Are you a broke college student or simply living on a tight budget? No worries! There are plenty of ways to practice for very little dough or even for free.
Free Classes in Your Community
It might take some sleuthing, but there could be a variety of free yoga classes offered in your town. If you’re enrolled in an academic institution, go online or visit the fitness center to find out what’s being offered. But, no need to stop there! Local libraries and churches often offer free or donation-based classes. Many yoga clothing stores like Lululemon and Prana offer free weekly in-store classes. If you’re into Kundalini Yoga, sadhana (daily morning practice) is always offered free of charge.
Work Trade Programs
Many studios offer exchange programs where you can exchange time working in the studio at the desk or cleaning after class for a free or discounted membership. Many studios have this opportunity listed on their site, but for those that don’t, reaching out to studios and inquiring is definitely worth it.
YouTube
There are many skilled yoga instructors that have their own YouTube channels offering high quality and free video classes with a wide variety of styles and lengths. Some great channels to check out are Yoga With Adriene, Body Positive Yoga, and DOYOUYOGA.
YogaJournal.com
You’re already here. Stay a while! Head on over to our sequences and video pages to find hundreds of free practices: from stress and anxiety reduction to vigorous strengthening workouts.
Donation-Based Classes
Many studios have at least one donation-based or free class on their schedule. Check out some of the local studios in your area to see if they offer these more accessible classes. Attending these free classes at multiple studios is a great way to expose yourself to a variety of yoga teachers and styles for little to no cost. Also, many studios offer very low introductory rates: pay $40 for two weeks of unlimited classes, for example. Check the website or call to find out.
See also The Business of Yoga: Why I Run a Donation-Based Studio.
Books!
Turning to a book to practice yoga may not be your first instinct, but there are many amazing books out there that offer different yoga poses and sequences that you can choose from based on what you are needing out of your practice. Sequencing your own at-home practice out of books is a fun way to get creative and deepen your understanding of asana. Buying a yoga book, or better yet, borrowing one from the library, is a simple cost-efficient way to practice at home.
Here are some great books to enhance your home practice: