YogaWorks is a privately held chain of twenty-three yoga studios located throughout California and New York City. It was founded in California in 1987 by Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller and Alan Finger. The current CEO is Phil Swain and the company's principal investor is Highland Capital Partners

Highland Capital Partners

Highland Capital Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on investments in seed, early, and growth stage companies in the communications, consumer, digital media, healthcare, and information technology sectors. The firm's partners include: Peter Bell, Sean Dalton, Bob Davis, Richard de...

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Approach

YogaWorks' approach to teaching and sequencing yoga takes its inspiration from the synthesis of Ashtanga, Iyengar and the teachings of Desikachar. In keeping with the company's mission, this is one of the largest listings of class style offerings in the industry. Various styles include: Ashtanga, Anusara, Hatha, ISHTA, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Viniyoga, Yin and YogaWorks style. There are also special classes catering to specific interests, such as Pre/Post-Natal Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, Yoga for Kids, Gentle Yoga, and Therapeutic Yoga. Many studios offer core strengthening Pilates Mat classes. Pilates Reformer classes are offered at select studios in every region.

YogaWorks' mission states its intention to honor and embrace each student’s search for personal growth, well being, and fulfillment by offering the highest quality yoga programs to people of all ages and from all walks of life. The company also counts 10 core values, including "We believe yoga is for everyone".

Yogaworks pays its teachers a flat fee no matter how many students they cram in the room.

Teacher training

In 1990 Ezraty and Miller, with Lisa Walford, created the YogaWorks Teacher Training Program, which has been recognized as an industry benchmark for teacher training. The program favors teaching asana, inspired by the classical Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga schools, yet attuned to the needs and challenges of their students’ bodies. The curriculum has been furthered enhanced with courses in anatomy, meditation and study of the subtle body. YogaWorks’ teaching training program is registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Locations

Eighteen of Yogaworks' locations are "legacy studios" which operate on the traditional drop-in, pay-as-you-go, purchase of single classes or packages. The five newer locations also offer spa-like amenities. The company’s corporate office is an extension of one of the original studios and is located on Main Street in Santa Monica.