Running as a training business since 2003 and backed with 10 years of development, YogaBugs is a focused organisation with a strong commitment to building brand awareness. To match its increasing success, the business is now seeking management franchisees across the country to organise and run YogaBugs & Yoga'd Up classes in exclusive territories.

Emerging from Dragon's Den, having turned down an offer from Richard Farleigh of £200,000 for 30 per cent of the business, YogaBugs has proceeded along a more effective route to funding its development of a national network - by offering franchise opportunities to enthusiastic individuals who want to create a healthier lifestyle for children.

With increasing awareness being placed on the need for children to keep fit and healthy, YogaBugs has developed an exciting concept for a growing market, allowing children to improve their fitness and at the same time develop both confidence and self esteem. This is achieved though fun and innovative yoga classes aimed at children aged from two and a half to seven (YogaBugs) and eight to 12 years old (Yoga'd Up).

"Yoga is increasing in popularity and YogaBugs has been capitalising on this through its marketing campaigns," says London franchisee Helen Crowdey.

"Parents and schools are looking for new ways to keep children fit and healthy and YogaBugs offers a great way to achieve this. YogaBugs has come along at just the right time. New government initiatives and funding programmes to get children more active combined with the extension of the school day to facilitate parents returning to work have meant that demand for classes has increased substantially."

Unable to find a children's yoga class for her daughter, Helen trained as a YogaBugs & Yoga'd Up Teacher back in 2005. She soon realised that she could only be in one school at any given time: "My marketing activity was creating such significant interest from schools and nurseries in the area that, seeing the potential, I wanted to make the most of the business opportunity and decided to invest in my own YogaBugs franchise."

Provided with full business training, Helen reveals that the ongoing support has been excellent. "YogaBugs' methods are tried and tested and this is a great help in getting the business off the ground. I'm in regular contact with the support team at head office and their input is terrific."

Getting a great response from schools and nurseries in finding new business, Helen states that that YogaBugs is a flexible business that a franchisee can really develop. "With more and more demand there is the opportunity to recruit and build your own team of teachers and turn the business into a real management opportunity," she explains.

"You don't need experience as a yoga teacher to be a franchisee. What's more important, is that you have the confidence, passion and enthusiasm to develop the business. YogaBugs is an exciting business to run and the work is genuinely rewarding."