Hi,
Soon I will take my first private lesson with my yoga teacher. I’m new to the world of yoga and unaware of its conventions so I put the question to those of you with experience:
When you have a private lesson at your teacher’s home studio are you supposed to add a tip on to the lesson fee? If so, what’s the typical range?
Or if not a tip are you expected to bring some small gift as you would normally do when invited to someone’s home?
Thank you,
John
Hello John,
A rather unique and mindful question and I can safely say I’ve not ever seen it before.
I don’t feel it necessary to be tipped for teaching a student. I make a rate which is a fair energetic exchange and that is that. To tip implies I would not be doing my utmost each time I work, that my “service” might vary and be subjectively evaluated, and that I should be financially rewarded for a “better job”. I give each student what I am able to give and there’s simply no sound reason for you, the student to do more.
Gifts also are not necessary. However let me stress that as a yoga teacher if you were to tip or give a gift the appropriate response would be to graciously accept, even if it were an unnecessary gift.
If however you feel moved by the teachings it can be very nice to give some time to helping the studio, making a meal, doing a service for the teacher. Bear in mind that classically it was the duty of the student to take care of the needs of the teacher in exchange for the teaching. While money may not have been around, currency or energy was always exchanged.
Thank you for the response, Gordon. Good to know tips are not expected.
Before I even set up the private lesson I was planning to give my teacher a small gift to express my gratitude but also because it’s something I wish to share with her (a collection of Borges stories I find meaningful). The lesson gives me an ideal opportunity to present it to her.
All the best,
John
Hi,
I’m not a teacher but i would just treat it like any professional transaction like a visit to the doctor’s, a lawyer or accountant.If you want to tip, then feel free to tip.Though to be honest i don’t think yoga and money really mixes very well.Though that is just my feeling on it and i guess people can choose to make a living somehow.The thought of commerce and yoga just sits funny here somehow though, sure, that is’nt what you asked.
It is more of an energetic and “spiritual” exchange between student/teacher/guru as Gordon stated.If you want to express your gratitiude for this then you can do it any way you like.It is the spirit behind any intention you may or may not have that counts.
As a common-place practice I’ve never heard of it but in a one-to-one context that’s a bit different.
In the past the student traditionally lived with the guru/teacher and took care of some of his/her welfare at least as well as household duties i believe while teachings were handed out piece-meal over a period of time, indeed typically a number of years. It’s not the same now and different culture and money is recognised currency today.
A book sounds like a better approach because they might just be a bit embarassed.Bear in mind i’m not a yoga teacher but I’m sure money is as attractive to them as anyone else.
Perhaps you could find lessons from an instructor who does not expect compensation?
Hi Ray,
I am not opposed to paying for instruction and I did not intend my initial question to be interpreted that way. I merely asked if a certain convention exists. Sorry for the confusion.
Moreover, I elected to take a private lesson with my teacher because I feel a strong connection to her instruction and I believe the private lesson will help my practice in and out of class. I’m not doing this because her fee seems like a good deal.
Best,
John
Ok nice that you can afford $$$ to keep the enterprising western yoga machine going, hard to believe it survived 7000 years without it, FYI I?ve stated on other threads in this forum that I am opposed to paying for yoga in any way shape or limb.
Ray , yogis to some extent have often had to rely on patronage of others , what is your objection , do you extend this dictat to other folk how about doctors and nurses or is it just yoga teachers. Out of interest have you ever paid for lessons . How do you feel that yoga teachers or gurus should survive in this increasingly capitalistic world.
By the way I offer meditation lessons for free , I hardly get any interest , I charge for yoga lessons and get plenty of interest
[QUOTE=core789;55432]Hi,
…Though to be honest i don’t think yoga and money really mixes very well…[/QUOTE]
Ray said:
Perhaps you could find lessons from an instructor who does not expect compensation?
Dharma, [I]Artha[/I], Kama, Moksha.
In classical yoga the student took care of ALL of the needs for the teacher in exchange for the teachings. So in that way the “compensation” was far greater than it is today.
Wealth has always been a part of the yoga path however it was not always defined in the way it is today and it is exempted (obviously) be renunciates. The wealth that is required in yoga is that wealth necessary for that person’s dharma to be lived.
With a dogmatic position of “never paying” that person would not have been entertained by a teacher of yoga 7,000 years ago. The only thing that is created by someone coming and taking from another without compensating them for the giving is imbalance. For those who wish imbalance, forge ahead eyes wide open.
[QUOTE=charliedharma;55474]Ray , yogis to some extent have often had to rely on patronage of others , what is your objection , do you extend this dictat to other folk how about doctors and nurses or is it just yoga teachers. Out of interest have you ever paid for lessons . How do you feel that yoga teachers or gurus should survive in this increasingly capitalistic world.
[B] By the way I offer meditation lessons for free , I hardly get any interest [/B], I charge for yoga lessons and get plenty of interest[/QUOTE]
This is because they dont’ know what they are missing.
They just don’t get it.
If i spoke with candor about what could actually be done they would just roll their eyes in disbelief and want to get on with the vinyasa for the next hour and a half so they could work and sweat their way towards a bodiliscious body or a peaceful buzz…
(nice post Gordon - as usual)
charliedharma/Gordon:
Yes I?ve paid substantial amounts of money over the years to yoga studios; sessions, courses, classes, drop ins, workshops, events, retreats, lectures, books, videos, DVD?s , CD?s most of it well worth it and the moneys spent have only been a small fraction of the money I?ve gained from yoga. I?ve watched yoga grow from $0.00 to a multibillion dollar a year big business and I don?t like the feel of it, but who am I to judge, yoga was here before me and surely going to survive after me. Ironically Gordon my statement was a well intended attempt to balance the extremeness I?m detecting lately in the western yoga industry. For those who can afford it great and for those who can?t know that there may be options out there, if you?re willing to mop the floor and take out the trash you may very well find space for your mat during practice.
Ray I would not disagree with you on that one , although most folk are probably not making much , For the last 25 years Ive seen my income go down and down especially as i now teach full time , and run a studio (not the best way to earn piles of filthy lucre ) my contentedness has increased as my income has decreased !
It can make me sad when I see people use yoga for naked commercialism and when folk try to get as much money as possible without trying to give as much as possible , but if I awake further Ill not let it disturb my equanimity 
[QUOTE=charliedharma;55588] It can make me sad when I see people use yoga for naked commercialism and when folk try to get as much money as possible without trying to give as much as possible , but if I awake further Ill not let it disturb my equanimity [/QUOTE]
I like this statement. I think paying for asana classes could only really disturb your equanimity if your equanimity were already disturbed. It’s not the money itself that ruins it – it’s our attachment to money. Therefore, I think eliminating the use of money is not getting to the root of the issue. The commodification of yoga has obviously increased over the years, in some cases to the point of extreme, but still, people need to make a living from their services. As it has been pointed out, even gurus of old were financially supported by their followers. Yoga exchanges are great, but since we don’t currently live in a bartering society, yoga teachers need money to continue to offer their services. I think it’s unfortunately cynical to view that financial support as “keeping the enterprising western yoga machine going”.
I also feel that declaring that one should never pay for any yoga instruction is just as extreme as commercialising yoga by creating false needs like yoga outfits. I don’t think balance is achieved by jumping from one extreme to the other. Cultivating a home practice is ideal and can offset the cost of being dependent on a studio for asana practice.
