The Price of Practice

A friend of mine came over the other day with her daughter for a playdate with my kids.  OK, I’ll admit it – it was just as much a playdate for us.   While the kids played peacefully in the next room, we caught up over a cold drink, attempting to get every last thought out before someone started crying.  Every time we get together we talk a mile a minute, and this afternoon was no exception.

At one point in our chatter, my friend told me about a cool new company she had recently discovered, a company who made organic cotton t-shirts with inspirational sayings and images printed on them.   Amidst her excitement over this company and its common threads with The PranaMama, she suddenly admitted with disappointment, that she was stunned at the price of the shirts.   She was right — we looked at the site, and had sticker shock over the $45 price tag for one t-shirt.

While she was shocked, I was not.  It seems that yoga is too often marketed to the high-end crowd, through expensive class fees and product , subscription, and retreat pricing.  All too often yoga is out of reach for young mothers, many of whom have given up a paycheck in the interest of raising a family, and others whose income is devoted to the family’s needs, not her own.

I have practiced at many different studios with various price levels, and can attest to the differences in location, quality and style of instructor, size of studio and general accessibility.  But I still struggle with the costs of making studio classes a part of my practice.   And then there are the products – yoga practice clothing, everyday casual wear, and silly props marketed to gullible folks like me, convincing them that their lives will be more fulfilled and their practice will improve if they only use these items.  I have spent hard-earned cash on some of these products, and can tell you, they have yet to perform as well as promised or to add anything substantial to my practice.

Patanjali teaches us valuable principles, one of which is Non-stealing, or Asteya in Sanskrit.  TheSacredYoga.com explains this yama well:  ”…a person who does not share with others is virtually a thief.   It means not hoarding, not being greedy and not accumulating.   It also implies honest living and living in moderation.  People keep accumulating clothes, properties and wealth.   One can never be satisfied in life by acquisitions, on the contrary simple life with limited desires gives satisfaction, contentment and does not allow the mind to run towards arrogance of possessions.”

Unfortunately, even the best-intentioned yogis have to fit their beliefs and passions into our capitalist society by earning a living.  My question is, how much is too much, and where is the line drawn between respectfully earning a living sharing yoga with others, and ripping off the public with false messages and trendy products?  I love reading Yoga Journal for its rich and interesting content.  When I open up my monthly issue, I’m both inspired and connected to a greater community.  Unfortunately, I am also turned off by many flashy advertisements for expensive and unnecessary products, and I feel sad that these ads are a necessity for the publication to survive.  There is one ad running that shows a nude yoga teacher practicing handstand while wearing yoga gloves.  There is another that showcases a round yoga mat, and claims the benefit is never having to reposition yourself on your traditionally rectangular mat.  And then there are the clothes – like the $45 t-shirt and the $10 headband I personally got suckered into buying last month, only to lose it in a road race the very first time I wore it.

Maybe I’m just having a less-than-positive attitude lately.  It’s easy to feel bummed out about the economy, especially as a stay-at-home-mom.  I do realize that many businesses, especially studios and some web sites, donate a portion of their earnings to charities or yoga scholarships.  But it is my hope that someday yoga will be more affordable so that it is not viewed as an “upper class” recreation, like golf or skiing.

This morning, I had the great pleasure of practicing a full-length yoga class taught by Kelly Connor, certified Shambhava Yoga teacher, thanks to the Sunrose Yoga Podcast.  The podcast is free online at the Sunrose Web site.  For someone like me, devoted to practice but sometimes lacking in motivation and restricted by a tight budget, this was a perfect solution.  I appreciate passionate practitioners who are willing to share their knowledge for free or by donation.  I encourage anyone who wants a quality instructor and class flow but can’t make it to a studio to listen to Kelly’s podcasts and make a donation if you can.   Other options are to visit Yoga Today, where they offer one free class per week and other classes for a nominal fee, or to study sequences offered in yoga books or web sites (a Google search on “yoga sequence” or “beginner yoga practice” should return plenty of options) and memorize one or two until you are ready to move on.

Lastly, take it from me.  You don’t need to spend a fortune on name brand yoga clothes or buy a funky circular mat or gloves.  The only thing you need is your open heart, clear mind and a body willing to go beyond its comfort zone.

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