From the article: Budget Yoga
If money were no object, many of us would go to yoga classes every day, but the economic reality is that most people can't afford that many classes. Share your strategies for getting your yoga while staying on your budget. Readers Respond
Podcasts
- Itunes has a great range of podcasts to choose from. The one I've been using the most is Hillary Rubin's. I love yoga, but getting to the studio every day was time consuming and costly.
- —Guest Aussie Gal
Downloads and Yoga in the park
- I know someone already mentioned free downloads and I have checked those out and they are great. I also enjoy the downloads at lotuspetalyoga.com they cost around $10 and are really worth it. Also in the summer some local instructors provide yoga in the park. They do a donations based class outside which can be really nice to get in a lot of variety.
- —aliwinet
Inhale
- I am a little hyper and even though I was really just into stretching at the time, "Inhale" on the Oxygen network hooked me on "maha" yoga for good. I recorded the shows on my EyeTV and have been doing them 3 or 4 times a week for 8 years. It almost killed me at first because I was pulling all my muscles but I finally achieved patience and enjoy the "shows" just as much now as in the beginning. I am also trying to help the struggling local studio stay in business by going once or twice a week.
- —molsof
Printed Matter, Flash Cards, DVD/Web
- After having been to a studio a little while, their prices rose markedly in anticipation of the recovery (+ they were hurting .. not having been well off, I was never one of their best customers anyhow) Throughout, I cobbled together my own sequences from books, myyoga2go cards and DVD/online streams of live classes. For motivation, I tell myself I am doing the first 15 minutes, and then I stay for the next ... pretty soon over an hour has gone by ... At home, I don't miss the patter by the instructor, nor am I over-energized by presence and energy of the other students.
- —Born_Overqualified
Cheap Yoga
- I joined the local YMCA and get unlimited yoga classes for a single monthly fee.
- —Guest Lynn
Free Classes Online
- I have found several really good classes online. You can download them through Itunes and watch them on your laptop. I just place my laptop on the floor in front of my mat. My favorite is Yogamazing.
- —Guest Michelle
Guest Deb
- I teach physical education in a small, private school (pre-k thru 8th). I begin each class with stretching and yoga, so not only do my students benefit from yoga, but I get mine done six times a day!
- —Guest debmalwick
Free videos/dvds at library
- I sign out free videos/dvds from the library. Doesn't cost a thing, except gas, but the library is on my way home from work.
- —Guest Nancy Brown
$3 per class
- That's what my local Department of Aging charges. And, judging from other people in the class, you don't have to be very old to get in. (I think the official age cutoff is 55, but they don't seem to worry much about enforcing it.) So check out your local public programs. Not just the Department of Aging, but also Parks and Rec. And the college or community college near you may offer local residents a big discount. Mine doesn't have yoga classes, but I can use the fitness center's many machines as much as I like for $30 per quarter.
- —theresamorrison
Community college classes
- For inexpensive and very accessible yoga classes -- check out your local community college. Costs vary by state and school but you can get 16 weeks of classes (usually 3 hours per week) for less than $75. Sign up for credit/no credit status if you don't want to earn a grade. Enjoy.
- —Guest MaryAnn
community development
- In my case, I have noticed the more I talk about yoga practice, the more people are interested. It is very meaningful to have a group of dedicated practitioners gather together and teach each other. I also teach yoga for a living, so I offer this in the community to unite neighbors at no cost, sharing a facility that recognizes the positive affects of such outreach in the community without charging. We can develop the practice together along thematic lines. This way of connecting to community can be achieved with one other person, or several people. Commitment to each other's wellbeing is all that is necessary, and a deep willingness to practice.
- —Guest Ricky
Yoga in the home.
- We have a yoga instructor come to our home each Tuesday night. My wife and I and 3 or 4 neighbors have an instructor who comes and does an hour and fifteen minute yoga class for us in our family room. We pay by the month and there is no overhead to pay. Most yoga instructors have "day jobs" and do yoga as a side. They're paid poorly but love yoga. As a group, we pay about $50 per session which is more than the "Y" pays and she's delighted to do it.
- —Guest Roger Hoskin
Cheap yoga!
- convince your employer that sponsoring a workplace yoga session at lunch will benefit not only employees, but also the employer. the benefits of yoga are well-known, so sell him/her on the ones that will benefit the company. i did that at my workplace, and we have twice weekly 45 minute sessions at lunchtime, paid for by the employer.
- —Guest redryder
Home practice
- There is a great home practice tool, called the My Yoga 2 Go Practice System that includes; a deck of 70 pose cards and a clear plastic tote with pockets to insert the cards and then hang on a wall. The system comes with 7 different sequences coded by color then pose number, it is a great way to practice at home. You can combine your own sequences or follow the suggested sequence. It's a more organic approach to yoga home practice than a DVD because you set the pace, stay in the moment and connected to the breath.
- —Guest beth
DIY
- Videos, 20 minute downloads and my own variations at home. I haven't been to a studio in 3 year.
- —Guest Catherine
