Kate Comer is a single mother with two children, so she is used to living on a financial knife-edge. But when the yoga studio at which she taught closed without warning in September, leaving her with two months\u2019 worth of unpaid wages, it sent her anxiety skyrocketing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just reeling right now,\u201d she said, estimating her loss at about \u00a31,500. \u201cI\u2019m very concerned about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Comer is one of an estimated 100 yoga teachers who were not paid for their final weeks of teaching before Triyoga, the cult London yoga studio, shut. Several instructors of barre, spin and box-fit classes who taught at its sister brands Barrecore, Boom Cycle, Kobox and Reformcore, which have also closed, have also said they have been left out of pocket.<\/p>\n
Yoga teachers who spoke to the Guardian said they felt blindsided by the sudden collapse, and are now struggling to pay essential bills. At least one says they are facing homelessness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely disgraceful and there\u2019s nothing we can do about it as freelancers,\u201d said Comer, who is currently going through a divorce and fears that her sudden loss of income will mean she is considered unable to keep the family flat. She is searching for other work, but \u201cthe market is saturated with hundreds of teachers\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kate Comer: one of an estimated 100 yoga teachers who were not paid for their final weeks of teaching at Triyoga. Photograph: Graeme Robertson\/The Guardian<\/p>\n
The five fitness brands are all owned by Common Bond, which announced on 24 September that it was \u201ctemporarily suspending trading\u201d.<\/p>\n
In August, bailiffs attended Triyoga\u2019s Shoreditch studio. Shortly afterwards, Triyoga failed to pay its teachers on time, prompting instructors to threaten industrial action. Some teachers were paid late on 21 August, but none received their scheduled pay on 14 September, teachers said.<\/p>\n