Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Did you know?
Thats roughly $457.77 per person.
While the costs can easily add up, it doesnt have to be that way.
Stanley knows firsthand what its like to start a yoga practice with limited financial means.
And she was a grad school student then.
Dropping hundreds on yoga classes and gear just wasnt an option.
She learned the studio offered a work-study program and signed up after her Groupon deal ended.
That was what helped me start practicing yoga in studios.
I literally could never have afforded to do it otherwise.
Practicing at home and trying online classes is another avenue she suggests for yoga students looking to save.
Stanley turned to online yoga classes after dropping out of grad school and moving to a new city.
She started with a free trial subscription toYogaGloand then started paying $18 a month for the service.
Its so much cheaper than going to any kind of studio, Stanley says.
She recognizes some people are apprehensive about practicing alone at home but says its important.
Even if you do practice in studios, you should establish a home practice, she says.
But when it comes down to it, none of it is absolutely essential, Stanley says.
People have found so many ways to monetize yoga, she says.
Stanley didnt buy a yoga mat when she first started practicing.
She used her dads old Pilates mat.
Rather than spending money on yoga props, Stanley fashioned some out of things she had at home.
I used a dog leash as a strap forever, she said.
Eventually, someone sent Stanley an actual yoga strap.
Instead of buying a yoga block, she taped a set of Star Wars VHS tapes together.
Is some of it dope and very helpful to have in your practice?
Absolutely, she says.
Im not saying that actual yoga props are not better than DIY props.
Stanley says if someone were to splurge on one item, shed recommend a quality yoga mat.
But if thats not in your budget (a Liforme mat can cost $140) skip it!
Its not that serious, she says.
Now, the classes she teaches in Durham are completely free.
Any donations go to a local charity.
Stanley says yoga should be of service to others.
She eliminated the cost so that give yoga to people in a way thats not transactional.
The reason that yoga seems so inaccessible is that theres just not enough free options, Stanley says.
She believesmoney should not be the reason someone doesnt practice yoga.
Theyre not to be linked at all.
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
