Yoga is Expensive
Mint.com reminds me of the gouging I just took for my yoga practice.
Yoga is expensive. We all know this. Here in Louisville, drop-in rates range from $12-$17 for a yoga studio, and from roughly $0-$10 for community/church type yoga. So let’s say you want to practice once a week – that’s a solid $40-60 a month! Twice weekly practice will suddenly take $80-100 out of your monthly budget. Ouch.
But you know what else is expensive?
- Physical Therapy
- Doctors Visits
- Hip Replacements
- Massages
- Sleeping Pills
- Prescription Medication
- Anti-Aging Cream
- Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Anti-Depressants
When you think about it like that, yoga is very well worth the money. It is a way for me to keep my body and mind in great shape so I have fewer physical ailments as I age.
How to get yoga on the cheap in Louisville:
Most studios offer intro rates aimed at people new to yoga. This is a brilliant strategy: get them in cheap, get them addicted, and then say “your 30 days is up, give us your checkbook!” Groupon, LivingSocial, and other local deal sites sometimes offer great package discounts. According to Mint.com, I practiced yoga for a year for only $162 because of my strategic shopping and studio hopping. But now it’s time to shell out the big bucks and support the studios and teachers I love.
There are also many donation based or free community classes around town. Check out the round-up I made of affordable yoga classes here on YogaCrazy.me, and be sure to follow Louisville Yoga Co-Op on Facebook to stay up-to-date on similar options.
*The $350 alert above is in reference to the 40-class package I purchased from Yoga on Baxter. Each class is around $8.75/class, plus I got a free massage out of it! Yay!
Comments (2)
Just picked up the Living Social special for Yoga on Baxter today – will be attending my first Beginning Hot Yoga very soon. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Do I need to arrive super-early, do I bring the usual mat/towel/water or is any of that provided?
Hi Lora! I snagged that Living Social coupon too. Gotta get while the gettin’s good! I’m excited you’re going to try Beginning Bikram. I recommend bringing your mat, and towel, and a water bottle (like you said) and arriving at least 15 minutes before class. It will be busy with new coupon students, probably! Your instinct might be to go towards the back (some studios insist you go in the back if you’re new), but I think being close to the mirror is key so you can watch your form without someone being in your way. You will start facing the mirrors, but with your mat parallel to the mirror, a little different from other yoga classes. Additional tips: the parking lot fills quickly; try to avoid parking in the veterinarian’s spots closer to Baxter Ave. There is lots of parking on Edenside, a short walk down the alley to the right of the building. I almost exclusively park there because it’s just easier! Good luck! Maybe I’ll see you there!