Evolation Yoga

What Evolation Yoga does

Evolation Yoga is a privately held yoga teacher training company founded in 2009 by Mark Drost and Zefea Samson, both of whom trained directly with Bikram Choudhury for a decade and won a landmark legal case confirming the 26+2 hot yoga sequence belongs to the public domain. The company delivers Yoga Alliance accredited certification programs at the 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour levels across hot (Bikram), vinyasa flow, and yin yoga disciplines, serving aspiring and existing yoga teachers worldwide.

The company operates a dual delivery model: immersive in-person retreats held at five international locations (Amsterdam, Buffalo NY, Portugal, Bali, Sri Lanka) and a self-paced online platform combining pre-recorded video lessons with 1:1 live human mentoring sessions. Core technology is a video-based learning platform with rolling daily enrollment; no AI capabilities are disclosed. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time certification tuition fees for in-person intensives and recurring online subscription fees, supplemented by add-on modules such as mentoring sessions and a pre-recorded video library. Pricing specifics are not publicly disclosed, though flexible payment plans and third-party financing are offered.

The customer base consists of individual aspirant teachers (primary segment) and yoga practitioners seeking immersive training experiences (secondary segment), distributed globally via direct-to-consumer website enrollment. Marketing relies on content/SEO, earned media coverage in Time Magazine and the New York Times, Yoga Alliance directory presence, and graduate testimonials. Since 2009 the company has trained 3,750+ teachers across 345+ trainings in five countries, reporting a 4.73 average graduate rating and an 8.6 NPS.

Name

Evolation Yoga

Legal name

Evolation Yoga

Website

https://evolationyoga.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Evolation Yoga is a private, Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training company offering 200/300/500-hour certifications in hot (Bikram), vinyasa flow, and yin yoga via in-person retreats across five countries and a self-paced online platform serving aspiring yoga teachers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Teacher Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADACAL

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Yoga & Pilates Instruction

SECONDARYHSADACAC

Hot Yoga & Heated Pilates

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Yoga & Pilates Instruction

SECONDARYTHAJAHAA

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Wellness & Spa Experiences (Retreats, Thermal Baths, Yoga)

SECONDARYEDAAAHAC

Yoga, Pilates & Mind-Body Movement Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

Keywords

• Yoga teacher training
• Hot yoga certification
• Vinyasa flow training
• Yin yoga certification
• Online yoga teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Yoga Teacher Training Programs: One-time certification fees for 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training programs in hot, flow, and yin yoga. Both in-person immersive and online self-paced formats available with flexible payment plans.
2. Online Training Subscriptions: Self-paced online yoga teacher certification with expert video lessons and 1:1 live mentoring sessions, accessible year-round.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Evolation Yoga delivers Yoga Alliance accredited yoga teacher certification programs at 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour levels in hot (Bikram 26+2 sequence), vinyasa flow, and yin yoga styles. Training is offered through immersive in-person intensives at global locations and through a self-paced online platform with pre-recorded video lessons and 1:1 live mentoring. Graduates are eligible to register as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) and teach yoga worldwide.

Product overview

Evolation Yoga operates as a yoga teacher training platform offering Yoga Alliance accredited certification programs in hot (Bikram), flow, and yin yoga styles. The core offering consists of modular training programs (200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour certifications) that can be completed in-person at global locations (Amsterdam, Buffalo, Portugal, Bali, Sri Lanka) or through self-paced online training. The product suite includes the foundational RYT 200 training, advanced RYT 300 and RYT 500 programs, specialized hot yoga (Bikram 26+2 sequence), flow yoga, and yin yoga certifications. Online delivery combines pre-recorded video libraries with 1:1 live mentoring sessions, while in-person training offers immersive experiences at international locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (RYT 200) Foundational 200-hour Yoga Alliance accredited yoga teacher training certifying students in the Bikram hot yoga sequence and qualifying them to register as RYT 200 and teach worldwide. Available in-person at global locations and online.
• 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (RYT 300) Advanced 300-hour Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training for graduates holding a 200-hour certification, allowing registration as RYT 300. Students may continue with Bikram hot yoga or broaden into vinyasa flow.
• 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (RYT 500) Advanced combined 500-hour Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training keeping Bikram at its core while blending vinyasa (e.g., 250 hours Bikram hot yoga plus 250 hours flow) to graduate as RYT 500, the advanced Yoga Alliance level.
• Hot Yoga Teacher Training (Bikram 26+2 Sequence) Teacher training built on the original 26+2 Bikram sequence (26 postures and 2 breathing exercises practiced in a heated room). Co-founders trained directly with Bikram Choudhury for a decade, providing direct lineage to the original method.
• Flow Yoga Teacher Training (Vinyasa) Vinyasa flow yoga teacher training available as a standalone program or combined with hot yoga training at the 300 and 500-hour levels.
• Yin Yoga Teacher Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.73 average graduate rating from Yoga Alliance
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Yoga AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga Alliance is the primary accrediting body for Evolation Yoga's teacher training programs. As a Registered Yoga School (RYS 200 and RYS 300), graduates are eligible to register as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs) and teach yoga anywhere in the world.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Kripalu is an established yoga and wellness center in the US offering 200-hour and 300-hour teacher trainings as part of a broader retreat and wellness programming model. Comparable to Evolation as a destination-based yoga teacher training school with established brand authority.
• YogaFit: YogaFit is one of the largest yoga teacher training organizations globally, offering certifications across multiple modalities and fitness/wellness partnerships. Comparable to Evolation as a multi-style teacher training provider but with significantly broader scope and corporate partnerships.
• Alo Moves: Alo Moves is the digital subscription platform of Alo Yoga, offering online yoga classes and some teacher training content. Comparable as an adjacent player expanding into online yoga education with strong brand and consumer reach, though not a direct certification competitor.
• Gaia: Gaia is a subscription streaming platform offering yoga, meditation, and wellness content globally. Comparable as a broad wellness/yoga content platform that touches Evolation's audience, though primarily a content library rather than a certification school.

Direct peers

• YogaFX: YogaFX is one of the most prominent Bikram hot yoga teacher training schools globally, offering 200-hour and 300-hour programs. It is the closest direct competitor to Evolation in the Bikram-specific teacher training niche, with overlapping curriculum and target student.
• Yoga Renew: Yoga Renew is an online yoga school offering 200-hour teacher training and continuing education. It is comparable to Evolation as an online-first, self-paced Yoga Alliance-registered teacher training provider.
• My Vinyasa Practice: My Vinyasa Practice is an online yoga teacher training provider offering 200-hour, 300-hour, and continuing education programs with self-paced and live formats. It competes directly with Evolation's online tier and targets the same aspiring teacher demographic.
• Siddhi Yoga: Siddhi Yoga offers internationally accredited yoga teacher training programs in India (Rishikesh) and online, including 200-hour and 300-hour certifications. Comparable to Evolation as a multi-format (in-person retreat + online) teacher training school targeting global students.
• Mantra Yoga & Meditation: Mantra Yoga & Meditation provides online and in-person yoga teacher training programs with Yoga Alliance accreditation. It is comparable to Evolation in delivering accessible certification options across multiple yoga styles.

Others

• Mindbody: Mindbody provides SaaS booking, studio management, and consumer marketplace infrastructure to yoga studios and wellness businesses. It is comparable as an ecosystem participant that supports yoga businesses (including studios that may have hired Evolation-trained teachers), though it does not compete in teacher training directly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/evolationyoga
• Facebookfacebook.com/EvolationYoga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evolation-yoga

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Evolation Yoga