From the article: Yoga Studio vs. Gym
There are lots of good reasons to do yoga at a dedicated studio and just as many to take classes at your gym or fitness center. Tell us which you prefer and why. Share Your Reason
Both have value
- I am currently undergoing RYT 200 training and have a daily practice that takes place primarily at a dedicated yoga studio. It is a beautiful and peaceful space, with wonderful classes and teachers and a community of serious yogis. However I would never have gotten here without my start in a class at the local YMCA. I, like many people, tried the gym class out of curiosity, looking for a stress reliever, not grasping the larger picture of yoga. I was very lucky to take class from an excellent and very qualified instructor. Yes the room temperature is often set for zumba (too cold), there are loud weight machines, and a noisy spin class next door. But the class quickly became essential for me as my strength and flexibility improved. After taking class 2-3 times a week for four years with this wonderful teacher, I knew I was ready to deepen my practice and began to widen my yoga circle. I believe the majority of people who are going to try yoga are going to do it in a gym class.
- —Guest WaterGirl
Create an Atmosphere at the Gym
- I am a 200 RYT and teach in a women's fitness facility. The best compliment I received from a member was that my class was the most studio-like gym class she had attended. I believe that the gym can be an effective setting for yoga and present an economical alternative to most studios. I engage my students with thoughtful topics and weave stories into the flow of the poses. I make myself available before and after class to answer questions about the class. At the beginning of class, I let the students know what to expect and demonstrate variations during class. I also encourage interested students to explore the many fine studios and teachers we have in this area. I continue my own journey with my personal practice, classes and training. If the goal of yoga is to bring "yoga to the people" then the gym setting can touch those for whom the cost of private lessons or studio classes is prohibitive, de-mystify yoga and enrich the physical and emotional aspects of a balanced life.
- —Guest ZenNana
Supporting Gym Yoga
- I've supported gym yoga in the past, as I am an instructor at two local gyms. I believe I offer my students a safe environment with modifications and information, and education, and would trust any of the instructors I work with and do since I attend their classes as well. The key, and I've explained this to all my students, is to ask! What qualifications and certifications do your instructors have. If a teacher can not produce proper certification, don't take the class! The same goes for any fitness instructor. Injuries are not exclusive to yoga.
- —Guest dpbrthe
yoga studio
- Yoga studio of course. My first experience with Yoga 2 years ago, in a studio like setting my Yoga instructor who has a medical background, well informed on alignment of the body and spine. I put all my trust in her because she is a great instructor. she is caring, knows the body and her yoga very well. I came to her 2 years ago with limitations due to spine surgery and a paralyzed ankle and foot. i have come so far with her. if you dont have a good instructor I would assume you could get hurt. but no chance of that here. She is constantly advising you of positioning and adjusting during the course of the session. we always warm up and cool down. and always says listen to your body. NO EGO, NO COMPETITION, NO EXPECTATIONS!!!!!
- —Guest fran Caravella
Yoga Studio
- A person or people who run a yoga studio has/have more control over the number of people in the class & the yoga level for the class. This makes a difference in the quality of the class. In a gym, it is usually anyone who wants to join the class, no matter what level of yoga they know. More individual instruction in a studio - poses can be modified for individuals Gym yoga teachers usually tell you to do what you think you can; they don't know your level. Also, less outside distractions & more privacy in a studio. You don't have a glass wall where people stand & watch, like many gyms have.
- —Guest Judy
Studio, for sure
- Yoga is a whole body experience. I've belonged to gyms in the past, and there's too much hectic energy in them for the calm power of the whole body to be exercised in yoga.
- —LeCherie
research the indivual instructor
- many of us (200+ hr certified teachers) work at both. We might actually change the flavor or topic of our classes, but the knowledge of the body doesn't change. I'd recommend simply asking for a bio of the teacher. Otherwise, it's nice if the yoga space is closed off from the rest of the gym. I've been in some where it's a wide open window and you can hear clanking machines. That's a tough one, but there are ways to help drown out some of the sound...
- —Guest Dawn
Gym Yoga serves a purpose too!
- I am one of the dreaded gym teachers that took a weekend certification class, and while it's certainly true that I am not able to provide all the ameneties of a Studio, I am able to bring yoga into the lives of many who would never venture to a Studio. I am live in Iowa where Yoga is less popular than many areas, and just getting most of the gym members to try it at all is like pulling teeth. After a few classes they start to learn the poses, the breathing gets easier, and they really begin to understand the wonder of yoga. I have had many students move on to studios, which is great; I appreciate Studio classes and attend whenever time and money allow. My point is, with my gym class I am able to teach the basics and get new students excited about Yoga, then send them on to your studio when they are ready for a deeper journey.
- —Guest E
gym or studio
- I was at a studio for a year and learned a great deal until I got bored with the same teachers. Now I am trying 3 months at a gym where I can go to 3 different facilities and get the same great teachers that were at some of the studios. I do think at a studio there are more advanced students though.
- —marty45
Savasana
- I have attended both gym and studio classes, although I prefer to practice at home for convenience sake. For me the big difference comes down to atmosphere--the teachers were equally dedicated, serious yoga practitioners but trying to really settle into savasana at the end right next to the bright lights, clanging and beeping machines and overhead music was a definite negative.
- —rbrubacker60
Yoga is a personal quest
- I have practiced in both a studio setting and a gym setting. Many different styles are offered in both settings. It depends on your mood and most important your time. If you want a true yoga experience you must practice at home to prepare yourself to practice at either setting. Both settings offer a quality practice with the right teacher. I have just received my 200 hr training, it helped me to work out some kinks in my teaching style at the gym and the studio where I teach classes. Take your classes home with you and practice, then come back and ask the instructor how to improve your experience! That will help you through the so-so class you will receive at both a studio and a Gym. Have fun, practice, and be patient my keys to a good yoga experience; BREATHE
- —Guest Kevin
Gym yoga: thumbs down
- I have my own yoga buisness and also teach in a couple of gyms. I am a certified yoga instructor RYT 200 and teach several classes a week in my own rented room to more dedicated yogis of varying levels of skills and experience. My main concern with gym yoga is the diversity of levels, ages, fitness etc all in one room. I love to teach to anyone and take pride in my ability to make yoga accessable for all but when I have a lithe and fit 20 year old on the mat next to a 65 year old grandma who hasen't excercised since High School, next to a 40 year old male desk dweller who is determined to lose that extra 60 pounds, I feel a liitle lost. It's hard to provide a satisfying yoga experience for all of those different types of people and nearly impossible to keep them all safe when the room is filled and I am not permitted to touch or give individual instruction. The types and variety of poses and transitions that I can teach are severely limited. So yeah, STUDIO yoga all the way.
- —Guest yogamuse
I like studio better
- As a new yoga teacher, the first place I learned to teach was at a gym. It took me a while to realize that I sounded and felt like becoming an aerobics instructor than a Yoga teacher. The gym is a good place to start to learn to teach because most studios are more likely to hire their own students who went through their teacher training program. One will have to understand that the folks at the Gym prefer a workout and less of the yoga spirituality.
- —Guest JP
Yoga at the gym or studio
- I am a 200 hours certified yoga instructor by the yoga allience. At the present I am teaching yoga at the gym. I am very committed to my students and even at the gym setting, I do try to offer a calming, relaxing atmosphere. Namaste
- —Guest Lavinia Santiago
gym, or no gym
- I do both. I'm also an advocate for quality yoga in a gym setting. I teach at two gym facilities, have my 200RYT and attend as many workshops as time allows. I bring yoga sutras into all my classes and make the connection to our lives off the mat as well. It's up to you to choose a gym with a quality teacher and ask to attend a class before making your decision. I'm a firm believer in your gym workout benefits from yoga and visa versa. It was also necessary for me to produce legit certification, cpr training and references to teach at my gyms. The quality is there, you just need to look. Shanti ;)
- —dpbrthe
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