Powers of Levitation: The Rising Cost of Yoga
May 8, 2008As a longtime avid yoga practitioner and yoga instructor I know very well how huge and mainstream yoga has become, especially in New York City. Besides LA, I’m not sure any city in America has quite so many yoga studios, especially Downtown, where I live. There are over a dozen yoga studios around “Yoga Square”, i.e. Union Square, alone.
The explosion of yoga is a great thing! The more that yoga gets into the consciousness of the world and its cities, the better. Yoga teaches us to be more mindful, present, and aware- no matter how spiritually-focused or physically-focused the class may be. And there is something for everyone- Bhikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, Anusara and more. My teacher Dharma Mittra instructs us “Don’t criticize any kind of yoga.” All yoga is good.
With yoga’s popularity has come a noticeable rise in the price of practicing. This is a tricky subject. On the one hand, I want the studios to thrive and provide great teachers the means to live and teach group yoga classes. (Private yoga sessions, at over $100/hour, are definitely only reserved for the well-to-do). On the other hand, cost is a barrier to the spread of yoga’s teachings throughout the world; the essential teachings of yoga counsel that it benefits everyone and those who have access to yoga should share it.
When I was studying yoga across India, in Dharmsala, Rishikesh, Varanasi, and other places, yoga ashrams were run like this: if I agreed to stay at the yoga ashram for at least 15 days, I would be provided meals, yoga classes, and lodging for as little as $2/day. The true teachers I studied under see their purpose as making yoga as accessible to everyone, and therefore affordable.
These days yoga studios in New York City may be priced at $25 (gasp!) per single class, and upwards of $250/month. The class might be taught by a great teacher — a master — but does exceptional instruction justify charging so much for yoga that a great number of people cannot afford to join? Doesn’t that somehow contradict the idea that yoga, at its heart, is meant to spread love and positive vibrations throughout the world, to as many as possible? One could, of course, argue that master teachers should make money, and do very well because they have worked so hard and deserve it. But where is the line between charging a premium but fair price and charging an outrageous price?
Thankfully, many gyms offer yoga classes and if you search a little bit you can find some great teachers. I teach in several gyms around New York and my students often express that they want to progress further and take more classes. When I recommend yoga studios, the answer time and time again is that they can’t afford it.
It sort of reminds me of the high rising price of education. I went to a private university myself, Georgetown University. My poor family saved and worked extremely hard to cover the costs, which at the time were around $30,000 per year. I think now the price is over $40K! Should an excellent, private education be reserved for the upper class? Soon, is yoga going to be accessible to only the upper class?
As a yoga instructor I do see both sides, But I can’t help but wonder why there isn’t more middle ground: charge a bit less per class and studios will get more students. By training more yogis, the studios as a group will be even more successful and, yes, make more money.
well, the answer is instructors like you teaching at gyms. I was remarking just the other day to a friend, how lucky I was to come across fantastic teachers like you and my spin teachers at a gym where I originally only signed up to do weights and cardio. This is NYC, life here can be viewed as anything but human in many circumstances…this is why yoga thrives. At the same time, however, everything in NYC, including yoga, is going to be viewed as a commodity.
btw - $2 a day in India is approximately 80 Rupees which is considered a daily middle class wage. We see it as $2, but many Indians, certainly those in rural areas, will see it as $80. I learned this while tipping drivers in India thinking in U.S. dollars. More than one Indian host told me I was ruining the market for them.
Hey there! thanks so much for your comment. yes, you are right, $2/day was the ‘foreigner’ rate in India which is still much more than locals can afford. it is all relative! That’s funny about what your host said. When I was in Asia, people told me too that bargaining was really important to keep the market in check.
I am so happy that you like my class and that you found yoga at the gym! What a great place to get exposed to it.
Where were you in India and how long were you there?
love your class, had no idea yoga could make me feel so satisfied physically. Will have to get by with my DVDs the next few months because we are also going away for three weeks.
I didn’t do India the way you did, and It’s one of my biggest regrets. I’ve travelled a lot, but not the way you did. Anyway, been to India many times, even got married there over a four day ceremony. Been to Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Mysore. Coorg, and Jaipur. Would like to visit Varanasi, Calcutta, Chennai, and would really love to see Pondicherry. I’ll get to all of them soon enough. Took me three full visits to “get” India, but now I do. I’m sure I’ll be living there for a few years soon enough. Btw, Wes Anderson captures India wonderfully in “The Darjeeling Limited” if you want to see a lovely movie.