How to stop taking class bookings in Instagram DMs

Last updated: 18 October 2026

Most independent yoga and fitness teachers start by taking bookings in Instagram DMs. It's free and your students are already there. But once you run a few classes a week, DMs become a second job: answering the same questions, keeping a list of who's coming, and chasing payments.

What goes wrong with DM bookings

• The same questions every time: "Is there space on Thursday?", "Where is it?", "How much is it?"
• No overview: spots are tracked in your head, a notes app or a spreadsheet, and overbooking happens.
• Unpaid no-shows: people book, don't come and haven't paid.
• You're always on your phone: bookings arrive while you teach, at night and on your days off.

The fix: one booking link

Put your schedule on a booking page where students see free spots, book and pay without messaging you. Then put that link everywhere students find you: your Instagram bio, your story highlights and your replies.

Move your students over in one week

1. Day 1: create your booking page and add next week's classes, with capacity and price.
2. Day 2: put the link in your Instagram bio and add a "Book" story highlight.
3. Days 3 to 7: answer booking DMs with the link instead of a spot: "Book here so your spot is saved: [link]".
4. From then on: announce new classes with the link. Regulars start booking on their own within a couple of weeks.

Keep DMs for what they're good for: questions, feedback and building a relationship with your students.

What to look for in a booking page

• Students can book without creating an account.
• Capacity limits and a waiting list.
• Card payments when booking, paid out to your own account.
• Automatic confirmation and cancellation emails.
• Works well on a phone, since most students come from Instagram.

BookMyClass does all of this and is free to start: unlimited classes and paid bookings, plus 100 free bookings every 30 days. See features and pricing.

Frequently asked questions