Happy Free Day of Yoga: 10 Ways to Keep Yoga Budget-Friendly

Since 1999, Austin, Texas has hosted a Free Day of Yoga the Monday of Labor Day weekend. This isn't just an independent studio that opens its doors with “donation classes”, where you end up feeling a little guilty for leaving just a dollar or two. Nope. All over town, studios and organizations are open for free classes.

The event has become so popular, that cities around Texas and the country are now taking part. Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and even Guam have embraced the celebration. Perhaps your community participates as well (or would like to) – leave a comment to share!

What I love about the free day of yoga, and why I want to share it on Hubpages, is my belief that we shouldn’t have to pay for exercise and physical activities. Having money shouldn´t be a prerequisite to having good health. If you have the money – great! But not everyone has bills burning a whole in their pocket. I don’t. Unfortunately, since yoga in the US (and many other countries around the world) has become such a popular trend, yoga is usually offered in a paying classroom setting, and often at a high price. For such a low-cost exercise, why do we pay such a high ticket price? Motivation? Expertise? Training? I believe all of these can be found without paying the high-ticket price of a fancy classroom.

Nowadays, you can also find a number of donation-based classes, and I try to support organizations that I believe in, but yoga (like all other physical activities) should be available to everyone who wants to practice. Because it activates and challenges both your mind and physical body, it can benefit just about anyone willing to put in a little work. It is a flexible practice that can be demanding or restorative; athletic or spiritual; social or solitary. Yoga can help you overcome an injury or aid on the road to rehabilitation. Yoga is truly for everyone….so if you are still harboring that “yoga is for girls” mentality, maybe try some Moga first. I won’t go as far as to say yoga is a cure-all, but everyone I know whose ever given it a chance has found it rewarding.

To celebrate Free Day of Yoga, here are a few tips to keep yoga affordable and for everyone, instead of just those who have the cash to drop on a yuppie studio.

1. Buy a DVD

By no means should this be your only yoga resource, but there are some good yoga videos for purchase at reasonable prices (Gaiam has always served me well). This is a great tool for beginners, as a supplement to any yoga practice, particularly those who need a little motivation and instructions.

Some yoga instructors post free yoga videos online. Here are a few good ones to try:

If you don’t need a visual aid, there are voice-guided practices found everywhere from Itunes to Grooveshark. Personally, my yoga podcasts are all on Grooveshark.

Look into the different schools of yoga and choose one that suits your needs. Or just find a combination that works for you.

Keep your practice challenging by participating in online discussions, or just look for new tips.

Start or join a yoga group in your community to motivate and help one another in your practice.

Ask around the studios in your area to see if they have a yoga-work exchange. If not, inquire if they could use volunteers for upcoming events, or for help around the studio, in exchange for class hours.

Studios often offer the first day of classes for free. Ask the studios in your area what deals they offer newcomers.

As a footnote for Austinites, here are a few of the studios that offer donation-based classes on a regular basis: