Open Studio Meditation

What Open Studio Meditation does

Open Studio Meditation is a privately held, founder-owned meditation studio operating from a single physical location at 1111 Central Avenue in Wilmette, Illinois. The business is led by Ellen MacGran, a fully certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher (certified since 2016, practicing since 2008) with graduate training from Pacifica Graduate Institute and Pepperdine University, and delivers guided meditation services based on the iRest Yoga Nidra methodology developed by clinical psychologist Richard Miller, PhD over a 26-year research arc and endorsed by the US Army Surgeon General as a complementary and alternative medicine.

The service offering is structured in three tiers: a 2-hour introductory Meditation Workshop (priced at $5, including a recording), recurring Classes for Ongoing Students held on Wednesdays and Fridays with discounted 6-pack and 10-pack bundles, and Private Sessions priced at $80 per hour with discounts available for longer-term arrangements. Delivery is both in-person at the Wilmette studio and synchronous online via Zoom, with audio-only phone dial-in available. Discounted pricing is offered to veterans, students, and first responders.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, primarily driven by the company's Squarespace-hosted website, a weekly email newsletter, and organic social sharing on Facebook and LinkedIn. Beyond individual consumers — adults and teens aged 13 and above seeking stress reduction, sleep improvement, and emotional well-being — the company has secured engagements with named institutions including Walter Payton High School, Loyola High School, Advanced Resources (corporate), Veterans Resource Project, Center on Halsted, and Pulling Down the Moon Fertility. The business has no disclosed funding, no parent company, no known institutional investors, and operates as a single-tenant service business.

Name

Open Studio Meditation

Legal name

Open Studio Meditation

Website

https://openstudiomeditation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Open Studio Meditation is a founder-owned, single-location meditation studio in Wilmette, Illinois offering iRest Yoga Nidra classes, workshops, and private sessions in-person and via Zoom to individual consumers, schools, corporate clients, veterans, and healthcare partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meditation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Yoga Nidra & Deep Relaxation Practices (HSADAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

Keywords

• Meditation classes
• Yoga nidra
• Mindfulness training
• Wellness workshops
• Private meditation sessions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmette

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Group Meditation Classes: Recurring group meditation classes for ongoing students offered on Wednesdays and Fridays. Students purchase individual classes or discounted multi-class packs (6-pack, 10-pack) that can be used across any scheduled session.
2. Meditation Workshops: Two-hour introductory workshops teaching three core practices (Deep Breathing, Visualization, Body Sensing) along with the science behind their effectiveness. Offered at various dates throughout the year.
3. Private Sessions: One-on-one or group private meditation sessions available online or in-person. Individual one-hour sessions priced at $80 with discounts available for longer-term arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Open Studio Meditation is a small meditation studio in Wilmette, Illinois that teaches iRest Yoga Nidra meditation in both in-person and live online (Zoom) formats. Its sellable offerings consist of three distinct items: a foundational Meditation Workshop for newcomers, ongoing group Classes for returning students, and one-on-one Private Sessions for individuals seeking personalized instruction.

Product overview

Open Studio Meditation offers a single unified product based on iRest® Yoga Nidra meditation education, comprising three service offerings: the Meditation Workshop (an introductory 2-hour session), Classes for Ongoing Students (regular scheduled classes with recordings), and Private Sessions (individual or group sessions). All offerings are delivered in-person or via Zoom, with discounted rates available for veterans, students, and first responders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meditation Workshop A foundational iRest Yoga Nidra workshop for newcomers that introduces the practice; priced as a one-time workshop fee and serves as the entry point into Open Studio Meditation's offerings.
• Classes for Ongoing Students Recurring group meditation classes for returning students who have completed the foundational workshop, available in-person at the Wilmette studio and live online via Zoom; sold via drop-in pricing and multi-class packs.
• Private Sessions One-on-one personalized iRest Yoga Nidra meditation sessions for individuals seeking tailored instruction, offered at a premium price relative to group classes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Endorsed by US Army Surgeon General and Defense Centers of Excellence as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in June 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Integrative Restoration Institute (IRI) is the organization behind the iRest Yoga Nidra method. Open Studio Meditation operates as an iRest-certified instructor and practitioner. iRest was developed over 26 years by Richard Miller, PhD, a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, and yogic scholar affiliated with IRI. The method has been endorsed by the US Army Surgeon General.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Ten Percent Happier: Meditation app with a teacher-led, evidence-based positioning (similar to iRest) featuring coaches and guided courses. Comparable in tone and skepticism-friendly brand positioning toward mainstream meditation.
• Waking Up by Sam Harris: Subscription meditation and mindfulness app with a strong emphasis on contemplative practice and teacher-led content. Competes for the same consumer seeking structured, evidence-based guided meditation.
• The Meditation Studio (by Gaiam): Curated guided meditation app offering themed classes from various teachers. Competes for the same guided-meditation consumer and could substitute for Open Studio's scheduled class offerings among time-pressed consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Insight Timer: Large free meditation app featuring thousands of teachers and live sessions. Comparable because it offers live, teacher-led guided meditation that competes with Open Studio's Zoom classes; the platform also enables individual teachers to monetize, which is the alternative distribution model.
• YogaWorks: Multi-location yoga studio chain that historically includes restorative/yoga nidra classes. Comparable in physical studio operation and teacher-led scheduled class model, though broader in offering (general yoga, fitness).
• Calm: Mass-market meditation and sleep app with guided sessions, courses, and content partnerships. Competes for the same consumer attention and wallet share but distributes digitally at scale versus Open Studio's local instructor-led model.
• Headspace: Leading consumer meditation and mental health app with guided content and employer/corporate wellness programs. Targets the same stress, anxiety, and sleep outcomes as Open Studio's iRest classes, and also competes in the corporate wellness channel Open Studio serves.

Others

• ClassPass: Wellness subscription marketplace distributing class bookings across studios including meditation. An indirect competitor and potential distribution channel — Open Studio could list on ClassPass to acquire new students without direct marketing spend.

Direct peers

• MNDFL Meditation Studios: Multi-location guided meditation studio in NYC offering in-person classes, workshops, and teacher training. Directly comparable in business model (scheduled guided meditation classes, workshops, teacher-led format) with broader geographic scale.
• Unplug Meditation: Los Angeles-based guided meditation studio offering scheduled group classes, private sessions, and corporate wellness programs. Closely comparable in-person studio model with adjacent expansion into corporate B2B offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/openstudiomeditation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Open Studio Meditation