Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York

What Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York does

The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, operating under the legal name B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York (IYAGNY), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1987 and headquartered at 150 W 22nd Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. It serves as the educational arm of the Association and functions as a recognized center for authentic Iyengar Yoga instruction, with a faculty of 30+ certified teachers (Level 1 through Level 4) reaching approximately 5,000 students annually through roughly 4,000 classes, workshops, and special programs each year, including 80+ weekly class offerings. The Institute delivers both in-person instruction at its Chelsea facility and live online/hybrid classes via Zoom, supported by a level-based curriculum (Level 1 beginner through Level 4 advanced) and specialized programming for specific populations including Breast Health, Specific Needs (injuries/chronic conditions), Gentle, LGBTQ+, People of Color, and children ages 7-12, alongside an informal Sutra Study group and Pranayama/Restorative sessions.

The Institute operates a diversified revenue model combining transactional class fees ($30 per single class for non-members, $26 for members), prepaid class cards (5, 10, or 20 classes ranging from $125 to $450), an annual membership at $110 that confers pricing discounts, 7-day class recording access, free members-only classes, dual membership with IYNAUS, and a subscription to Yoga Samachar magazine. Additional revenue streams include a two-year Teacher Education Program ($2,700/year or $900 per 9-week session) that prepares students for IYNAUS national certification, multi-week workshops and series, a Kids Yoga 10-week series at $225 per child, official merchandise sold through CustomInk with proceeds supporting the nonprofit mission, and tax-deductible donations processed through Givebutter during the bi-annual Yogathon fundraiser. Technology infrastructure is deliberately minimal: Zoom for live online class delivery, MindBody Online for class scheduling and registration, CustomInk for merchandise fulfillment, and Givebutter for donations, with no proprietary platform, mobile app, or API surface. Governance is exercised by a Board of Directors (President Sharib Khan, VP Scott Alan Evans, Treasurer Peggy Wallace, Secretary Ginny Shubert) supported by an Advisory Board, with day-to-day operations led by a small core administrative team of four (Co-Dean of Education James Murphy, Assistant Director Tori Milner, Operations Manager Mary DiBiasio, Finance & Reporting Specialist Kasun Perera).

Name

Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York

Legal name

B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York

Website

https://iyengarnyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987, offering certified Iyengar Yoga instruction through 80+ weekly in-person and online classes, serving approximately 5,000 students annually at its Chelsea, Manhattan location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Services (61), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADACAA

General Yoga Instruction (Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow)

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

SECONDARYHSADACAL

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training

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

SECONDARYHSADACAF

Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra

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

SECONDARYHSADACAK

Kids & Family Yoga

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

SECONDARYEDAAAHAC

Yoga, Pilates & Mind-Body Movement Education

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

Keywords

• Yoga instruction
• Iyengar method
• Yoga teacher training
• Online yoga classes
• Wellness education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Class fees and class cards: Revenue from single classes, class cards (5, 10, 20 classes), and new student special offerings for both members and non-members. Pricing varies by membership status with members receiving discounted rates.
2. Annual membership dues: Annual membership at $110, tax-deductible, providing access to member pricing, class recordings, free members-only classes/events, dual membership with IYNAUS, and subscription to Yoga Samachar magazine.
3. Teacher Education Program: Two-year teacher training program with fees of $900 per 9-week session or $2,700 per year, preparing teachers for national IYNAUS certification.
4. Workshops and series: Revenue from special workshops and multi-week series programs for all levels.
5. Merchandise sales: Official IYAGNY apparel sold through CustomInk, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit's mission and community programs.
6. Kids yoga programs: 10-week series for children ages 7-12 at $225 per child, with drop-in options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York is the educational arm of the nonprofit B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York (IYAGNY), delivering certified Iyengar Yoga instruction through a structured progression from Level 1 (beginner) to Level 4 (advanced). It offers daily in-person classes at its Chelsea, Manhattan studio, live online classes via Zoom, specialized workshops, a two-year Teacher Education Program, a Kids Yoga program, and annual membership.

Product overview

The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York operates as a nonprofit educational organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of in-person and online yoga instruction centered on the Iyengar Yoga method. The core offering consists of daily yoga classes at four progressive levels (Level 1-4), supplemented by specialized programming including the two-year Teacher Education Program for instructor certification, workshops and series, and a Kids Yoga Program for ages 7-12. The institute provides approximately 80+ weekly classes including Gentle, Specific Needs (for injuries/chronic conditions), Community, Pranayama/Restorative, and Sutra Study classes. Class access is managed through prepaid Class Cards (5, 10, or 20 classes) or an Annual Membership providing discounts and exclusive benefits including class recordings and IYNAUS dual membership. The institute is headquartered in Chelsea, Manhattan, with both in-person instruction at 150 W 22nd Street and live online classes via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Person Yoga Classes Daily in-person yoga classes at the Chelsea, Manhattan studio covering Level 1 (beginner) through Level 4 (advanced) progressions, with standing poses, seated poses, twists, forward bending, inversions, and backbends taught by certified Iyengar Yoga instructors.
• Online/Hybrid Yoga Classes Live online yoga classes taught via Zoom with real-time instructor guidance, including hybrid sessions that mix online and in-person participants in the same class.
• Workshops and Series Specialized multi-week programs covering specific yoga topics, techniques, or populations including Breast Health, Specific Needs, Gentle, and community-focused classes for members and non-members with advance registration.
• Teacher Education Program Two-year teacher training program with approximately 150 course hours over nine-week sessions (September through June), training aspiring teachers in the Iyengar method including anatomy, philosophy, asana demonstration, and supervised observation, preparing graduates for IYNAUS national certification.
• Kids Yoga Program In-person 10-week yoga series for children ages 7-12 teaching body, mind, and breath connections through Iyengar tradition postures in a joyful, supportive environment, with limited drop-in options.
• Specific Needs Classes Safe and effective yoga programs for students with injuries, chronic conditions, or other individual needs, including a Specific Needs class (by application) and programs for people with disabilities.
• Gentle Yoga Classes Moderately paced, less rigorous yoga classes appropriate for new and continuing students of all ages, including those seeking a gentler practice approach.
• Community Class No-charge classes making Iyengar Yoga available to the broader community, supporting accessibility and inclusion.
• Pranayama/Restorative Classes Breath awareness and modification practices combined with refreshing restorative asanas, offering rejuvenating and supported postures that soothe the nervous system.
• Sutra Study Group Informal study group meeting regularly to explore the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, offering deeper philosophical understanding of yoga practice.
• IYAGNY Annual Membership Annual membership program at $110 (tax-deductible) providing pricing discounts on classes, access to class recordings for 7 days, free members-only classes and events, dual membership with IYNAUS, and subscription to Yoga Samachar magazine.
• Class Cards Prepaid class card packages including 5-class (90 days), 10-class (180 days), 20-class (240 days), and new student 3-class and 8-class cards with varying expiration periods and member pricing.
• Beginner's Series Progressive 3-week introductory series covering basic postures and actions for new students or those returning after a long break, laying the foundation for Level 1 Iyengar Yoga classes.
• Official IYAGNY Merchandise Apparel and merchandise items including t-shirts and other items sold through CustomInk, with proceeds supporting IYAGNY's nonprofit mission and NYC Iyengar Yoga community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 5,000 students annually through approximately 4,000 classes and programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Alo Moves: Subscription online yoga, fitness, and mindfulness platform affiliated with Alo Yoga apparel. Comparable as a digital subscription alternative to paid single classes, particularly threatening to younger practitioners online.
• Glo (formerly YogaGlo): Subscription-based online yoga and meditation platform offering thousands of classes on-demand. Comparable as a direct competitor for student attention and dollars in the IYAGNY online channel, though it lacks the lineage and certification authority of Iyengar institutes.

Broad incumbents

• YogaWorks: Multi-city yoga studio chain offering in-person and online classes plus teacher training programs. Comparable by integrated studio-and-teacher-training model and urban premium positioning, though broader in style offerings.
• Pure Yoga (NYC): Premium multi-location yoga studio in NYC offering 200+ weekly classes across multiple styles. Comparable as a Manhattan-based premium yoga destination with strong brand and broad programming, though it lacks IYAGNY's method-specific depth and teacher-training rigor.
• CorePower Yoga: Large U.S. yoga chain with 200+ studios and a teacher training program. Comparable in scale and teacher-training offering, though it focuses on heated/Power Yoga rather than Iyengar's alignment-based method.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Nonprofit yoga and wellness center in Massachusetts offering retreats, teacher training, and daily classes. Comparable as a nonprofit educational organization with a similar blend of public classes, teacher training, and wellness programming.
• Wanderlust Yoga Festival: Yoga and wellness events company producing festivals and retreats worldwide. Comparable as a destination for workshops, series, and teacher-driven community events, an adjacent channel for IYAGNY's workshops and Yogathon-style programming.

Direct peers

• BKS Iyengar Yoga Studio of Los Angeles: Los Angeles Iyengar Yoga studio offering daily classes, teacher training, and therapeutic programming under the Iyengar method. Comparable by method specialization, progressive level structure, and emphasis on alignment-based instruction.
• Jivamukti Yoga: NYC-originated yoga school with its own method, teacher training, and global affiliated studios. Comparable by NYC roots, method-specific curriculum, rigorous teacher training, and community-centered studio model.
• Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California (IYANCA) / Iyengar Yoga Inst. of San Francisco: San Francisco-area Iyengar Yoga Institute offering structured Level 1-4 instruction, teacher training, and special-population classes under the same Iyengar certification umbrella. Most directly comparable peer by method, certification structure, and nonprofit education model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@iyagny
• Facebookfacebook.com/iyagny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iyagny
• Instagraminstagram.com/iyagny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York