Urban Yoga Foundation

What Urban Yoga Foundation does

Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in November 2007 by Ghylian Bell and headquartered at 549 W 152nd St in Harlem, New York City. The organization delivers culturally competent yoga and mindfulness programs to underserved urban communities, with a particular focus on communities of color across Harlem, Washington Heights, and Bedford-Stuyvesant, and a secondary footprint in New Jersey and select international sites (Greece, Senegal). UYF operates an entirely volunteer-run model with no paid employees, relying on a Karma Yoga initiative and partner institution relationships to deliver programming. The core intellectual asset is The People's Practice™, a trademarked methodology integrating Kemetic and Hatha yoga with Tao healing arts, which underpins a portfolio of program modules covering youth, seniors, chair yoga, family yoga, teens, special needs, prenatal/postpartum, trauma, healing arts, vibrational gong and sound, and nutrition. The People's Practice Educator Training program certifies instructors and represents the company's primary professional service offering.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across donation-based community classes (tax-deductible under 501(c)(3)), a tiered Lifestyle Coaching program priced from $150 to $1,200, paid Educator Training certification, and contracted corporate and school wellness programs delivered through partners such as the NYC Department of Education, Ford Foundation, BELL Foundation, Catholic Charities, South Mountain YMCA, Abyssinian Development Corporation, and the American Heart Association. Go-to-market is community-led: program demand is generated through grassroots outreach, partner referrals, and the founder's thought leadership via media appearances (PIX 11, BET News, Essence Magazine) and conference participation. Physical infrastructure includes a Harlem studio (opened 2012), The Foundation House (2013), and Urban Sanctuary (2016), each functioning as live-work brand models. Over a 20-year operating history, UYF reports reaching over 500,000 individuals through its programs globally.

Name

Urban Yoga Foundation

Legal name

The Urban Yoga Foundation Inc.

Website

https://urbanyogafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Yoga Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2007 in Harlem, NYC, delivering culturally competent yoga and mindfulness programs to underserved communities through volunteer-led classes, school partnerships, corporate wellness contracts, and its trademarked People's Practice™ educator training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga and Mindfulness Wellness Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

General Yoga Instruction (Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow) (HSADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Family Yoga (HSADACAK), Yoga, Pilates & Mind-Body Movement Education (EDAAAHAC), Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA)

Keywords

• Yoga education programs
• Mindfulness wellness training
• Community yoga services
• Holistic health coaching
• Youth enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Class Donations and Contributions: Donation-based yoga classes where individuals can contribute to attend programs. Classes, workshops and Educator Trainings along with sponsorships are tax deductible as the organization is a 501c3 non-profit.
2. Lifestyle Coaching Programs: Paid health coaching programs including 30 Day Program ($300), 3 Month Program ($750), and 6 Month Program ($1,200). Also includes 7 Day Cleanse & Detox Program for $150.
3. Teacher Training Programs: The People's Practice™ Educator Training certification program for individuals wanting to teach yoga or deepen their practice
4. Corporate and School Wellness Programs: Outreach programs for schools, organizations, studios and corporations delivering integrative health and mindfulness programs, yoga classes, meditations, and professional development workshops

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Urban Yoga Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers yoga, mindfulness, and holistic wellness programs to underserved urban communities. Its flagship product is The People's Practice™ Educator Training, a teacher certification that integrates Kemetic, Hatha, and Tao healing arts, complemented by donation-based community classes, paid lifestyle coaching, contracted school and corporate wellness programs, and free recorded online classes.

Product overview

Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of mindful-based integrative enrichment and wellness programs for children, youth, adults, and seniors using yoga as a foundation for growth and expression. The core offering is The People's Practice Educator Training, a comprehensive yoga teacher training program integrating Kemetic, Hatha, and Tao healing arts. The organization provides various specialized program modules including Youth Programs, Senior Programs, Chair Yoga, Family Yoga, Teen Programs, Special Needs Program, Prenatal Mommy and Me, Mental and Physical Trauma Program, Healing Arts, Vibrational Gong and Sound, and Nutrition Programs. Additional services include a Lifestyle Coaching Program with tiered membership options (30 Day, 3 Month, 6 Month), Free Recorded Classes, and the Karma Yoga Initiative for volunteer teachers and ambassadors. UYF also operates physical spaces through The Foundation House (2013) and Urban Sanctuary (2016). For over 20 years, UYF has served communities through customized mindful-based programs that promote healthy social, emotional, physical, and academic development, reaching over 500,000 individuals worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The People's Practice™: An integration of Kemetic and Hatha with Tao healing arts, employing breath, sound and movement to still the mind and liberate the body. A yoga educator training program.

Products and services

• The People's Practice Educator Training A paid yoga teacher training and certification program integrating Kemetic and Hatha yoga with Tao healing arts, focused on breath, sound and movement. Designed for adults wanting to teach yoga or deepen their practice, with 250+ teachers trained in kids yoga within three years.
• Lifestyle Coaching Program A personalized health and wellness coaching program offering nutrition guidance, dietary recommendations, and holistic lifestyle support, with tiered offerings: 30 Day Program ($300), 3 Month Program ($750), 6 Month Program ($1,200), and 7 Day Cleanse & Detox ($150).
• Free Recorded Classes On-demand online yoga classes available free of charge for individuals, including special event recordings.
• Donation-Based Community Yoga Classes Weekly yoga and mindfulness classes delivered at the Harlem studio (549 W 152nd St) and through community locations, priced on a donation/contribution basis and made affordable through the volunteer Karma Yoga teacher and ambassador initiative.
• School and Corporate Wellness Outreach Programs Contracted delivery of customized yoga, mindfulness, and wellness programs in schools, after-school programs, community organizations, and corporations, including curriculum integration, certified teacher placement, and professional development workshops.
• Specialized Population Wellness Programs Targeted wellness program modules delivered to specific populations including youth, seniors, families, teens, individuals with special needs, prenatal/postpartum mothers, and trauma survivors, each adapted with customized curricula.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600,000 people served globally with mindful and integrative wellness programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Visit.orgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Implemented a wellness platform for social impact experiences with an organization that invests 100% of revenue back into the community.
• Amal AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2017Partnership with Amal Alliance bringing UYF training and curriculum to Greece serving displaced families from Syria and Congo. Curriculum was translated into Arabic.
• YENE International Festival SenegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped and implemented strategic vision to bring wellness platforms to Senegal in the African diaspora.
• BELL Foundation HarlemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides curriculum and certified UYF trained staff to teach middle school students yoga. For over three years reaching over 6,000 scholars.
• NY New York City Dept. of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYC Department of Education for delivering yoga and mindfulness programs in public schools throughout the city.
• Ford FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly wellness workshops for executive staff, including development and execution of monthly mindful practice sessions.
• South Mountain YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight-year partnership providing yoga experiences, tea tastings and cultural awareness for 500 students and families.
• Abyssinian Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing yoga and mindfulness programs for youth in workforce development programs, including internship opportunities.
• United Methodist Women NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides advice and leadership for Human Resources by implementing Wellness Wednesdays - weekly mindful practice of movement, breath, nutritional guidance and personal development.
• American Heart AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership including Go Red for Women campaign, monthly yoga series, and heart disease prevention workshops in urban communities.
• Columbia Teachers CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for teacher training and curriculum development in mindfulness yoga education.
• Omega InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitated and spoke about trauma-informed practices at the non-profit organization focusing on holistic healing and human potential.
• iBME Steering CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with leaders in mindfulness practices to provide opportunity for organizations teaching mindfulness to youth to examine and strengthen equity in their programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Calm: Digital meditation and mindfulness app with a school program (Calm Schools). Relevant as a broad incumbent offering accessible mindfulness at scale, contrasting UYF's in-person community-based model.
• CorePower Yoga: Large for-profit yoga studio chain with teacher training programs serving mainstream consumers nationwide. Relevant as a broad incumbent in yoga instruction and certification, though not community/underserved focused.
• Headspace: Digital mindfulness and meditation platform with Headspace for Educators and corporate wellness offerings. Broad incumbent competing for the same institutional buyers (schools, employers) as UYF but via a tech-delivered model.
• YogaWorks: For-profit yoga studio chain and teacher training school operating across multiple US markets. Comparable as a yoga instruction and educator training provider at much larger scale; contrasts with UYF's nonprofit grassroots model.

Emerging players

• Black Yoga Teachers Alliance: Emerging nonprofit network advancing Black yoga teachers and culturally rooted practice. Closely aligned with UYF's mission of elevating teachers of color and reclaiming yoga's cultural context, though more network/community than direct instruction.

Direct peers

• Mindful Schools: 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing mindfulness and yoga instruction in K-12 schools, with a teacher certification program. Closest comparable to UYF in mission (mindfulness for youth), teacher-training model, and school-district channel partnerships.
• Off the Mat, Into the World: Nonprofit using yoga as a tool for social change and community service, with global activist training. Comparable to UYF as a yoga-focused social-impact nonprofit, though focused more on adult activism than youth education.
• Little Flower Yoga: Yoga and mindfulness studio/school focused on kids, teens, and families with educator training. Directly comparable to UYF in kids yoga instruction, teacher certification (Kids Yoga Teacher Training), and SEL curriculum for schools.
• Kula for Karma: Nonprofit providing trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness to underserved communities including at-risk youth, veterans, and those in recovery. Comparable in nonprofit yoga-for-trauma positioning, though serving broader populations than UYF's community of color focus.
• Holistic Life Foundation: Baltimore-based nonprofit offering yoga and mindfulness programs in underserved schools and communities, serving a similar demographic. Direct comparable in mission, volunteer/teacher training model, and school-based distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanYogaFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-yoga-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Yoga Foundation