Circle Yoga

What Circle Yoga does

Circle Yoga Cooperative is a single-location yoga and mindfulness studio operating in Washington, DC since 2003 (reorganized as a cooperative in 2012). It offers more than 70 weekly classes spanning Vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, Gentle, Prenatal, Pilates, and specialty formats, delivered in-person at its 3838 Northampton Street NW studio, via Zoom livestream, and through an on-demand video library. The studio also provides therapeutic massage (Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial, Craniosacral, Thai, trauma treatment), private sessions, kids and family programming (classes, summer camp, birthday parties), and multiple teacher training programs (200-Hour, Kids Teacher Training, Strength Foundations, Yin Yoga). Its technology stack is conventional and third-party: Walla (studio management, booking, membership, mobile app) — migrated to in June 2025 — alongside Stripe for payments, Gift Up! for gift cards, and Zoom for livestream. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capability, and no public API.

The business runs on a diversified revenue model anchored by monthly memberships at four tiers ($96–$304/mo for 4–16 visits, requiring a 3-month initial commitment), supplemented by class passes ($270/10-class, $30 drop-in), a $55/5-class intro offer, therapeutic massage ($140–$200), workshops, teacher training ($595–$1,090), kids programming, retail, gift cards, and tax-deductible donations through the Circle Yoga Connects (CYConnects) equity-focused outreach program. Customers are exclusively individual consumers and educators (SMB/personal segment), with personas spanning general wellness practitioners, prenatal/postnatal parents, children and families, seniors, beginners, and members of BIPOC, larger-bodied, transgender/nonbinary, and disabled communities — with priority access and reduced-rate ($56/mo) memberships for those experiencing financial hardship.

The cooperative is governed by an elected board with two student members and five worker members, plus founder Annie Mahon (a student of Thich Nhat Hanh). There is no external ownership, no parent company, and no funding rounds. Competitive moat rests on the cooperative governance structure, 22-year local brand, equity-focused mission, and community ties rather than proprietary technology or scale. Operating geographies are the Washington DC metro area in-person and national virtual via livestream.

Name

Circle Yoga

Legal name

Circle Yoga Cooperative

Website

https://circleyoga.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circle Yoga Cooperative is a single-location yoga and mindfulness studio in Washington, DC offering 70+ weekly classes, teacher training, massage, and kids programming through a member-owned cooperative model serving individual wellness practitioners, families, and underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Studio / Wellness Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Family Yoga (HSADACAK), Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training (HSADACAL), Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra (HSADACAF), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Private 1:1 Yoga/Pilates & Small-Group Sessions (HSADACAI)

Keywords

• Yoga studio services
• Mindfulness instruction
• Teacher training programs
• Therapeutic massage services
• Kids family yoga

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Class Memberships: Recurring monthly memberships offering 4, 8, 12, or 16 class visits per month. Members receive benefits including video library access (8+ visits), guest passes, retail discounts, and early booking access. Requires 3-month initial commitment.
2. Class Passes: Non-recurring class pass options including 10-Class Pass ($270, expires 6 months) and Single Drop-In ($30). These are used by occasional visitors or those not ready for membership commitment.
3. Teacher Training Programs: Revenue from 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (annual cohort starting 2027), Kids Teacher Training ($595-$645), Strength Foundations Teacher Training ($595-$645), and Yin Yoga Teacher Training ($990-$1090). Programs include partial scholarships.
4. Therapeutic Massage: 60-minute sessions at $140, 75-minute sessions at $170, and 90-minute sessions at $200. Offered by independent massage therapists who manage their own schedules.
5. Kids Programs: Revenue from kids yoga classes, summer camp, birthday parties, and related family programming.
6. Workshops and Special Events: Fees from workshops, community events, and special programming such as sound baths, meditation circles, and skill-building sessions.
7. Donations and Scholarships (CYConnects): Tax-deductible donations supporting Circle Yoga Connects scholarship program for financial hardship applicants and community outreach classes.
8. Retail Sales: In-studio shop offering yoga and meditation props, books, and gifts. Members receive 10% discount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Circle Yoga is a cooperative yoga studio offering more than 70 weekly in-person and livestream yoga, mindfulness, and Pilates classes spanning beginner through advanced levels and styles (Vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, Gentle, Prenatal, and specialty classes). The studio complements core classes with therapeutic massage, private sessions, an on-demand video library, workshops, kids and family programming (including summer camp and birthday parties), and multi-format teacher training (200-Hour, Kids Teacher Training, Strength Foundations, and Yin Yoga Teacher Training).

Product overview

Circle Yoga Cooperative operates as a single yoga studio (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) that offers a comprehensive portfolio of in-person and virtual wellness services. The core offering is the yoga and mindfulness studio with over 70 weekly classes spanning multiple styles and levels. This core is supported by related services including the Video Library (on-demand class recordings), Therapeutic Massage, and Private Yoga Sessions. The studio also offers multiple teacher training programs including the 200-Hour Teacher Training, Circle Yoga Kids Teacher Training (CYKTT), Strength Foundations Teacher Training, and 50-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training. Family-oriented offerings include Kids & Family Yoga, Summer Camp, and Birthday Parties. The Walla platform manages bookings and memberships. Circle Yoga Connects extends the studio's reach through community outreach and scholarships. The business model emphasizes cooperative ownership, sliding-scale pricing, and accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circle Yoga Studio Classes (In-Person & Livestream) Cooperative yoga studio offering more than 70 weekly yoga, mindfulness, and Pilates classes with both in-person and livestream (Zoom) options. Classes range from beginner to advanced levels across multiple styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, Gentle, Prenatal, and specialty classes.
• Monthly Membership Plans Monthly renewing memberships offered in 4 tiers (4, 8, 12, or 16 classes per month) requiring a 3-month initial commitment. Members receive benefits including 10% retail discount, member workshop discounts, discounted drop-in rates, early class booking access, unlimited video library access at 8+ visits, guest passes, birthday free class, and the ability to pause membership for up to 60 days per year. A reduced-rate tier ($56/month for 4 visits) is available for individuals experiencing financial hardship.
• Class Pass Options Non-membership class access options for occasional visitors, including a 10-Class Pass at $270 (valid 6 months, book up to 30 days in advance), a Single Drop-In at $30 (members pay $24), and an introductory offer of 5 classes for $55 for new students (valid 30 days).
• Video Library (On-Demand) On-demand video library providing access to recorded yoga and mindfulness classes. Unlimited access is included as a membership perk for members with 8 or more visits per month; livestream participants receive individual class recordings for 14 days after the class.
• Therapeutic Massage Therapeutic massage services including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial, Craniosacral, Thai massage, and trauma treatment. Provided by licensed massage therapists (including Luba Hanson, Ruth Anne Keister, and Linda Baron). Sessions are 60 minutes ($140), 75 minutes ($170), or 90 minutes ($200), and take place in a private room on the third floor of the studio.
• Private Yoga Sessions One-on-one yoga sessions with certified instructors for personalized instruction, customization to individual needs, and focused practice development, available by arrangement.
• Kids & Family Yoga Yoga and mindfulness classes designed for children ages 2 and up, teens, and families. Includes Family Yoga, Kids Yoga and Mindfulness, and specialized programming focused on non-competitive environments, body awareness, flexibility, strength, and emotional well-being. Also includes prenatal and postnatal yoga.
• Circle Yoga Summer Camp Yoga-focused summer camp for children ages 6-12 providing non-competitive activities, yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation practices in a supportive environment. Financial scholarships are available through Circle Yoga Connects.
• Kids Birthday Parties Yoga-themed birthday party packages for children, including yoga activities, mindfulness games, and relaxation practices suitable for various age groups.
• Circle Yoga Kids Teacher Training (CYKTT) 20-hour hybrid training program (in-person or virtual) teaching participants how to teach yoga and mindfulness to children ages 2-12. Covers yoga poses, mindfulness games, breathing techniques, and classroom management. Led by Linda Feldman. Targeted at educators, school teachers, librarians, therapists, and daycare workers seeking to share yoga and mindfulness in professional settings. Tuition $595-$645.
• 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Comprehensive 200-hour yoga teacher training program spanning January through December 2027, including 165 hours of training weekends and 35 hours of yoga classes. Qualifies graduates for RYT-200 certification through Yoga Alliance. Small cohorts with diverse trainer backgrounds. Partial scholarships available.
• Strength Foundations Teacher Training 20-hour training bridging traditional strength training with mindful movement. Focuses on resistance training, functional movement, barefoot practice, neutral-spine alignment, and using dumbbells and PVC pipes as props. Led by Marian V. Lally, NCPT, CPT. Approved for 1.6 ACE continuing education credits. Tuition $595-$645.
• 50-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training 50-hour Yin Yoga teacher training covering anatomy-informed, trauma-aware instruction. Includes functional anatomy of connective tissue, energetic anatomy, Taoist meridians, breathwork, mudra, and meditation. Led by Yael Flusberg. RYTs are eligible to apply for Yoga Alliance CEUs. Tuition $990-$1090.
• Workshops Specialized workshops covering topics such as Deep Rest for Summer Solstice, Full Moon Sound Bath, Yoga Nidra & Somatic Sound Immersion, Present Moment Wonderful Moment (Thich Nhat Hanh contemplations), and monthly BIPOC Women's Circle. Typically led by visiting or studio teachers.
• Circle Yoga Connects (Community Outreach Program) Community outreach program providing accessible yoga classes through partnerships with organizations serving low-income and historically marginalized neighborhoods. Includes scholarships for classes, summer camp, and teacher training with priority for BIPOC, disabled, queer/trans, and larger-bodied individuals. Operates in partnership with The Children's Inn at NIH, Stepping Stones Shelter, and McGee Library in Silver Spring.
• Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards for yoga classes and services at Circle Yoga, valid for 5 years from purchase. Processed through the Gift Up! platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified hundreds of kids yoga teachers over 18 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Give Back Yoga FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to create Circle Yoga Connects (CYConnects), a project expanding access to yoga and mindfulness in the greater DC area through scholarships and community outreach classes. The foundation has enabled Circle Yoga to raise more funds from students and supporters each year.
• Michelle Cassandra JohnsoncoreOthersNationally recognized author, anti-racism consultant and trainer, and yoga teacher. Engaged since 2022 to guide Circle Yoga's Racial Equity Team and studio leadership in creating more inclusive and equitable community spaces.
• Opening Heart Mindfulness Community (OHMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle Yoga shares space with OHMC, which meets to practice sitting and walking meditation and discuss mindfulness-related topics every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Circle Yoga founder Annie Mahon has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh since the 1990s.
• The Children's Inn at NIHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYConnects supports teachers offering accessible yoga classes on a regular basis at The Children's Inn at NIH for families of patients.
• Stepping Stones ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYConnects supports teachers offering accessible yoga classes at Stepping Stones Shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• McGee Library (Montgomery County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYConnects supports yoga classes at McGee Library in Silver Spring as part of community outreach to neighborhoods with limited access to yoga.
• MandukaminorOthersYoga mat provider referenced as having mats available for use in each studio. Students can also bring their own mats.
• WallacoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud-based studio management platform for class scheduling, membership management, livestream access, video library, and student communications. Mobile app available for iOS and Android.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Manduka: Premium yoga mat and props supplier already partnered with Circle Yoga for in-studio equipment. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor; comparable through shared yoga practitioner customer base.

Direct peers

• Tranquil Space Yoga: DC-based boutique yoga studio offering in-person classes, teacher training, and wellness services with a similar community-focused brand. Comparable in size, location footprint, and emphasis on teacher-led group classes.
• Yoga District: Multi-location DC yoga studio chain offering affordable drop-in classes, memberships, and teacher training. Closest direct geographic and product competitor with overlapping community/yoga positioning.
• Y7 Studio: Boutique yoga studio concept offering heated flow classes with a strong lifestyle brand and digital content. Comparable in targeting millennial wellness consumers but with a more fashion/lifestyle positioning vs. Circle Yoga's cooperative equity focus.

Broad incumbents

• CorePower Yoga: Largest U.S. yoga studio chain with hundreds of locations plus a digital subscription platform. Competes for the same general yoga consumer but at vastly greater scale and with a standardized, fitness-oriented rather than cooperative mission.
• YogaWorks: Multi-location yoga studio operator with a broad class lineup, teacher training programs, and digital content. Overlaps with Circle Yoga on teacher training and class variety but serves a much larger national footprint.
• Baptiste Yoga: Established yoga methodology and teacher training brand offering power/vinyasa teacher certifications and intensives. Comparable teacher-training revenue stream but operates as a broader franchise rather than a single studio.
• Wanderlust: Yoga and wellness festival/content brand offering teacher trainings, retreats, and online classes. Comparable in teacher training and community-driven programming but at much larger scale via events and digital.
• Life Time Fitness: Large national fitness club chain with group yoga, Pilates, meditation classes, and digital wellness content. Competes for the same wellness consumer wallet but as part of a much broader athletic facility offering.
• Equinox: Premium fitness club with extensive yoga, Pilates, and meditation programming plus digital content (Equinox+). Comparable premium positioning and group class model but at luxury price points and national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CircleYogaCoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/circleyogadc
• Xx.com/circleyoga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circle-yoga-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Circle Yoga