10,000 Vinyasas

I have, on occasion, recommended to students that they visit a local studio (since I practice at one, specifically, I recommended that one). Such suggestions, by and large, have fallen flat. Reflecting upon my own transition from “gym yoga” classes to those at a studio causes me to realize that making a change like this looms a bit larger in peoples minds than I realized at first. Here are some possible reasons yoga students find it difficult to make that jump:

1. It’s an added expense. When you’re used to paying a monthly fee for all facilities and classes at a gym, and you contemplate paying for every yoga class at a studio, it requires you to create a little more space in your budget, which people may be unable or reluctant to do. The counter to this, of course, is that, generally, the quality of instruction at a yoga studio is going to be higher (sometimes, quite a bit higher), and so the extra expense is justified, but that’s not necessarily visible to someone who hasn’t yet experienced the yoga studio.

2. It’s another unfamiliar environment. People imagine (I suppose) that they are not skilled enough to walk into a yoga studio and begin practicing, perhaps thinking that the students as well as the instructors are at a much higher level than they are. This, with some qualifications, is simply wrong. There is a bit of self-selection in the clientele of a yoga studio, but by and large, there are just as many mixed level classes and students in studios as there are in gyms. On the other hand, the classes at a yoga studio tend to be more stratified in terms of difficulty, and studios are quite open about what those differing levels of difficulty are, which of course leads to one being able to choose a suitable class more carefully. I’ve been to studios for the first time and indicated that I wanted to attend a particular class, and was questioned by the person signing me up as to my abilities and experience, which I appreciated since it was clear that they didn’t want me to end up in a class that was beyond my capabilities.

3. Classes may not be offered at convenient times. It’s mostly true, except for perhaps the most popular yoga studios, that class schedules tend to be limited, and the location may not be as convenient either. Again, the reluctance here is probably due to not experiencing the value of the instruction and overall experience firsthand. Someone who has may be more inclined to overcome logistical issues.

4. There are undoubtedly some people who are more comfortable with certain aspects of “gym yoga,” i.e., the lack of chanting, mantras, Sanskrit, etc. These people are the ones who tend to mistake these aspects of yoga as religious attempts to convert them, when yoga is nothing of the kind. Not wanting to be judgmental here, and avoiding the sensitive topic of religion, I would just note that these people are incorrect in their prejudice. No one will ever seek to replace/supplant someone else’s religious beliefs in yoga. Of course, people who believe this are probably not going to change their minds, and probably shouldn’t visit a yoga studio anyway.

I view finding and practicing at a yoga studio as another step in the journey that begins with your first yoga class. When the time comes, your mind and body will let you know. Don’t let these mental objections overcome the exhilaration of taking that next step.