YogaWorks

YogaWorks
Founded 1987
Founder Maty Ezraty, Patty Townsend, Alan Finger, Chuck Miller
Headquarters Santa Monica, United States
Number of locations
 27
Area served
 California, New York City
Key people
 Phil Swain, Jay DeCoons
Number of employees
 1,000

YogaWorks is a privately held chain of twenty-nine yoga studios located throughout California and New York City. It was founded in California in 1987 by Patty Townsend and Alan Finger and later sold to Maty Ezraty. Ezraty later partnered with Chuck Miller to further develop the YogaWorks brand. Ezraty and Miller sold YogaWorks to the former CEO and COO of AskJeeves.Com (now Ask.Com, George Lichter and Ron Wrurbel. Lichter explained his strategic development plan to StartUpNation.Com in 2005 as "proceeding opportunistically" and based on the YogaWorks brand and style being "modular and scalable." [1] The current CEO is Phil Swain and the company's new principal investor is Boston-based Great Hill Partners.[2]

Approach

YogaWorks' original approach to teaching and sequencing yoga took its inspiration from the synthesis of Ashtanga, Iyengar and the teachings of Desikachar. In keeping with the company's mission, this is now distilled into the scalable and modular YogaWorks style. Various other styles include: Ashtanga, Anusara, Hatha, ISHTA, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Viniyoga, Yin and YogaWorks style.[3] As with most yoga studios, there are also special classes catering to specific interests, such as Pre/Post-Natal Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, Yoga for Kids, Gentle Yoga, and Therapeutic Yoga. Many studios offer core strengthening Pilates Mat classes. Pilates Reformer classes are offered at nine studios across all regions.

YogaWorks' mission states its intention to honor and embrace each student’s search for personal growth, well being, and fulfillment by offering the highest quality yoga programs to people of all ages and from all walks of life.[4] The company also counts 10 core values, including "We believe yoga is for everyone".[5]

Teacher training

In 1990 Ezraty and Miller, with Lisa Walford, created the YogaWorks Teacher Training Program based on prior teacher trainings conducted at YogaWorks and elsewhere by Rod Stryker, Erich Schiffmann, Walford and Ezraty. The program favors teaching asana, inspired by the classical Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga styles, yet attuned to the needs and challenges of their students’ bodies.[6] The curriculum has been furthered enhanced with courses in anatomy, meditation and study of the subtle body. YogaWorks’ teaching training program is registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Locations

Nineteen of YogaWorks' locations are "legacy studios" which operate on the traditional drop-in, pay-as-you-go, purchase of single classes or packages.[7] The eight newer locations also offer spa-like amenities.[8] The company’s corporate office is an extension of one of the original studios and is located on Main Street in Santa Monica.

References

  1. ↑ Sarah Duxbury (October 31, 2008). "Yoga Stretches Into the Bay Area". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Gillian Tan (July 18, 2014). "Private-Equity Firms Race to Buy Fitness Chains". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Our Programs". YogaWorks. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Our Mission". YogaWorks. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Our Values". YogaWorks. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "YogaWorks Teacher Training Program". Semperviva Yoga College. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  7. ↑ Lauren Johanson (September 15, 2008). "Yoga What? YogaWorks!". Your Daily Thread. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  8. ↑ Betsy Boyd (July 1, 2007). "Competition for Area Students Will Go to the Mat". Ventura County Star.

External links