Our Commitment
FlowMads™ exists to ensure that every yoga studio finds a qualified teacher and every FlowMad™ — our community of traveling yoga teachers — gets fairly compensated for their time and commitment. Our cancellation policy is designed to protect both sides of that relationship.
Our primary goal is to ensure teacher no-shows and last-minute cancellations never happen. When unexpected situations do arise, we respond personally and quickly.
At a Glance
| Scenario | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Studio cancels — under 4 hours before class | Teacher receives 100% of agreed pay |
| Studio cancels — 4 hours or more before class | Teacher receives 50% of agreed pay |
| Teacher cancels — transfers to vetted substitute | No strike. All parties notified automatically. |
| Teacher cancels — FlowMads™ sources coverage | Strike notch logged. Studio refunded if no coverage found. |
| Teacher no-show (no communication) | Full refund to studio. Strike notch logged. |
| Studio rejects FlowMads™-placed backup teacher | FlowMads™ liability ends. Best-effort re-fill, no guarantee. |
Studio Cancellations
When a studio confirms a FlowMad™ for a class, that teacher has committed their time and may have turned down other opportunities. We take that commitment seriously.
Under 4 hours before class
If a studio cancels a confirmed class with less than 4 hours notice, the teacher receives 100% of the agreed pay rate. The studio will not receive a refund in this scenario. Last-minute cancellations cause real financial harm to teachers who have committed their schedule, arranged travel, and prepared for the class.
This policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, except in documented force majeure events as described below.
4 hours or more before class
If a studio cancels with 4 or more hours notice, the teacher receives 50% of the agreed pay rate. This is calculated and transferred automatically — no action is required from either party.
Valid vs. invalid cancellations
A cancellation is considered valid when it results from circumstances outside the studio's reasonable control, including but not limited to: severe weather or natural disaster, documented facility emergency (fire, flood, structural issue), public health directive, or serious injury or illness of the studio owner. Valid cancellations are handled with full empathy and without additional penalty beyond the compensation tiers above.
A cancellation is considered invalid when it results from a scheduling oversight, a change of mind, failure to communicate a known conflict, or any reason within the studio's reasonable control. The 50% teacher compensation applies regardless.
FlowMads™ does not adjudicate the validity of individual cancellations — that determination rests with the studio's honest self-assessment and direct communication with the teacher. FlowMads™ will provide good-faith guidance when requested.
Studio accountability: Studios that demonstrate a pattern of cancellations — three or more within a rolling 12-month period — may have their listing access paused pending a review call with the FlowMads™ team.
Teacher Cancellations and the Backup System
The FlowMads™ backup guarantee: Every confirmed class on FlowMads™ is assigned a backup teacher as part of our standard service. If a confirmed teacher cancels for any reason, our backup system activates automatically. Our promise to studios is that we will make every effort to fill the class up to 4 hours before start time. After the 4-hour mark, FlowMads™ guarantees best-effort outreach but cannot promise coverage. Studios will always be notified immediately if coverage cannot be secured.
How the backup system works
When a confirmed teacher cancels, the following sequence activates automatically:
- The top-ranked available teacher from the applicant pool receives an immediate notification and has a set window to confirm.
- If the backup does not respond within the window, the class is broadcast to all eligible teachers in the area.
- If no response within 4 hours of class, FlowMads™ makes a direct personal outreach to available teachers.
- If the class cannot be covered, the studio receives a full refund and a personal call from the FlowMads™ team.
Teacher options when cancelling
Teachers have two options when they cannot fulfill a confirmed class:
- Transfer the class — using the Transfer feature, a teacher may pass the class to another vetted FlowMad™ of equal or adjacent experience tier. The receiving teacher must already be registered and verified on FlowMads™. No strike notch is issued for a successful transfer, regardless of timing.
- Cancel the class — if the teacher cannot find a replacement, they cancel and the FlowMads™ backup system activates. A cancellation notch is logged toward the teacher's strike count. The Cancel option is a last resort.
Teacher level system and transfer eligibility
To maintain consistent class quality, transfers must meet a minimum experience threshold. FlowMads™ uses a three-tier experience system based on verified classes taught on the platform:
- New to FlowMads™ — verified, no platform classes taught yet
- Verified FlowMad™ — 1 to 49 classes taught on the platform
- Experienced FlowMad™ — 50 or more classes taught on the platform
Teachers may only transfer a class to another teacher at the same experience tier or one tier below. This ensures studios always receive a teacher of comparable or greater experience than originally confirmed.
Teacher strike system
A strike notch is logged every time FlowMads™ must source coverage because a teacher cancelled without providing their own replacement. Every 3 notches equals 1 strike.
Strike counts do not reset. A teacher who demonstrates a consistent pattern of unreliability — even spread across multiple years — is not a FlowMad™. Teachers who successfully transfer their class using the Transfer feature do not receive a strike notch, regardless of how close to class time the transfer occurs. Force majeure cancellations (see below) are exempt from strike logging at FlowMads™' sole discretion.
Studio notification when a teacher changes
Any time a teaching assignment changes — whether by transfer, backup activation, or any other reason — the studio and all enrolled students receive an immediate notification by email and in-app, identifying the new teacher with a link to their full profile.
If a studio rejects a FlowMads™-placed backup teacher, the studio acknowledges that FlowMads™ has fulfilled its coverage obligation. FlowMads™ will make a best-effort attempt to find an alternative, but cannot guarantee coverage from that point forward. In this scenario, FlowMads™ is not liable for an uncovered class.
For Students
If you booked a class through FlowMads™ and the teacher or studio changes, you will receive an email and in-app notification as soon as the change is confirmed. If a class is cancelled entirely and cannot be covered, any booking made through FlowMads™ will be fully refunded automatically — you do not need to request a refund. If you have any questions about a specific booking, contact us at nicholas@fuesera.com.
Force Majeure
Neither studios nor teachers will be penalized for cancellations caused by events genuinely outside their reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, government-mandated closures, public health emergencies, or documented facility emergencies. In these cases, FlowMads™ will coordinate with all parties on a case-by-case basis and will waive standard cancellation penalties at its sole discretion.
All parties should notify FlowMads™ as soon as a force majeure event is known — do not wait until the 4-hour window. Early notification gives everyone the best chance of a good outcome.
Disputes Between Studios and Teachers
FlowMads™ is a marketplace that connects studios and teachers. We are not a party to the agreement between them and do not act as an arbitrator in disputes. When disputes arise, we encourage studios and teachers to resolve them directly and professionally. FlowMads™ will provide informal, good-faith support to both parties during this period as we develop formal dispute resolution workflows.
Automatic refunds will be triggered by the platform in scenarios covered by this policy. For situations outside these scenarios, contact us at nicholas@fuesera.com and a team member will respond personally.
How Refunds Are Processed
- Refunds are processed automatically through Stripe and typically appear within 5–10 business days depending on your bank
- Platform fees (5%) are non-refundable on all transactions
- Cancellation fees paid to teachers are transferred immediately upon cancellation
- Student refunds are processed automatically — no action required from the student
Changes to This Policy
FlowMads™ reserves the right to update this policy as the platform grows. Users will be notified of material changes via email and the updated policy will be posted here. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact
For any questions about this policy or assistance with a specific situation:
Email: nicholas@fuesera.com
We aim to respond to all cancellation-related inquiries as quickly as possible during normal operating hours.