You can’t know yoga by talking or thinking or reading about yoga. You come to know yoga by developing a consistent, daily practice. As the saying goes, “Yoga is 99% practice, 1% theory.”
In the actual, tangible practice is where you’ll bear the fruit.
It can be tempting to practice with free videos on YouTube, hit up every “First Class Free” studio in your area, and get in on all the New Student studio specials, but in the long run, it isn’t actually going to serve you.
Consistent practice is pertinent, not only in the sense of how often you get on your mat every week, but also what, where, and with whom you’re practicing. The quality of the practice itself is huge, and honestly, it’s not developed through studio hopping and one-dimensional videos.
Think about it this way: if you’re constantly jumping from one yoga style to the next, one teacher to another, you’re digging a lot of shallow holes.
Yes, of course, it’s important to explore various teachers, studios, lineages, home practices, etc. and find what suits your needs in your current life situation. But find that, then. And when you find that one style of practice that resonates with you, and that teacher who speaks to your heart and helps you grow, keep digging that hole. It will take you deeper than any video ever will.
We get it. Not everyone is ready to throw down upwards of $100 a month for a studio membership, or $60-$100 per private session on a regular basis. The numbers can be off-putting, especially if you’re newer to the practice and haven’t really experienced its true value.
But we’re here to tell you that yes, putting yoga sessions into your monthly budget is, indeed, something we should all make happen. Here are some reasons why:
Yoga Works.
The benefits of yoga are backed up by science, tradition, and personal experience (if you’ve ever taken even one yoga class, you probably remember the immediate affects you felt as you laid in savasana). It really is therapy for your heart, meditation for your mind, and, in many instances, a work out for your body. If you commit to a regular yoga practice, you will experience it’s magic. Guaranteed.
It’s Worth It.
Yoga makes life richer. A happier, healthier life is worth the cost. Connecting more deeply to your own self, the world around you, and the divine within everything is worth it. The way we see it, you’re either going to pay to support your health and wellbeing now, while you can really reap the benefits and prevent health issues, or you’re going to pay for healing the damage later. And let’s be real, paying for the healing is going to be way less fun (and way pricier) than yoga classes.