A New Path Forward for the Yoga Industry

Here’s What I’m Seeing

The COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through nearly every industry, but for yoga, the impact was particularly profound. Almost overnight, studios were shuttered, teachers found themselves without work, and students had to adapt to a new reality of online classes and isolated practices. Yet, as much as the pandemic disrupted the yoga world, it also exposed deep, long-standing flaws that had been simmering beneath the surface for years. The sudden collapse of the industry did not happen in a vacuum—it was the result of unsustainable business models, a lack of support for yoga professionals, and the growing commercialization of a practice that, at its core, is about connection and inner growth.

The essays that follow aim to explore this pivotal moment in the history of yoga. They trace the roots of the industry’s collapse, from the rise of corporate-driven yoga studios to the commodification of teacher training programs. More importantly, they propose a new way forward—one that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and community over profit and growth at any cost.

The pandemic, while devastating in its impact, has also opened up opportunities for transformation. The rapid shift to online classes and self-practice has created new ways of engaging with yoga, while the financial and emotional challenges faced by teachers have sparked important conversations about the need for better protections and support. As we emerge from this crisis, we have a chance to reimagine what the yoga industry could be: an ecosystem that nourishes not only students but also the teachers, studio owners, and communities that make the practice possible.

This collection of essays will take you through the journey of the yoga industry’s rise, fall, and potential rebirth. We begin with the immediate impacts of COVID-19, before examining the structural issues that have long plagued the profession, from the collapse of community-driven studios to the broken teacher training system. We will explore the ethical dilemmas of balancing yoga’s spiritual roots with the pressures of capitalism, and ultimately offer solutions grounded in systems thinking, sustainable business models, and collective action.

At the heart of this collection is a simple truth: yoga, in its essence, is about interconnectedness. Just as the body, breath, and mind work in harmony within the practice, so too must the different parts of the yoga industry—teachers, students, studios, and the broader economic landscape—be in balance for the industry to thrive. By looking at the bigger picture and addressing the root causes of the industry’s challenges, we can create a future where yoga remains true to its origins while also providing meaningful livelihoods for those who dedicate their lives to teaching it.

As you move through these essays, I invite you to consider how we might come together as a community to rebuild the yoga industry in a way that honors both the tradition of the practice and the realities of the modern world. The collapse brought on by COVID-19 was a wake-up call, but it is also an opportunity—a chance to create something stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable than what came before.