How I Saved $$ on Yoga Classes

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So I love yoga.  It’s numerous health benefits are undeniable.  It’s a great way to relax, rejuvenate, meditate, relieve stress and stay in shape. 

But it’s really expensive! For those of us who love yoga but can’t afford $100+/mth for classes, what’s to be done? 

Last month I found a way to take as many classes as I wanted, and at any time I wanted, so I wasn’t beholden to a studio. 

So first I have to tell you my journey with yoga began when I was like 12.  I saw Gerda Krebs doing yoga with her fluffy cat and beautiful view on her show, Yoga Fits In, on Shaw TV back in the early ‘90s (Canadians in their 30s, 40s and 50s might get the reference).  From then on I would tune in and try my best to get my head between my knees the way Gerda did. 

Holy smokes you should have seen Gerda go!  She would have been like 60 then, and could do things that, even at the peak of my nearly 20yr dance career, I wasn’t flexible enough to do.    

Incidentally, Gerda is over 80 now and STILL teaching yoga at the Yoga forToday studio in Alberta!  If I were nearby I would totally pay anything to take classes with Gerda because she’s the reason I started yoga in the first place.  But I digress…

Let’s face it, at $10-20 a class, yoga is a shi shi luxury and not for the financially distressed. 

A friend recently recommended MyYogaOnline.com to me.  I looked into it, decided to sign up, and I’m totally loving it right now.  It’s $10/mth for unlimited yoga, pilates, meditation and tai chi classes.  As long as you have internet you can watch it any time, any place you want (or you can download individual videos)

They also have free programs (i.e. 8 day spring cleanse) that you can sign up for and get daily tips, recipes and classes for, as well as an online community you can chat with.

I’ve been doing 15-20 morning flow classes every morning and it has been wonderful for getting me out of bed and setting up my day.  I’ve actually been more productive on days when I start the day with yoga because I feel more purposeful. 

Oh, and they’re running a 14 day program right now leading up to Valentine’s Day on how yoga can help you have better sex, with or without a partner... *nudge nudge wink wink, say no more*  

So here’s the deal, if you go to this invite page, you can get 2 weeks totally free to try it out (no credit card or obligation required).  Then you can decide if you want to do a month by month or full year deal. 

Now in the interest of full disclosure, if you sign up for a trial on this page, I get one month free.  However, you are under absolutely no obligation to buy anything!  I get one month free just for you signing up for a trial. That’s all.  If you do sign up for a membership, you can offer your friends this too.

You don’t need to sign in just to poke around their site and read some of the articles, but you won’t get to watch full videos, you’ll only get previews. 

To get you started, I’ve linked some of my favorite short videos so far (15-25 min)

Thisone is a vigorous morning flow, good for days when you need to be energized (good for beginner – intermediates)

This one is goodfor a more relaxing wake up, like a lazy Sunday morning (beginners – intermediates)

What I really like about both is that they emphasize “setting your intention for the day”, i.e. focusing on a word or concept that you want to guide your day.  For me this is often something garbled like “motivated, get stuff done, just do it, check things off your To Do list, stop procrastinating” but I find that even that helps. 

Thisone is a nice way to end the day.  With this one I light some candles, turn off the light, and do it right before bed.  It makes me feel like a sleepy cat! 

Now I’m not saying this totally replaces the yoga studio.  If I could afford it, I’d probably be at the studio because it’s nice to be able to get feedback on whether you’re doing the movements correctly or not.  I’m always for supporting local businesses, too.  Although, in a way I guess I am supporting “local” instructors as it turns out I know one of two of the teachers online from my home town! 

How do you get your exercise? Are you trying something new for 2013?

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And don't forget, the raffle to win a copy of Pauli Halstead's new cookbook Primal Cuisine is open until Feb 7.  You can read more about it, and enter here to win! 

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