Yoga Dharma

What Yoga Dharma does

Yoga Dharma is a privately-owned, founder-operated yoga school founded in 2004 by Martin Thompson and Fran, operating under three trade names (Yoga Dharma, Yoga Dharma UK, Yoga Dharma BG). The company delivers accredited yoga teacher training programs — including 200-hour, 500-hour, and 100-hour specialty courses in pranayama, meditation, and integral yoga — through three distribution channels: two UK studios in Southend-on-Sea, a residential retreat center in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, and a global online learning platform. All courses are accredited by Yoga Alliance International and/or Yoga Alliance Europe, and the curriculum is grounded in classical Sutric and Tantric texts (Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Bhagavad Gita) with a proprietary Pranayama Krama methodology and Dynamic Alignment framework.

The business operates without external investment, employing 31 staff and generating revenue through one-time course fees (£995 online / £2,400 residential) supplemented by specialized retreats, UK studio memberships, and a B2B consulting service that helps other yoga schools build accredited 200-hour programs. Delivery combines self-paced video content, live Zoom sessions, downloadable course notes, and intensive residential intensives. The school's technology layer is intentionally minimal — standard web platform plus Zoom — with the value proposition anchored entirely on the founders' 40+ years of personal practice, 30+ years of teaching experience, and direct lineage from Patabi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore.

Go-to-market relies on organic content marketing (active blog), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), Yoga Alliance directory listings, and word-of-mouth referrals from a base of "hundreds" of graduates trained over two decades. Customer testimonials and community-building — rather than paid acquisition — form the primary demand engine. The business model is bootstrapped and lifestyle-oriented, with no evidence of venture capital, institutional investors, or plans for rapid scale; the founders remain the principal teachers and operational decision-makers.

Name

Yoga Dharma

Legal name

Yoga Dharma

Website

https://yogadharma.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yoga Dharma is a privately-held, founder-led yoga school founded in 2004 that delivers accredited 200-hour, 500-hour, and specialty teacher training programs through two UK studios, a Bulgaria residential retreat center, and an online platform, serving individual practitioners seeking authentic Sutric and Tantric yoga certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Teacher Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training (HSADACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), General Yoga Instruction (Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow) (HSADACAA)

Keywords

• Yoga teacher training
• Pranayama certification
• Meditation courses
• Residential yoga retreats
• Yoga alliance accreditation

Headquarters

HQ city

Southend-on-Sea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 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 Courses: Primary revenue stream from accredited yoga teacher training programs including 200-hour, 100-hour pranayama, and 100-hour meditation courses. Offered both online and residential formats in UK and Bulgaria.
2. Residential Retreat Programs: All-inclusive residential programs at the Bulgaria center including accommodation, meals, and training. 15-day intensive 200-hour courses and 8-day specialized programs.
3. Yoga School Consulting: Consulting services for yoga schools to develop their own 200-hour teacher training programs, including curriculum design, accreditation support, and documentation packages.
4. Yoga Retreats: Specialized yoga retreats for individuals or small groups with customized menus, yoga classes, and tailored excursions in Bulgaria.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yoga Dharma offers Yoga Alliance-accredited yoga teacher training programs ranging from 100-hour specialty modules (Pranayama, Meditation, Integral Yoga) to full 200-hour and 500-hour certifications, delivered as online self-paced courses with live Zoom support and as 8–15 day residential intensives at its Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria retreat center. The school also runs shorter yoga retreats in Bulgaria and provides consulting services for other yoga schools seeking to launch their own accredited 200-hour programs.

Product overview

Yoga Dharma offers a comprehensive suite of yoga teacher training and professional development programs delivered through online and residential formats at their Bulgaria retreat center in Veliko Tarnovo. The core offerings include Yoga Alliance-accredited certification courses ranging from 100-hour specialty modules (Pranayama Level 1 and 2, Meditation, Integral Yoga) to full 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training programs. Programs are available as online self-paced courses with live support, intensive residential retreats in Bulgaria, and consulting services for yoga schools seeking accreditation. All courses emphasize authentic Sutric and Tantric traditions, applied anatomy, and verifiable philosophical sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance International-accredited 200-hour online yoga teacher certification program covering asana, philosophy, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, and teaching business skills, delivered through video tutorials, live classes, course notes, and one-to-one support for individual students worldwide.
• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Bulgaria 15-day residential yoga teacher training in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, accredited by Yoga Alliance Europe and International, with accommodation, meals, study materials, and full training in alignment, philosophy, and practical teaching skills for aspiring yoga teachers.
• 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Advanced 500-hour yoga training comprising specialized 100-hour courses in pranayama, meditation, and integral yoga that combine with the 200-hour foundation for comprehensive advanced certification, accredited with Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance Europe.
• Pranayama Teacher Training Level 1 12-week Yoga Alliance International-accredited certified pranayama course with 4 Saturday modules and 3 live classes per week, covering foundational breathing practices, anatomy, and teaching methods for aspiring pranayama teachers.
• Pranayama Teacher Training Level 2 Advanced 12-week Yoga Alliance International-accredited pranayama certification building on Level 1, with focus on therapeutic aspects, nervous system effects, lymphatic system, and cellular-level practices for qualified pranayama teachers.
• 100 Hour Pranayama Teacher Training Combined Level 1 and Level 2 pranayama certification totaling 100 hours, designed for dedicated practitioners and qualified teachers seeking a complete pranayama teaching skill set.
• Meditation Teacher Training 12-week Yoga Alliance International-accredited meditation certification combining Patanjali's 8 limbs with Tantric techniques, covering Sutric and Tantric sources, brain science, and authentic traditional practices for aspiring meditation teachers.
• Residential Integral Yoga Course Bulgaria 8-day residential Yoga Alliance-accredited 100-hour integral yoga course in Bulgaria covering asana, alignment, adjusting, pranayama, meditation, and philosophy, focused on developing self-practice and exploring yoga traditions.
• Yoga Retreats Bulgaria Specialized yoga retreats in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria with philosophy presentations, optional yoga classes, vegetarian/vegan meals, and excursions to local historical sites, customized for individuals or small groups.
• Consulting for Yoga Schools Comprehensive consulting program providing documentation, course materials, curriculum design, and accreditation support for yoga schools seeking to launch their own accredited 200-hour teacher training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates become Yoga Alliance International accredited teachers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yoga Alliance InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga Alliance International provides accreditation for Yoga Dharma's teacher training courses. This accreditation ensures graduates receive internationally recognized certification and validates the school's curriculum meets international standards for yoga teacher training.
• Yoga Alliance EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga Alliance Europe provides regional accreditation for Yoga Dharma's programs in Bulgaria, complementing the international accreditation and ensuring recognition across European yoga teaching standards.
• Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) MysoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders Martin and Fran trained under Patabi Jois at AYRI in Mysore for extended periods, establishing their Ashtanga Vinyasa foundation and lineage connection that informs their teaching approach.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yandara Yoga Institute: Accredited yoga teacher training school offering residential intensive YTT and continuing education in a retreat setting, comparable to Yoga Dharma's residential Bulgaria model and 200/500-hour structure.
• Sampoorna Yoga: Internationally recognized Yoga Alliance-accredited yoga teacher training school offering 200-hour and specialized programs globally with residential and online formats, closely paralleling Yoga Dharma's product mix and accreditation stack.
• Akhanda Yoga: Traditional yoga teacher training rooted in classical texts offering residential and online certifications, comparable to Yoga Dharma's emphasis on Sutric and Tantric lineages rather than fitness-oriented approaches.
• Himalaya Yoga Valley: Accredited teacher training school with residential centers and global online programs, operating in a comparable European/Asian corridor of wellness-tourism-led YTT, with similar lineage-based teaching philosophy.
• Frog Lotus Yoga: Yoga Alliance-registered school specializing in Yin yoga teacher training and broader certification courses with international residential programs, comparable in product scope and target audience of aspiring teachers.
• Santosha Yoga School: Yoga Alliance-accredited school running residential YTT programs internationally with both online and in-person certifications, directly competing for the same aspiring teacher cohort.
• Bali Yoga School: Residential yoga teacher training provider in Asia running multiple 200-hour intakes a year with retreat-style delivery, comparable to Yoga Dharma's Bulgaria residential model in product and tourist-driven audience.
• One Breath Yoga: Yoga Alliance-accredited school focused on online yoga teacher training and breathwork/pranayama certifications, directly overlapping with Yoga Dharma's online YTT and specialty pranayama offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm-VPFWsxvTpmZp5Mr5O-iQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/yogadharmaevents
• Instagraminstagram.com/yogadharmasouthend
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoga-dharma

Compliance9 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 Yoga Dharma