About the co-op
About Circle Yoga Cooperative
Circle Yoga Cooperative is a warm, welcoming community of students and teachers who come together to practice yoga, mindfulness, Pilates, and other wellness modalities.
As a cooperative, our goal is to be a sustainable enterprise that offers excellent classes with exceptional teachers—in a beautiful space where students can connect, find greater ease, and cultivate self-awareness. We are also focused on providing a supportive work environment for teachers and staff, with fair wages and equitable business practices.
The studio offers classes and programs for all ages and stages of life. Students can choose from a variety of styles and levels of difficulty, so that everyone can be supported on their own journey. We also offer sliding scale pricing and partial scholarships to help make yoga and mindfulness more accessible for everyone.
Come join us and enjoy our light-filled yoga studios, a shop filled with books and props to support your practice, and a contemplative Zen garden outside.
Join the co-op
Students and friends of the studio can choose to become members of the Circle Yoga Cooperative by paying a nominal $20 fee per calendar year. When you become a member, you can vote for two student members of the co-op board and share your voice in the future of the studio. As a co-op member, you also receive:
- A 10% discount on merchandise
- Special member discounts on single-day workshops
Household family members can share one membership. Memberships expire in 365 days.
Mission
Circle Yoga is a local cooperative that offers yoga, meditation, and other practices to help students feel better inside and out. We are a neighborhood hub and a welcoming community that invites students to connect, find greater ease, and cultivate self-awareness. With mindfulness at the root of all we do, we take our practices off the mat, into our daily lives, and into the broader community.
CYC Board of Directors
October 2024-September 2025
The CYC Board of Directors is made up of two student members, five worker members (staff and teachers), and the studio's founder. The board meets at least three times per year to review studio operations and finances, make larger policy decisions, and pursue initiatives that help to further the studio's mission. Board members and some staff members participate in board committees and working groups, such as the Compensation Committee, Finance Committee, Outreach Committee, and Advisory Committee to the Executive Director.
Board terms are each 2 years, and terms are staggered to allow for continuity from year to year. Each October, members vote to fill 3-4 seats on the Board.
Nominees for the CYC board are solicited in each September, in advance of the annual meeting in October.
Our guiding principles
- At Circle Yoga, we believe that no one can own a community of practice. We are an autonomous community, not controlled or influenced by interests outside of our core mission.
- We work as a team – management, teachers, staff, students, our elected co-op board. We love feedback and we use it when making policy and operational decisions for the studio.
- Our goal is to be a sustainable enterprise that provides excellent classes to students and fair wages and a supportive environment to teachers and staff; it’s not about earning money for an individual owner.
- We believe that by offering the highest quality yoga, movement, and mindfulness in a community-owned studio, we attract and support wonderful students, teachers and staff.
History
In March 2003, when Circle Yoga founder Annie Mahon set out to open a yoga studio in Chevy Chase DC, her aim was simple: to bring the joy of mindful yoga and all its benefits, including stress-reduction, greater flexibility, and a sense of inner peace, to children, adults, and families of Washington, DC.
As a student of renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and longtime practitioner of both yoga and mindfulness meditation, Annie believed in the power of yoga, meditation, and mindful living to create mental and physical well-being and ultimately transform our lives.
In 2012, Circle Yoga became Circle Yoga Cooperative (CYC), the first yoga cooperative in the DC area. CYC is governed by an elected board of directors.
Shop at Circle Yoga
The Circle Yoga shop offers a wide selection of yoga and meditation props and books to support your practice. It's also a great place to shop for gifts! Stop by during our shop hours.
