you weak or disloyal to your future business. In fact, when done well, it usually comes across as confident and grounded. People tend to trust professionals who can give credit without feeling threatened.
That said, there are a couple of ways it can work against you if you’re not careful. If your review sounds like you’re crowning them as “the best” or making it seem like no one else compares, you’re basically writing marketing copy for a future competitor. Later, when you open your own studio, those words can come back to haunt you—especially if potential clients remember them.
Another thing to watch is how you position yourself in the review. If it reads like you’re still standing in their shadow or that you “owe everything” to them, it can subtly undermine your authority when you step out on your own. Gratitude is good; shrinking yourself isn’t.
The sweet spot is keeping it simple, professional, and time-specific. Talk about the training, the structure, and what it gave you at that stage of your journey. You’re not promoting their business—you’re acknowledging a chapter in your own growth.
Something like:
“I completed my mat teacher training here and found the program well-organized and supportive. It helped me build a solid foundation and deepen my understanding of movement.”
That kind of review is honest, respectful, and safe for your future brand.
So overall? Writing a thoughtful, measured review is usually fine—and often a good look. Just avoid language that gives away your future positioning before you’ve even opened your doors.
If you want, I’m happy to talk this through further, help you tweak the wording, or answer any follow-up questions you have.
Sometimes people tend to think that if you support your fellow businesses that it can hurt you. Just because you are starting your own, it does not mean that you are against them. We all can win. This is not a zero sum game. They can be allies. There is enough to go around.
It is never a bad thing to do something nice or recognize someone for a good job - competitor or not. I was brought up on the Zig Ziglar advice - "you will get what you want faster out of life by helping others get what they want". In other words, do it and don't worry about getting it back - over the long run you will get so much more than you give.
Write them a good review, and as a practical consideration, open your studio at a location where you are not likely to compete for the same audience. There should be plenty of other catchment areas where your studio can be a go-to for an unserved segment.
