I tend to be…oh, let’s say…frugal. That’s a nicer word than cheap or stingy.
I’ve been wanting to branch out and explore different kinds of yoga, other than Bikram. My Bikram practice is always going to be my main squeeze, but after 2 years of a four-times-a-week practice, I just felt like it was time for us to have something of an open relationship.
But my tightwad tendencies went into overdrive when I thought about paying for individual yoga classes on top of my annual membership to my Bikram studio. So, I thought I found the perfect, if slightly cheesy, solution – TV yoga.
Sure, it’s harder to stay motivated in my living room – when no one else knows if I stop midway for some dark chocolate frozen yogurt – but come on, it’s free! I did Netflix instant download and to be completely honest, it sucked. The whole thing kinda sucked.
So, there were the technical problems. Without a floor length mirror, I couldn’t see what I was doing or check my alignment. The descriptions of the postures on the video were O.K., but not great. I didn’t know the difference between Warrior I and Warrior II (we don’t do those in Bikram) so I ended up wrenching around to look at the TV to figure out what to do with my arms. And that screwed up my hip, which, two days later is still bugging me.
But what I missed – a lot – was a teacher. Someone who would look at me and offer adjustments and support and who could guide me. Me, individually, not all viewers. While I don’t love being corrected in class (“Hey, Lisa, suck in that stomach!” is not pleasant to hear in a room of 50 people) I found I actually missed being picked on.
I also missed the group. Which is shocking, because I am so introverted that I qualify for hermit status. I thought yoga alone would suit me just fine but what I found was that I missed the energy of the room. The common purpose.
And that brings me back to what is the most unexpected thing about yoga for me. I love the community. I love the teachers who know your practice and the students who pass no judgment. I crave the feeling that we are all on this journey together, and that someone else has already walked this path and has experienced it all before me – both the brutal and the blissful. And I love the responsibility that I have to welcome the new person and offer the kind words that were said to me the first day I tip-toed into the studio, all nervous and intimidated.
I can’t get any of that from my living room.
So, while I may try a few other video classes for those days when I can’t pry myself from the house, I think my cheap self has realized that paying for classes isn’t a foolish expense; it’s a contribution to the valuable sangha community of us crazy yogis who just can’t get enough.
You might also like
Just here. Just now. 
I totally agree!!! Since I don’t practice all the time…I need modifications sometimes and only a teacher can really help with that!
There’s nothing better than practicing with a great teacher! We are super lucky here in Charlottesville to have some amazing ones…
Thanks for reading! : )
I teach yoga and I still miss doing yoga with a community. It just adds something to the practice. 🙂
It really is different, isn’t it? No matter how hard I try, my home practice just doesn’t do it for me the way a class does… thanks for reading!
I have managed the balance between loving and hating my Bikram yoga. But, the 90 minute class turns into 1.5+ hours, with travel time. With two kids, a husband, and a home…it was stressing me out, let’s just say. I couldn’t keep my mind in the studio. I do love being in a class setting with an instructor and that is what i will miss the times that I do practice at home.
I recently purchased a space heater, have a humidifier, have a room in my basement with a hardwood floor and a full-wall mirror (there’s a weight room down there too, and I never use that!). I downloaded Bikram Choudhury’s series of poses from iTunes, have a source to play them on, and I think I am good to go. I hope I enjoy this almost as much as I enjoy going to classes, as it will save me a ton of time!
Am I missing anything? Do you have any suggestions?
Wow – that sounds like an awesome set up you have! Yes, the time required for class is definitely an issue, and yoga should not be causing you more stress! Sounds like you have everything you need. A teacher and a yoga community are really vital for me right now, so I keep trying to carve out the time to get to class. But home practice can be really wonderful, too. It’s all about what works for you!
Great job finding the time for yoga!
My apologies…that should have been 2.5+ hours (gotta add in the travel time)!
My introduction to yoga was a Crunch DVD. At the time, all I really wanted to was to improve my flexibility. I was new mom which meant I didn’t have a lot of time and I also didn’t have a lot of money. So classes at an actual studio were out of the question. So I kept practicing with my DVD and bought more DVDs and then eventually I started taking one class a week at a local studio and using the DVDs and other online resources at home. I’ve been practicing Bikram yoga once a week for years now but I still don’t have the time or the money to practice more than that (one Bikram studio nearby charges something like $225 for 10 classes–out of my reach). So the bulk of my practice is done at home by myself and as an introvert, I quite enjoy practicing alone. It’s nice to practice in a class. Having group energy is great and sometimes you get an awesome, inspirational teacher. But by myself, I can look inward as much as I like and I feel like I have received so much benefit from having a solid, home practice. I can practice anywhere and at any time and I have a good sense of all the different forms of yoga.