Why we’ve changed our name to Folc
And what it means for you.
Published: 15 March 2025
In November 2024, we received a letter. This letter has led us to make a big but exciting decision.
The letter was from solicitors representing a yoga studio in Leeds called Yoga Kula. They claimed we were infringing on their trademark for YOGA KULA and suggested we were using their branding. We had never heard of them. After seeking legal advice, we strongly disagreed with their claims and refused to meet their demands. As you can imagine, they weren’t too happy. Our solicitor was confident we’d win if it went to court, but the process could cost up to £5,000. So what to do?
Rather than spending more money, time, and energy fighting this, Bronwyn and I began to ask: What if this is an opportunity? A chance to refine our identity. To make our space even more approachable and relevant to the local community. To you.
So we spent a few months researching, reflecting, and reimagining what Kula could grow into.
Meet Folc
As some of you might know, ‘kula’ is Sanskrit for community or tribe: a group of people with shared values and interests.
Well, in Old English, ‘folc’ meant common people: a group belonging to a specific community or tribe. You guessed it, it's the origin of the word folk.
“Folc feels like the perfect evolution of Kula. A more rooted, local version of the beautiful and welcoming studio our community has helped create.” — Kevin Karaca, co-founder of Folc
Deep down, nothing is changing. We're on the same path as before. But we are exploring some big ideas for the future.
This change will take a few months to complete, so thank you in advance for your patience and support. We know this is a big change and that you might have some questions, and we’ve tried to answer some below.
“Change, especially unexpected change, can be unsettling. But at its heart, Folc is still the same community of care, connection, and support that we’ve built together. What matters most hasn’t changed: the people, the space, and the sense of belonging.” — Bronwyn Benstead, co-founder of Folc
-
Kevin Karaca
Co-founder and Marketing Director
hi@folcstudio.co.uk
Questions & attempted answers
Does this mean Folc is a new business?
No, we are the same Community Interest Company. Currently, we’re still called We Are Kula CIC, but we will change the business name over the coming months.
How do you pronounce Folc?
It’s just like the modern word folk. Which is similar to yolk (as in, egg yolk), or oak, cloak, or soak. We think historically, it would have been said more like "fohlk”.
Does this affect my membership or class pass? Is the pricing changing?
Nope, not at all. Everything stays the same. We’re simply changing our name.
Will the website or social media handles change?
Yes, the website will be updated with new branding. It will also change to a new domain (folcstudio.co.uk), but if you accidentally go to the current domain, you’ll get redirected to the Folc site. Our Social Media handles will also be updated in due course.
Will the branding or studio signage be updated?
There will be some changes, yes. You’ve already seen a teaser above. That being said, we’re working hard to keep the feel very similar.
Will my payment details be affected?
Nope, no impact here. Same booking system and payment system. As we go through and update the name across our systems, you may notice the name change on your bank statements.
Do I need to rebook any classes or update my account?
Nope!
If I have an old gift voucher, will it still be valid?
Yep! Absolutely.
Will my login details for booking classes stay the same?
Yep! Same log in, same app.
Does this change anything about the mission or values of the space?
No. If anything, we think it makes it stronger. We deliberately chose a name rooted in the UK’s past to ground us to our physical location and align with our mission.
How does this affect your connection to yoga and mindfulness?
In truth, we’ve always been about more than yoga or mindfulness. Our mission is to cultivate physical, mental and emotional wellbeing through movement, mindfulness, and connecting people. Over the past two years our focus has been around movement and mindfulness, now we’re looking at how to bring people together going forward. After all, folc are better together.
How can we support the transition to Folc?
If you enjoy coming to sessions, please spread the word. Remember, you have a referral link you can share with your friends or family that gives them a free class. Learn more here.