there are talented teachers at gyms
- Since I have a membership at a big corporate gym, I do my yoga there. I happen to be very lucky to have a few very talented instructors, Alliance registered teachers. Maybe our locale (Southern Cal) is part of the reason - lots of Yoga here. I have also suffered through one or two truly awful "teachers" but all in all good centering, tranquilizing yoga classes at my big ol' gym.
- —Guest Andrea
Studio or Gym?
- I have been teaching since the mid-80's at both gyms and studios and still do so at this point. Some people have asked me why I am still at gyms. I agree that good caliber teachers are more than ever found at gyms now; they are building their experience, the people they can impact and not in the context of high cost (though some gyms are expensive). Ironically for teachers they can sometime be better paid at a gym, though students do not realize this as of course they are there for the teaching and teacher, not for what they are paid!! It is true though that studios have longer classes and more dedicated space, I agree with that. Gyms can also be a great intro to then lead students so longer and deeper practice at studios. Either place you can find newer, more experienced, better or worse teachers as a lot of it is personal taste.
- —Guest Donna
Yoga Studio All the Way
- Yoga studios are specialty places for yoga. Gyms often have a mix of instructors that are often not certified. If you want real yoga, go to a studio!
- —Guest drkellih
Studio 100%
- For me yoga is not just the set of exersices, its a state of mind - I want to breath that yoga studio relaxing air, I want to stay in the yoga energy and not feel that I came just for few stretches.
- —Guest its me
Studio
- I prefer studio (in Croatia the difference in prices is not too big). My teachers are all into yoga, physically and mentally, and the practice there is wonderful, creative, relaxing and uplifting.
- —Guest Ana
Not all gym teachers are created equal
- I began taking yoga at a gym in 1998. After 3 years I decided I wanted teach. I went to my first training in Sept. 2001 & shortly after began teaching in a small studio, keeping my classes basic. In the next 4 years I continued to attend trainings. In 2004 I took a job at a women's only facility. In order to give my students the best possible classes I have some my classes at times when the noise and traffic levels are at a minimum, using candles, soft music & spritzing the room with my own Lavender mist. In 2005, I attained my 200RYT from YA. Since then, I continually attend classes annually to increase my skills & knowledge. Moral of the story..don't dismiss a gym until you thoroughly check out the teachers; we're not all created equal. We have training, props & skills to teach well & safely. Students wanting to further their undersanding of yoga, I recommend quality books i.e. "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" by Sri Swami Satchidananada.
- —Guest Yogini914
Yoga Studio No Doubt!
- As a yoga studio owner and a fitness director at a gym in the past, a yoga studio is better then a gym yoga class for sure! Yoga studio teachers understand yoga as not just a physical practice but also understand it as a holistic lifestyle and therefore usually have more in-depth knowledge on how to coach students through their journey- mind, body & spirit. They also have more knowledge about Patanjali's 8 Limb Yoga Path which expands yoga beyond a practice and into a way of being. Namaste!
- —Guest Kelli
A Personal Journey
- As a yoga teacher I have explored the classes both at a gym and a studio. My preference would be the studio...the gym setting lacks in a few ways. Firstly, I took a class at a gym and was unsettled to learn that the "teacher" received her certification over a weekend seminar in Vegas!! I spent 3 months living and studying on an ashram and still for the first year after becoming a teacher did not teach independently! Scary! Secondly, the atmosphere was loud and the instruction was more aerobic like, certainly not meditative or reverant. In a studio setting the credentials of their teachers are usually researched or they are graduates of a training program they provide. If cost is an issue, a lot of yoga centers offer a work for classes energy exchange. Gyms are competitive by nature...certainly not the environment or ambience for a serious yoga practice. Namaste!!
- —Guest Elaine
Studio for me, but with caveat.
- I really love my yoga studio, because I have a great Iyengar instructor for regular class (4 to 6 people) and a really good Iyengar instructor for restorative class ( 6 to 8 people). But, a new owner canceled the Sunday night restorative class. So, in order to keep my beloved restorative, I joined a yoga gym. And since I was now a member, I thought why not take advantage of the schedule to get more stretches and class time to better prepare me for my studio class. Good idea, until my back went into spasm during a back/theraputic class (26 people) and I needed to do a couple of privates with my Iyengar instructor to correct the problem. Overall good experience with the yoga gym (my wife is encouraging me to continue to give it a go), with one really bad experience. As opposed to nothing but great experience with the yoga studio. Needles to say, I'm still working on this one. If this topic comes up in a year, I will have a better opinion.
- —BruceCP
yoga studio
- I feel like I get better instruction, the atmosphere is more calming and fortunately, I found a yoga studio that has reasonable prices. I've suffered too many injuries in a gym yoga class as a beginner.
- —Guest Jen
Studio or really good gym
- I usually prefer a studio for the longer class times and dedicated space. But if you are not near a studio or the class times don't work with your schedule some gyms can do it right. Look for classes that are 75-90 minutes and have a nice quiet space.
- —Guest Amy
studio for me
- I will be doing yoga at a studio and at home. While I found out about yoga and began learning yoga at a gym, once I went to a studio I realized how much better it is there, except more expensive.
- —Guest L*****
Previous16-27 of 27
