Anyone do yoga at a yoga studio?

aimforhealthy

There's a really good yoga studio with hot yoga and beginner classes and even "restorative meditation" on Sundays. $30 for a trial month of unlimited classes; $100/month after that, or $40/month for a 4-class-per-month membership (you can pay for classes a la carte, too). This seems really reasonable to me and I intend to join for the trial membership. I got in AMAZING shape the last time I did a lot of yoga successively for several months. I realize every studio is different; I was just wondering if there were other yoga practitioners who belonged to a studio, who had suggestions, things to look for, feedback, what they did and didn't like about it, etc.

yoginimary

I do yoga at a few different studios, but I don't belong to any. I think their trail month sounds like a great idea. It will give you a chance to see how much you go, which teachers you like, etc.

I would read all the teacher's bios (almost all studios have websites with such info), but I know what I'm looking for in a teacher - which could be completely different than what you are looking for.

Hot yoga has avid followers and people that can't stand it. That would be the only thing I would worry about, but if you're part of the latter group, you're only out $30.

mmsilvia

I have never done yoga at a studio but, I do have a few great dvd's that I do at home.

jamies76

That's a great deal--I'd definitely go for it!

I've been to quite a few Bikram, hot yoga, and more mainstream yoga studios. The atmosphere totally depends on the owners/instructors and the other practitioners, so trial and error is the only way to figure out the best fit for you. When I lived in TN there was only one studio available, and it was a bit of a drive for me, but I had to quit because the owner was a terrible person. She yelled at me in the lobby in front of a TON of people my very first time there, talked trash about students at the front desk where anybody could hear, etc... But that's one instance in 10 years of off and on practice.

One constant I found in most studios, which I loved, was how "professional" practitioners are. Most times they are very mature and accepting of themselves and others. They keep their eyes and focus on their own practice. Every once in awhile a person might show up without those qualities, but they don't tend to return.

ChrisRS87

Is it just in the movies, or are there really as many hot girls in yoga studios as hollywood has led me to believe?

:-D

MoveTheMountain

I'm one of the 'hate hot yoga' types, but I love Ashtanga. I've done private lessons at maybe 2 studios over the years (one of them was Bikram before he started suing all the people using his name without paying him, which led to the invention of 'hot' yoga).

Definitely, $30 for the first month is a great deal... it's so great a deal, you might want to be prepared for a hard sell before your month is up. Honestly, $100/month is trickier... my rule of thumb, based on what I've seen out there, is about $10/session. So, if you plan on going 10 times in a month, you're fine. More than 10 times each month, you're getting a bargain. Once a week? You're getting taken. (Their financial model is counting on you coming no more than 10/month, and they're hoping you only come twice a week.)

The only real way to judge is to take a session, and see how you like it. Really, the $30 is a no-brainer to give you a month to research, but like I said, I'd expect a hard sell to sign up beyond that initial month.

Personally, I greatly prefer practicing in my own home, using some of the fantastic DVD's I've picked up over the years. I don't like the crowds, and honestly, I get distracted easily by all the other people. Plus, in my home, I can go at my pace - I'm not slowing down or speeding up to stay with the class's speed. I get to tailor each workout to what I need in that practice.

redhousecat

restorative yoga uses props. It is a type of yoga that is recommended for those recovering from injuries or just getting started. Its a nice, slow relaxing way to do yoga.

I've never done restorative yoga in a studio though. I wouldn't want to lug my own props around, nor would I want to use other's. But that is just me.