Join Circle Yoga Cooperative

lotusesIn 2012, Circle Yoga became Circle Yoga Cooperative, the first Yoga Cooperative in the DC-area, and likely the largest in the country.  When my daughter began telling me about indigenous societies and cooperative ideas about business I realized that a cooperative business would reflect more equanimity and provide a fairer distribution of power and wealth.  Though we already provided teachers and staff with living wages, free classes, plenty of vacation, input into decisions, and even family leave, we wanted students and staff to have an even stronger voice in studio activities and allow for profit sharing for our workers.  The members of the cooperative are not responsible for any debts or other obligations of the cooperative.

All of our programs, from Budding Yogis kids classes to adult classes, to workshops and events are part of the Cooperative.

We offer Fair Trade and Sustainable Yoga.

Current Discounts, Meeting Dates and Events for CYC Members.

For students

Students can choose to become members by paying a nominal $20 fee per year.  If a student chooses not to become a member, they will continue to receive the support and welcome that they are used to receiving at Circle Yoga.  If they choose to become a member, they can vote for the student-member of the coop board and potentially serve on the board themselves.  They also receive discounts on single-day workshops and merchandise, along with periodic special events for members.  The idea is that those who want to become more active participants in the CYC community could choose to become members, and those happy with the amount of involvement they have now, could choose to remain loyal non-member students.

One student is elected to the CYC board at the annual member meeting in September.  The CYC board meets three times per year to make major decisions about studio operations and finances.  In addition to the student-member, the board also consists of the founder, one desk worker, and one teacher.   The board usually includes three other employees.  The CYC board appoints a working group of studio employees, normally the directors and assistant directors of studio programs, therapeutic yoga director, business manager, and marketing director, who together carry out the board actions and are responsible for day-to-day studio operations.

Applications for nominees for the CYC board will be solicited in August in advance of the September annual meeting.

Become a Student-Member (1 year $20) by clicking below:

 

Donate to the Cooperative

Please help support the scholarship fund, maintaining our studio spaces,  staff and teacher salaries, and free programming by donating any amount to the Studio Cooperative

 

For teachers and staff

Current teachers and staff of CYC are by definition worker-members of the cooperative.  Worker-Members vote for the worker-members of the board of the cooperative at the annual meeting of members, held each September.   Teachers and staff are not required to vote or come to the annual meeting, and are not responsible for any debts or other obligations of the cooperative.

Worker-members like yourself vote for 2-5 worker-members to become part of the coop board, including at least one teacher and at least one desk staff.  The founder (Annie) will have a board seat.   A slate of candidates is provided from the list of nominations.  The CYC board meets three times a year to make decisions about the operation and finances of the studio.  The CYC board appoints a working group of studio employees, normally the directors and assistant directors of studio programs, therapeutic yoga director, business manager, and marketing director, who together carry out the board actions and day-to-day studio operations.

Applications for nominees for the CYC board will be solicited in August in advance of the September annual meeting.