Kate Comer, a freelance yoga instructor and single mother of two, is facing financial uncertainty after Triyoga closed without warning in September, leaving her with roughly £1,500 in unpaid wages for her final two months of teaching, the Guardian reported. Comer is among an estimated 100 yoga teachers and various barre, spin, and box-fit instructors across sister brands Barrecore, Boom Cycle, Kobox, and Reformcore who lost their final incomes when parent company Common Bond announced on 24 September that it was “temporarily suspending trading”.
The sudden collapse has left instructors struggling to pay essential household bills, with at least one teacher reporting a threat of homelessness. Comer described the situation as disgraceful for freelancers who have no financial recourse, noting that the London teaching market is saturated with hundreds of other instructors looking for work.
Bailiffs and Broken Pay Schedules Preceded the Shuttering
Financial distress at the fitness chains mounted in August when bailiffs visited Triyoga’s Shoreditch studio. Instructors subsequently faced delayed paychecks, receiving late wages on 21 August after threatening industrial action, but ultimately received no scheduled pay on 14 September. A winding-up petition was filed on 18 September after Robert Rowland, a former director backed by Nectar Capital, resigned from his position in May 2026 amid ongoing financial difficulties.
Nectar Capital has since launched an investigation into Rowland’s management of the business. Industry observers and affected instructors have questioned whether the shutdown constitutes “phoenixing”—a practice where directors close a company to shed debts before launching a new venture—though such restructuring remains legal absent proof of deliberate abuse. Common Bond is presently moving through an insolvency process to repay HMRC, while its fitness brands are up for sale.
Instructors criticize management for cutting costs and changing studio atmosphere
Long-serving instructors point to significant operational shifts in recent years that altered the atmosphere of the once-innovative studios. Robin Catto, a 26-year veteran teacher at Triyoga, stated that while United Fitness Brands initially rescued the business after Covid closures, new management lacked an appreciation for the deeper elements of yoga, gradually hollowing out the community vibe. Instructors were directed to replace Spotify playlists with AI-generated music to cut licensing costs, and eco-friendly products gave way to cheaper alternatives.
Students invested in the brands have also experienced financial loss and a lack of communication. Ciara Regan paid £180 per month for an annual membership to support her mental health, only to find websites and social media accounts abruptly vanished. Meanwhile, alternative London studios such as Home and Mission—both operated by former Triyoga staff—have stepped in to honor unused student credits.
Union seeks workers rights as single discipline studios face market slowdown
Davy Jones, chair of the Yoga Teachers’ Union, stated that instructors are unlikely to recover their unpaid earnings, calling the collapse a wake-up call regarding gig economy vulnerabilities. The union is currently bringing a test case to secure workers’ rights for yoga teachers comparable to those won by Uber drivers. David Minton, an industry expert at Evolve, noted that boutique fitness studios offering only a single exercise style face a slowdown in a crowded market compared to multi-disciplinary spaces featuring strength training and recovery amenities.
Common Questions Regarding the Triyoga and Common Bond Collapse
How much money are affected instructors owed?
Individual losses vary by schedule, but teachers like Kate Comer estimate their unpaid wages for the final two months of instruction at approximately £1,500.
Who owned the fitness brands at the time of closure?
The five brands—Triyoga, Barrecore, Boom Cycle, Kobox, and Reformcore—were owned by Common Bond, a company backed by investment firm Nectar Capital and previously run by director Robert Rowland.
What happens to student memberships purchased before the closure?
Students like Ciara Regan were left with unused memberships when websites and social media accounts disappeared, though independent studios run by former staff have offered to accept unused Triyoga credits.
What legal steps are unions taking for the instructors?
The Yoga Teachers’ Union is bringing a test case to secure standard workers’ rights for instructors, whom chair Davy Jones categorizes as part of the gig economy.
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