Is yoga for wealthy people only?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I used to think that all my life that yoga is something that everyone can afford, and it assumed ascetic lifestyle, since for practice you need only a blanket and a “piece of space” and a good book. Moreover, yogi can save a lot on cutting food cravings and other cravings and desires.

I read in the yoga journal ( and other places) that about 80% people who practice yoga in the United States have an income of $75K and higher, and only 3% people who has income $30K and less. (And I think that low income category needs it more than anyone else.)

Indeed all these fancy “yoga equipment” is very costly. Organic and holistic food is just extremely expensive. Yoga classes are usually barely affordable (sometimes $25 per class!), not to mention weekly yoga retreats (starting from $600 or so).

I think that all these prices scares away many people. And they would not even attempt to try it.

Do you think in the nearest future yoga would be a lifestyle of wealthy people only?

#2

I totally agree with you CityMonk. And the primary reason why India now wants to copyright Yoga is because the West has made it their commercial entity, and many yoga professionals/ institutions have made a lot of money from it!

#3

[QUOTE=omamana;32542]I totally agree with you CityMonk. And the primary reason why India now wants to copyright Yoga is because the West has made it their commercial entity, and many yoga professionals/ institutions have made a lot of money from it![/QUOTE]

Now Indians want to make it their commercial entity:))

#4

Yes, but not for commercial or monetary purposes…

Its only to prevent people in the West from claiming a copyright on yoga moves or patents on ancient medicinal cures which are not original to them.

#5

There’s a few ‘yoga by donation’ places around. You don’t need to buy organic food to do yoga. I think a lot of rich people do yoga, cause sometimes rich people become so goal focused, they always feel the need to be doing something… alarm clock goes off… coffee, work, coffee, email, work, tennis, work, lunch with a client, Facebook status update, work, email, golf, work, coffee, gym, piano lessons, email, yoga, coffee, take the kids to netball, baseball, and tap dancing, coffee, cocaine, pilates, dinner, email, facebook status update, bed. :smiley:

#6

maybe rich people are rich because they do yoga :wink:

#7

hahahah yeah right!

#8

In most places yoga has become the new “slim fast program”. Some “yogi’s” see there chance to profit…sounds like some bad karma to me. I personal love teaching for donation, and have another job to support my lifestyle.

#9

have to agree with City Monk. Yoga classes and equipment are expensive (a monthly class pass is $80.00 where I live). For many low-income families, that amount is nearly 1/10 of their income. And while some schools offer classes for donations(taught by students) they are sometimes offered at times that don’t allow these working people to attend. (nearly all of these are not salary but hourly positions and don’t have the luxury of a flexable work schedule) For those in single parent homes, the cost of a yoga class will be much more due to the need to find child care for any children they may have.
I hope that yoga does not beomce optional lifestyle that is only attainable for the rich.
I guess I will get off my soap box now.

[QUOTE=jlg;32565]maybe rich people are rich because they do yoga ;)[/QUOTE]

Yes I believe that rich (full of vitailty and happiness) people are rich (joyous and leading fulling lives) becuase they do yoga;)

#10

[QUOTE=YogiAdam;32564]There’s a few ‘yoga by donation’ places around. :D[/QUOTE]

Yes, but the “propaganda” of “yoga for wealthy” make others got scared away before they even have started:(

PS : you reply made me laugh:)) cocaine, yoga, coffee, update status on facebook:)

#11

[QUOTE=YogiAdam;32564]…people become so goal focused, they always feel the need to be doing something… alarm clock goes off… coffee, work, coffee, email, work, tennis, work, lunch with a client, Facebook status update, work, email, golf, work, coffee, gym, piano lessons, email, yoga, coffee, take the kids to netball, baseball, and tap dancing, coffee, cocaine, pilates, dinner, email, facebook status update, bed. :D[/QUOTE]

One of the reasons they need yoga…

#12

when bare necessities of life are taken care of, people have time for yoga (of Patanjali).

this is the reason why stuff like yoga are not popular in poor countries of Africa, India etc.

in an imperfect world people have “better” things to do than want to dissolve their jiva-atman in the param-atman.

#13

Yoga costs nothing ,just sit on the floor and close your eyes and witness,If your body aches do a few stretches or some pranayama to ease the pain and allow for a more comfortable and steady sitting ,yoga is for all,as B k S Iyengar says not everyone is for yoga,who lived for many years in extreme poverty ,yet overcame this to become a reknowned teacher of yoga.
You could train to be teachers and give free yoga lessons ! problem solved.
I give free meditation lessons very few come ,I charge for yoga classes many more come , There are other groups that charge per meditation class, I dont know ,but I bet they have better attendance than my free class ,go figure.
I live in a very poor part of our very rich country (although its seriously in debt ) Many low income /unemployed people have money for tvs , mobile phones , booze and tobacco (our welfare state is still generous ) most of these same people cant afford to come to class. A small number decide to make yoga a priority. Its all good.
om shanti

#14

PatR, do you think that there is a “perfect world” beside an “imperfect”?
Maybe, yoga in India dont have this glamourous popularity as in Western countries, but I guess its closer to what yoga is supposed to be.

Attending classes is not necessary to do yoga. So is equipment.
On this basis it`s not just for wealthy people.

#15

In Sydney cycling is the sport of the rich, but yoga instructors are always scratching around for money [don’t give up the daytime job]

#16

[QUOTE=Sasha;32602]Attending classes is not necessary to do yoga.[/QUOTE]

I don’t agree. When I first started yoga I ended up injuring myself because I did not have a teacher to correct me or to teach me the right way. I do now, and I enjoy doing asanas more, pain free!

When I am more confident I will practice on my own, until then I am spending a lot of $$$, which is fair enough as I choose to, but it’s sad that so many people cannot access yoga because of money :frowning:

#17

I don’t for even a second believe that 80%+ of yoga practitioners in the USA have an income of 75k or higher. Considering the median income is $52,000, I would love to see how Yoga Journal arrived at that number. A survey of yoga practitioners in a studio in San Francisco?

#18

[QUOTE=omamana;32612]I don’t agree. When I first started yoga I ended up injuring myself because I did not have a teacher to correct me or to teach me the right way. I do now, and I enjoy doing asanas more, pain free!
:([/QUOTE]

[B]With the same rate of probability you can get injured in the yoga studio![/B] Considering that class sometimes as big and instructor cant see you at all. Moreover some “yoga educational companies” can issue a certificate ones you complete few online tests and sent them $300!!!

#19

[QUOTE=Sasha;32602]PatR, do you think that there is a “perfect world” beside an “imperfect”?[/QUOTE]

No…

#20

Yes, taking classes is pretty expensive - anywhere you go now. A solution may be to start a ‘group’ and practice together, every now and then splurging on an instructor to keep on the straights. In between, there are many excellent yoga dvds out there even at the library for free.