The Yoga Center Retreat

What The Yoga Center Retreat does

The Yoga Center Retreat (YCR) is a privately held yoga studio and learning center operating from a 7,000 square foot urban retreat space at 4212 Park Glen Road in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area. Founded in 2018 by Jennifer Gray after the closure of her earlier studio, The Yoga Center of Minneapolis, YCR offers daily drop-in yoga classes in roughly a dozen styles (Hatha, vinyasa, slow flow, gentle, prenatal, adaptive, Iyengar, yin, restorative, meditation, aerial, and SUP), recurring multi-week specialty series, two- to three-hour workshops, private on-site and mobile events for corporate and social groups, destination retreats, and a wellness boutique branded Samana Naturals. The studio is differentiated by proprietary founder-developed methodologies — JAI Prenatal Yoga and Cultivating Soul Traits — and a co-location partnership with the Mind Body Solutions nonprofit, which delivers adaptive yoga programs for people with disabilities from the same facility.

YCR's flagship credentialed offerings are its Yoga Alliance-certified RYS 200 (230-hour) and RYS 300 (300-hour) yoga teacher training programs, which run on a twice-yearly cohort cadence and cover philosophy, anatomy, sequencing, pranayama, meditation, and Ayurveda. The business generates revenue through a diversified mix of streams: per-class drop-in fees, a $112/month YCR Community Membership (8 class credits, unlimited new-student guest passes, discounts on workshops and retail, with rollover), one-time teacher-training tuition, workshop fees, private event bookings, hourly studio rental, retail sales, gift certificates, and monthly wellness product subscription packs. Scheduling, booking, and payment processing are handled through the MindBody Online platform; marketing is run on Constant Contact and social channels. YCR is co-owned by Jennifer Gray and Jennifer Golden (joined 2022), employs a roster of more than 25 yoga teachers, and operates as a bootstrapped independent business with no institutional investors and no app or proprietary technology platform.

Name

The Yoga Center Retreat

Legal name

The Yoga Center Retreat

Website

https://theyogacenterretreat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Yoga Center Retreat is a privately held yoga studio and teacher-training center in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, founded in 2018 by Jennifer Gray, offering drop-in classes, workshops, private events, and Yoga Alliance-certified RYS 200 and RYS 300 teacher training programs to Twin Cities metro practitioners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Instruction and Wellness Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

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

Private 1:1 Yoga/Pilates & Small-Group Sessions (HSADACAI), Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra (HSADACAF), Aerial Yoga & Specialty Yoga Modalities (HSADACAH), Power Yoga & Athletic Yoga Conditioning (HSADACAG), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Yoga studio services
• Yoga teacher training
• Wellness education programs
• Adaptive yoga instruction
• Prenatal yoga classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis Park

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Drop-in Classes: Individual yoga classes offered on a per-visit basis covering various styles including Hatha, vinyasa, slow flow, gentle yoga, prenatal yoga, adaptive yoga, Iyengar, yin yoga, restorative, meditation, and more.
2. Community Membership: Monthly subscription at $112 per month providing 8 drop-ins per month, unlimited new student guest passes, discounts on additional drop-ins, workshops, series, and retail purchases. Unused classes roll over. Can be shared with household members.
3. 230-Hour Yoga Teacher Training: Comprehensive 9-month RYT 200 certification program with core sessions, technique sessions, workshops, mentorship, practicum, and Karma Yoga Project. New programs start twice yearly.
4. 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Training: Intensive advanced training program for yoga teachers looking to deepen their practice and teaching skills beyond the 200-hour level.
5. Workshops and Specialty Series: 2-3 hour workshops on topics including aerial yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, philosophy, spirituality, sound bath, SUP yoga, and more. Also includes specialty series programs.
6. Private Events: Private yoga sessions for groups including corporate events, birthday parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, family reunions, and retreats. Includes studio rental options.
7. Retail Sales: Wellness boutique offering yoga mats, props, essential oils, wellness books, and related products. Members receive discounts on retail purchases.
8. Monthly Wellness Packs: Monthly ongoing subscription for wellness product packs available to community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Yoga Center Retreat operates a nearly 7,000 square foot yoga studio in St. Louis Park, Minnesota offering daily drop-in yoga classes across more than a dozen styles (Hatha, vinyasa, Iyengar, yin, restorative, prenatal, adaptive, aerial, SUP, meditation, and more). The studio also delivers Yoga Alliance-certified 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training programs, 2–3 hour workshops, multi-week specialty series, destination and local retreats, customized private events, and a wellness boutique (Samana Naturals). A monthly community membership at $112/month bundles class credits, guest passes, and discounts across the studio's offerings.

Product overview

The Yoga Center Retreat is a premier yoga learning center and studio in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area offering a comprehensive suite of wellness services. The core offering centers on daily drop-in yoga classes in over a dozen styles (Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, restorative, aerial, SUP, prenatal, gentle, Avita, Kundalini, and more), supported by a monthly YCR Community Membership ($112/month) providing class credits and discounts. The studio's flagship programs are its Yoga Alliance-certified RYS 200 (230-hour) and RYS 300 (300-hour) yoga teacher training programs, which have been developed over 20+ years and are recognized as top-rated in Minnesota. Specialty Trainings (continuing education modules), multi-week Specialty Series (e.g., aerial, adaptive yoga), and 2–3 hour Workshops extend the curriculum. Beyond regular classes, the studio offers Private Events (customized group sessions), destination and local Retreats, and a Wellness Boutique (Samana Naturals). A notable partnership with nonprofit Mind Body Solutions brings adaptive yoga and disability-focused training under the same roof. The studio also runs Pet Projects, a social initiative of donation-based yoga benefiting animal rescue organizations. All scheduling, booking, and membership management is handled through the MindBody Online platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JAI Prenatal Yoga: A prenatal yoga system created by Jennifer Gray for pregnant mothers, including asana, meditation, and pranayama for labor and delivery.

Products and services

• Drop-In Yoga Classes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mind Body SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Mind Body Solutions is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that leases space from The Yoga Center Retreat. The organization transforms trauma, loss, and disability into hope through adaptive yoga. They offer the Opening Yoga to Everyone program with adaptive yoga instruction and teacher training for yoga teachers nationally and internationally. They've trained over 1,200 yoga teachers in their pioneering methods.
• Bitty Kitty BrigademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoster-based rescue for orphaned neonatal kittens in the Twin Cities. YCR hosts donation-based kitty yoga classes with proceeds benefiting the organization.
• Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society (MCRS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit serving companion rabbits and their people through adoption and educational programming. YCR hosts donation-based bunny yoga classes benefiting the organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CorePower Yoga: Largest yoga studio chain in the US with hundreds of locations offering heated power vinyasa classes, teacher training (RYT 200/300), and digital subscriptions. Comparable to YCR because it serves the same yoga student segment and teacher training market, but at vastly larger scale and as a national incumbent.
• Life Time Fitness: Large national fitness club chain offering yoga classes (including heated yoga, sculpt, and recovery) as part of an integrated fitness/athletic offering. Comparable to YCR as a yoga service provider but operates as a broader athletic lifestyle brand rather than a dedicated yoga studio.
• YogaWorks: Multi-location yoga studio chain offering diverse class styles (Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, restorative), RYT 200/300 teacher training programs, and workshops. Directly comparable to YCR's eclectic class menu and teacher training offerings, though at regional/multi-state scale.

Direct peers

• Strala Yoga: Yoga brand founded by Tara Stiles offering classes, teacher training, retreats, and online content with a holistic, accessible approach. Comparable to YCR on the combination of community studio instruction, teacher training, retreats, and signature methodology.
• Y7 Studio: Boutique yoga studio chain offering heated flow classes with hip-hop/rap music playlists. Comparable to YCR as a multi-location boutique yoga operator with a strong brand identity, though more lifestyle/youth oriented and without teacher training programs.
• Modo Yoga: Global hot yoga and traditional yoga studio franchise with community-focused, eco-conscious brand positioning. Comparable to YCR on studio-based group classes, teacher training, and a strong community/values orientation, though focused on the hot yoga niche.
• YogaFit: One of the largest yoga teacher training organizations in the world, with multiple RYT certification levels and continuing education. Directly comparable to YCR's RYS 200/300 teacher training business, but operating primarily through online and partner-studio delivery rather than a single physical studio.

Emerging players

• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Yoga and wellness retreat center in the Berkshires offering residential retreats, teacher training (RYT 200/300), and wellbeing programs. Comparable to YCR's retreat and teacher training offerings, but operating as a destination retreat center rather than a hometown studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theyogacenterretreat
• Instagraminstagram.com/theyogacenterretreat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theyogacenterretreat

Compliance2 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 The Yoga Center Retreat