Yoga at Home for Beginners: Money is Not an Excuse to Skip Home Practice

I remember the lyrics from some catchy tune that came out when I was in college (dating myself!) that went, "Money, money, money."  I couldn't locate the song.  But several other bands including Pink Floyd and Abba released their own "money" songs back in the 1970s (back in that day).  And more have come across the airwaves in the decades since then. But that one song still reverbates in my ahead along wih the "Wall Street Shuffle" (which would be so appropriate to play now in light of the protests again Wall Street!). As we know, since the severe recession of 2008, money or the scarcity thereof still dominates media headlines.  But, it need not be a consideration in your yoga practice.

A few months ago I sent my uncle a copy of my book, Yoga at Home:  Gain Energy, Flexibility, & Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day.  After perusing it (but not really reading it!) he passed it on to his daughter, my cousin Rachel, because for several years she apparently has had an interest in yoga but neither had the time nor the financial resources  to invest in a class.

Therein lies the beauty of a home yoga practice!  After buying a yoga mat and a book and DVD or two, that's all you need - unless you invest in a monthly yoga online course that has a subscription fee.But, overall, the economics of a yoga practice at home can hardly be beat.

Last week I came across an article whose headline read, "Yoga Can Cost Practitioner $10,779 Per Year." The article stated that was the cumulative cost of classes, all kinds of yoga attire and yoga gear, special massages, conferences, and retreats and so forth for a woman starting and continuing a yoga practice year-long in New York City.  Granted, this is an exceptional case - not the norm.  But, when people face financial challenges, they often drop what they consider luxuries which would include yoga classes, however moderately priced they might be.

However, if you practice yoga at home, you don't need designer yoga pants and tank tops or anything beyond your mat (and it need not be a $800 Gucci mat!) your books, and DVDs.  So, regardless of the national economy or your personal economy, limited money never needs to be a reason for skipping your home yoga practice!

Yours for practicing yoga at home regardless of the economy,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the beginners' yoga at home coach with heart

 

Comments

[Tina]

In my case, you are preaching to the choir. It gets a little more complicated with a vinyasa practice, but for those who are either (mostly) vinyasa yoga teachers or who are not yet part of this choir, and who may feel pangs of guilt not supporting "their local yoga teacher", I do have one example. [Many more, but I do not want to take up too much space here.]

There are certain community classes I might take. I might pay less for a self-sequenced community class near me—wherein YOU, the student, provide the moves with NO assistance from the teacher (who does her own practice ... this is NOT Mysore style ashtanga)

If I am not going to pay at least a minimum amount (I could tell by the teacher's grimace as she saw what I put in the pot just what that figure is ...), I DON'T BOTHER SHOWING UP.

I've a home practice. I am not taking food from anybody, because I can barely survive ... charity begins at home ... and I support yoga teachers, who—as I said before—PUBLISH, RECORD, and FILM; and if I could afford the streaming speed, maybe also charge for their streaming and downloads in the way that you do.

Yes! There are no yoga freeloaders here, just home yoga practitioners. The home practitioner is supporting a yoga teacher same as if they paid some downtown (New York City) not-yet-world-class teacher $25 USD for his class ...

[Laura V. Rodriguez]

Thanks for your comments.