Your average Yoga Class is, say, $14. So, in times of Economic Crisis, do more or less folks go to yoga classes? One guess.

on Jan 12, 2009

Your average Yoga Class is, say, $14. So, in times of Economic Crisis, do more or less folks go to yoga classes? One guess.

We know some things actually do better when time$ are bad: like McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Alcohol and Check Cashing While You Wait places. But howwabout luxuries like taking a yoga class (not just doing one, free, at home)?

Well, according to a little media organization called Reuters:

By Dorene Internicola

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – As layoffs loom and pensions plummet, more people are unrolling their yoga mats and polishing their poses to find flexibility and sanity amid the financial chaos.

Fitness experts say gym memberships are holding steady, or rising, and yoga classes are thriving.

“The economy may have taken a downturn, but attendance in our yoga classes has grown,” said Jess Gronholm, National Yoga Coordinator for the Crunch health club chain.

“A yoga practice becomes a refuge from the negativity of an economic recession, and the studio becomes the sanctuary,” said Gronholm, whose employer has over 100,000 gym members in five U.S. states.

Yoga, which originated in India, uses movement and postures to strengthen the body and breathing techniques and meditation to quiet the mind.

Gronholm believes the 5,000-year-old practice is just the ticket in these belt-tightening, nail-biting times, when banks aren’t lending, consumers aren’t buying, and experts are calling the latest economic numbers terrifying.

“At the very least members can come in and ‘take a break’ from whatever else may be going on in their lives. And at the very most, a practice can become a transformational experience that reenergizes and rejuvenates you,” Gronholm said.

A recent Roper poll, commissioned by Yoga Journal, found that 11 million Americans do yoga occasionally and 6 million perform it regularly…for the rest, go here.

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more yoga. even with econo blues. « swati jr* says:

January 12, 2009 at 22:49

[...] yoga. even with econo blues. according to Reuters via Elephant Journal (yes! i love it ok!) yoga classes are getting more sweaty and delicious during these “hard [...]

admin says:

January 12, 2009 at 23:19

John Joseph at 10:15pm January 12
When is Wal-Mart going to offer $2 yoga classes?

Roger Wolsey says:

January 13, 2009 at 00:29

We offer free Yoga classes (hatha, vinyasa flow with a focus upon samscara release & self-acceptance increase) every Thursday night during CU’s Fall and Spring Semesters. 6:30PM at Wesley Chapel, 1290 Folsom St.

It’s primarily aimed at CU and Naropa students (that’s why it’s free).

Taught by Brian Saeger (who also teaches at the YMCA).

Peace.

Thai Yoga Massage says:

January 16, 2009 at 16:54

It’s great to hear that people are still making their well-being a priority. Yoga is a much better investment than the stock market! I think that Prana offers free yoga classes, which is such a great offering for the community!

Stephanie says:

January 19, 2009 at 15:04

As long as you still actually have a paycheck, you’ll always find a way to afford the crucial self care stuff…

bodaweightloss

chad henry says:

January 23, 2009 at 13:51

Well, I checked out my Denver yoga class location for “yoga day” and the cost was $14–wow, what a savings!

elephantjournal says:

October 28, 2009 at 17:05

Joshua Onysko
hmmm, walgreens selling flu shots and coke, BTW 70% of your bodies immune system depends on the health and alkalinity of your digestive system, 1 can of coke puts it on one leg for 5 hours….nice work walgreens/corp America

joni yung
so if yoga is a refuge from the negativity of an economic recession, how can you afford to go to class if you're affected by that recession? if you live in LA (especially the westside), not a problem — drop by any of the donation-based yoga studios and give what you can afford: power yoga east and west, bhakti yoga shala, yogaco, yogis anonymous, and shaktibox, to name a few…

Stephen Brooks
I actually just bought the fiercest yoga onsey at Walgreens!! They have the best yoga clothes. I got my cards read there also! Fierce!

Linda Sparrowe
love it!! a yoga onesy!

Is the Yoga Fad over? | elephant journal says:

October 29, 2009 at 11:47

[...] studios continue to open, and despite a down economy, yoga classes are as full as ever, by all reports. Yoga businesses continue to grow. Yoga continues to garner the attention of mainstream press. And [...]

My Girlfriend Introduced Me to Yoga. And then We Broke Up. ~ Brad Lynch | elephant journal says:

April 7, 2010 at 14:43

[...] me after a life of earning my living with my back and hands though, and eventually I developed a costly habit of my own. Not a daily practice, but a regular one, and it did have the benefit of enhancing my [...]