The Decline of Community-Based Yoga Studios: What Went Wrong
When I started practicing in 2002, there wasnt a yoga studio on every corner. Yoga hadn’t quite hit the granola standard yet (when its not just for hippies anymore). Practice in general was still counterculture, with lineage-based yoga studios having been established for a decade or two. It wasnt yet seen from a consumerist athleisure lens.
This was at a time when traditional yoga studios had begun to propagate naturally into smaller studios— organic growth that allowed up-and-coming teachers to enter full time teaching, inside their own four walls. It was a time before the big boxes, the local chains, and venture capital from Wall Street. Yes, at one time, independent yoga studios were owned by people who had made exotic journeys and devoted insane amounts of time to their spiritual quests and studies.
Places like Boundless Yoga owned by Kim Weeks, which employed my mentor Kristen Krash, could exist in the world. Flow Yoga Center right here in my neighborhood made a strong case for being a do-it-all place in the neighborhood, whilst Tranquil Space was a cornerstone of more curated image in its owner’s, Kimberly Wilson’s, vision.
These independent studios fostered genuineconnections between teachers and students, offering a sanctuary for practitioners to grow, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. Yet, in the span of a few short years, many of these beloved spaces have vanished. What happened? The decline of community-based yoga studios can be traced to several factors, including the rise of corporate investment, the corrosive influence of venture capital, and the struggle to balance business viability with community values.
The Rise and Fall of Independent Yoga Studios
Independent studios once represented the heart of the yoga community. Places like Tranquil Space thrived because they nurtured relationships—between teacher and student, among practitioners, and within the broader local scene. These were spaces where yoga wasn’t just about the poses; it was about fostering a sense of belonging. But as yoga gained mainstream popularity, the business side of things began to overshadow the communal aspect.
Studios that started with humble beginnings found themselves facing increasing pressure to scale. More classes, more members, more revenue. This pressure led some to sell to larger entities or venture capitalists who saw the growing popularity of yoga as a business opportunity. Take YogaWorks, for example. What began as a studio rooted in traditional Ashtanga and Iyengar principles transformed into a corporate entity focused on teacher trainings and large-scale expansion. But in chasing growth, they lost what made them special: the community.
Hedge Funds and Venture Capital: A Recipe for Decline
One of the most significant contributors to the downfall of these community-based studios was the influx of hedge fund and venture capital money. Venture capitalists saw the rising demand for yoga and decided to commodify it. Rather than focusing on cultivating long-term relationships, they prioritized profitability and scalability, often at the expense of the local community.
In some cases, hedge fund money came in and bought up multiple locations of successful studios, promising to maintain the integrity of the business while expanding its reach. However, as we saw with Tranquil Space and others, the reality was different. The infusion of capital led to standardized operations, loss of personal connection, and a focus on mass appeal rather than individual growth. The once intimate yoga experience became diluted, transforming into just another commodity in the wellness market.
What Went Wrong: Lessons Learned
The decline of community-based yoga studios offers several important lessons for the future. First and foremost, when yoga becomes a business focused purely on profitability, it loses its soul. Yoga is inherently about connection—connection to oneself, to others, and to something greater. Studios that prioritize expansion at the expense of community will inevitably alienate the very people they aim to serve.
Another lesson is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to running a successful yoga studio. While scaling can work for some industries, yoga thrives on authenticity and local engagement. When studios grow too large, they often lose sight of what made them successful in the first place: the deep relationships fostered between teacher and student, and the ability to respond to the unique needs of the community.
Finally, the demise of these studios underscores the importance of sustainable business models. Yoga studio owners need to resist the temptation of quick fixes through venture capital or hedge fund investment. While the promise of capital might seem like an easy way to grow, the long-term effects can be devastating if the core values of the studio are sacrificed.
Avoiding the Same Pitfalls: Moving Forward
So how can future yoga studios avoid these same mistakes? First, by staying true to their mission and community. Studios should focus on cultivating a small, loyal base of practitioners who appreciate the value of a personal connection. Growth should be slow and intentional, ensuring that any expansion still preserves the heart of the studio.
Second, studio owners need to build sustainable business models that support both the teachers and the space itself. This might mean looking to alternative revenue streams, like offering workshops, retreats, or teacher trainings, but doing so in a way that prioritizes quality over quantity. Successful studios of the future will be those that balance the business side of yoga with the needs of their community.
Lastly, future studio owners can learn from other industries, such as high-end salons, where mentorship, pricing models, and apprenticeship systems are structured to ensure both growth and sustainability. By creating a system that values and supports the teachers—both financially and professionally—studios can avoid the high turnover and burnout that plague so many in the industry.
Conclusion
The decline of community-based yoga studios like Tranquil Space and YogaWorks is a cautionary tale for the future of yoga. It shows us the dangers of over-commercialization and the perils of sacrificing community for profit. However, by learning from these mistakes and reimagining the way we structure yoga studios, we can create spaces that are not only financially viable but also true to the essence of yoga. The key is to put the community first, always.
