Racialized Black–White Economic Segregation and Major Chain Yoga Studio Locations in Major U.S. Metropolitan Areas

TL;DR

This study finds that major yoga studios in the U.S. are mostly located in areas with high Black-White economic segregation, highlighting potential access barriers for marginalized communities.

Contribution

The study provides the first empirical analysis of yoga studio distribution in relation to racialized economic segregation in the U.S.

Findings

Most yoga studios are located in areas with the highest quintile of Black-White economic segregation.

Less than 10% of studios are in areas where Black residents exceed 13% of the population.

Fewer than 25% of studios are in areas with household incomes below the national median.

Abstract

•Census tracts and ZIP codes of 546 chain yoga studios in the U.S. were extracted.•The authors analyzed the racialized Black–White economic segregation surrounding studios.•Most studios are in areas within the highest quintile of Black–White economic segregation.•Clinicians recommending yoga to patients should be mindful of access barriers.

Census tracts and ZIP codes of 546 chain yoga studios in the U.S. were extracted.

The authors analyzed the racialized Black–White economic segregation surrounding studios.

Most studios are in areas within the highest quintile of Black–White economic segregation.

Clinicians recommending yoga to patients should be mindful of access barriers.

Despite yoga’s benefits and popularity, there is concern for racial inequities in yoga access and participation that have not been empirically studied at the population level. Against this background, the objective of this study was to examine the geographic distribution of major chain yoga franchises in relation to racialized Black–White economic segregation across the U.S.

The authors extracted census tracts and 5-digit ZIP codes (ZIP5) for >500 major chain yoga franchises in the U.S. and estimated the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICERace[Black–White]-Income), a measure of racialized Black–White economic segregation. ICERace(Black–White)-Income is a continuous variable ranging from −1 to +1, categorized into quintiles (−1=maximum deprivation; +1=maximum privilege).

Study findings revealed that <10% of studios were situated in census tracts and ZIP5s with a proportion of Black residents exceeding 13%. Less than 25% of studios were situated in census tracts and ZIP5s with household incomes below the 2022 national median ($74,580). Across all census tracts and ZIP5s, the mean value for ICERace(Black–White)-Income fell in the highest quintile for racialized Black–White economic segregation (ICERace[Black–White]-Income=0.37).

Major yoga franchises are situated in census tracts and ZIP codes that fall within the highest quintile of racialized Black–White economic segregation in the U.S.

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