Yoga Tree, a Bay Area group of neighborhood yoga studios, has been purchased by Santa Monica-based YogaWorks, according to an email sent to patrons last night by Yoga Tree co-founders Tim and Tara Dale.

With studios on Stanyan Street in the Haight, as well as in Hayes Valley, the Castro, Potrero Hill, 6th Avenue, and two locations in the Mission, Yoga Tree is to our knowledge the largest yoga chain in the city.

YogaWorks, meanwhile, is a multi-city yoga company with 31 studios around the country, primarily in southern California but also in New York City and northern California. Previously, its only location in San Francisco was at 1823 Divisadero.

Yoga Tree was established in 1999, and will continue to operate under the name Yoga Tree in San Francisco—possibly with an eye to avoiding San Francisco's strict conditional use permitting required by formula retail, or chains with more than 10 locations. 

According to the letter, "After a careful and mindful review of our goals and priorities, we have both decided that now was the right time for a change in leadership for Yoga Tree."

For the time being, according to the letter, class schedules and teachers will remain as they are.

What will change?

Massage rooms will convert to individual yoga studios, for one, which will transition gradually and still allow massage certificate holders to redeem their credits until July 31.

And any Yoga Tree memberships will be valid in any YogaWorks studio elsewhere in Northern California (Walnut Creek, Larkspur, Palo Alto and Mill Valley).

According to the letter, Tim Dale will continue to operate Yoga Tree in Corte Madera as a stand-alone operation under his own management.

Thanks to Patty C. for the tip.