Transforming yoga in the digital age

Transforming yoga in the digital age

September 12, 2024 | 3 min read

Yoga Download has gone from offering simple audio classes to becoming a global hub for nearly 100,000 active yoga lovers. But behind the scenes, it’s been a journey of constant adaptation and innovation. This is the story of how Yoga Download leveraged MK.IO to navigate these challenges and continue bringing peace and flexibility to their community. 

The birth of Yoga Download

Long before streaming was a thing, Jamie Kent had a vision: to make yoga accessible to everyone, everywhere, even if it meant starting with those clunky old MP3 players. She founded Yoga Download with a simple yet revolutionary idea—offering downloadable audio yoga classes that anyone could access on the go. Yoga Download quickly became a go-to choice for yogis, and as demand for video content grew, the company reached a pivotal moment. It was around this time that Justin Griep joined the team. With him onboard, Yoga Download navigated the challenges of transitioning to video and expanded its offerings, setting the stage for what would become a global destination for yoga enthusiasts.

Navigating the digital landscape

As Yoga Download grew, so did the complexity of running a digital yoga platform. Their initial website, built years ago, struggled with security issues that left them in need of a major upgrade. That’s when Azure Media Services came into play, helping Yoga Download handle the growing demand for high-quality video classes. With over 80% of their content produced in-house, reliable streaming wasn’t just important—it was essential.

Facing a critical moment

In 2023, Yoga Download faced a significant challenge when Azure Media Services announced its retirement. The prospect of migrating their extensive catalog of over 6,000 assets to a new platform was overwhelming, both in terms of time and cost. The situation demanded a solution that could not only replicate Azure’s functionality but also offer a seamless transition with minimal disruption.

The Mediakind partnership

That’s when MK.IO stepped in, a platform that promised to meet Yoga Download’s needs. Griep recalls his first encounter with the MK.IO team, saying, “I talked to a MediaKind guy who just blew me away because he really understands stuff at a deep level. He understood what we were trying to do, and I was very impressed.” This deep understanding and commitment to supporting their clients were exactly what Yoga Download needed during this critical transition.

Smooth sailing through migration challenges

While the migration process had its complexities, the right tools and teamwork made all the difference. Yoga Download transitioned smoothly despite common issues like API errors and catalog glitches, thanks to the MediaKind team’s swift expertise and support. 

And everything is going well. As Justin Griep noted, “Across all the different platforms that we’re on, we’ve had no service issues reported anywhere, which is quite amazing!” 

The technical aspects of the migration were equally impressive. “I looked through the default HD preset, and we think it’s really well designed”, Griep added, a testament to MediaKind thoughtful approach to providing solutions that cater to their clients’ specific needs. This attention to detail ensured that Yoga Download could continue delivering high-quality content to everyone.

A bright future ahead

With the migration complete, Yoga Download is set to debut “Yoga for Guys”, leveraging MK.IO’s technology. This new platform marks the start of their expansion into short workouts and possibly live streaming, all powered by MK.IO on Azure Cloud. Yoga Download’s journey underscores the value of adaptability and strong partnerships. As Justin Griep noted, “The quality of your people, the fact they care significantly and there’s a strong expertise in your teams” was key to their success. With a promising future, Yoga Download is ready to continue growing and bringing yoga to more people around the world. 

Curious to see how MK.IO can support your unique needs? Visit our website to learn more and explore how our platform can transform your video workflows.


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