Yoga Students Pressured to Buy Extras
30 posts across 11 communities in the last 30 days; 63% from r/yoga.
“Hi, all. I've been trying to get into yoga mainly for posture. So far I've been able to follow some instruction with little difficulty. (Satvic yoga and Yoga with Adrienne - yoga for posture videos on youtube). Today, i tried to follow a Yoga with Lakshmi beginner session and i…”
“For context: I have been going to this studio for some time. Its always been good vibes with the instructors and the owner whenever I am there. There are a bunch of studios in the area. One of the "legs up" that this one has is that they offer midday classes daily (12pm-2pm) and…”
“So I’m like brand new to the world of yoga. I just recently joined a class and I’m already planning on quitting because of how embarrassing it’s been. To keep it blunt, I have very large breasts that have been getting in the way in almost every pose we’ve practiced. Child’s…”
Long-time yoga practitioners are experiencing discomfort and frustration due to instructors consistently pushing them to purchase additional products and services, creating a feeling of obligation and undermining the practice's intended benefits. This pressure detracts from the core value of yoga and impacts mental wellbeing.
SOURCES (60)
“I have had really bad posture for years, to the point where people notice and occasionally comment on it. I would love to change it, and I’m interested in yoga. I only have the time to do one class per week though, and I have…”
“I've practiced yoga on and off for ~11 years but kept injuring myself since I didn't know I was extremely hypermobile. Now I've got a grip on that and am practicing consistently 4-5x a week (vinyasa, mostly heated). I definitely notice improvement in endurance, flexibility etc. My question is - without specific instruction during class, how do you know how to improve? How do you get to a point where you're really floating to top of mat, or doing handstand during vinyasa, or getti”
“Hi everyone, I started taking “advanced reformer” classes in a new studio and I find that most of them we ended up using the reformer mat like a mat not really using the reformer at all (spring tension, straps etc) which I didn’t like. I thought I could have gotten a mat package for half the price and here I am paying so much more just to work the reformer mat. Is this s new “trend” or are the teachers being lazy? submitted by /u/No_Reputation_3054 [link] [comments]”
“Where should I start if my goal is to improve life energy, mental clarity, calmness and overall wellbeing through traditional yoga? I'm interested in learning about Prana, Pranayama, Kriya Yoga, Kundalini, chakras, nadis, Dhyana and Samadhi. I want to understand how these practices fit together and, more importantly, which practices I should actually learn and practise. My goals are to improve physical and mental energy, feel more present and alive, develop inner calm, and support my overall”
“I weight lift, run, and do hiit classes often. As I aged I started waking up in pain with a lot of stiffness and my light stretching doesn’t cut it anymore. I took like 5 yoga classes and now I don’t wake up with extreme tightness to where it’s hard to walk anymore. I know this is obvious, but yogas pretty cool. I bought a mat and all that. Will be going 3x a week on rest days now. submitted by /u/FreeOGPoohShiesty [link] [comments]”
“Hello everyone! For PT they are recommending that I do inversions with a headstand bench. I tried it during my session today and it was amazing. The bench they had there had handles. I feel like I’ve seen people talk about FeetUp, but it doesn’t have handles and the rectangular legs look awkward to grip onto. It’s also expensive haha. Does anyone have one that they recommend? submitted by /u/MolarBear13 [link] [comments]”
“From books i have read, Yoga is supposed to be so much more than physical stretching. It’s meditation, a way of life, and fundamentally centered around breath ( Pranayama ). However, I’m finding a huge gap in standard classes. I’m looking to deeply learn breathing mechanics: 360-degree rib expansion, directing breath into specific parts of the torso, and conditioning respiratory muscles under different poses/loads. I tried for a month Vinyasa Yoga at a local studio but im afraid that essentially”
“Seems like sound healing now goes hand in hand with a lot of yoga classes these days and I almost feel short changed when theres one without the other, but sound healing is a practice of its own that was very hard to acess 5 plus years ago. Love it ?/leave it or gotta have it? What are your thoughts and feelings when you seee Yoga ____ + Soundbath on the schedule? submitted by /u/Public-Ad8008 [link] [comments]”
“Hi, all. I've been trying to get into yoga mainly for posture. So far I've been able to follow some instruction with little difficulty. (Satvic yoga and Yoga with Adrienne - yoga for posture videos on youtube). Today, i tried to follow a Yoga with Lakshmi beginner session and i can't do a single sitting posture. Bhadrasana Trying to get my heels to meet was hard enough. Couldn't really bring them that close to the perineum. My knees were nowhere near the floor. Tried to insert tw”
“For context: I have been going to this studio for some time. Its always been good vibes with the instructors and the owner whenever I am there. There are a bunch of studios in the area. One of the "legs up" that this one has is that they offer midday classes daily (12pm-2pm) and label them as "happy hour" so they are $25 instead of $35. The problem - a lot of the time they aren't booked to a satisfactory for the owner amount and she ends up canceling the class. Thing is,”
“So I’m like brand new to the world of yoga. I just recently joined a class and I’m already planning on quitting because of how embarrassing it’s been. To keep it blunt, I have very large breasts that have been getting in the way in almost every pose we’ve practiced. Child’s pose, locust pose, and the transitions have given me the most trouble. They either feel impossible because of my anatomy or incredibly uncomfortable, even painful at times. Then the instructor has been less than kind, we were”
“Also get a lymphatic drainage massager. They are basically normatec boots on steroids.”
“Does anyone do any type of exercises before or after yoga? I have been experimenting for a couple weeks with doing cardio before vinyasa, with a 15 minute break and its been really difficult. I am still hoping I’ll be able to adjust, but I’m not really sure its a good idea. I am getting tired and a bit sloppy during yoga as the flows get difficult for me. The classes at my gym align this way in the morning and I want to do both. Mostly wondering the experiences of others and recommendations. ”
“I have tried apps like Yogaworks, PVOLVE and other YouTube yoga instructors and found that a lot of the instructors just blaze through pose after pose (and I'm not focusing on high intensity styles of yoga either like Vinyasa, Power Yoga ect. - I'm focused on "beginner" or "flow" styles). Please, just take 5-10 seconds and breathe before getting into another pose. It's all I'm asking. I'm literally begging you. Instead of focusing on my body and my breathi”
“Hello! Does anyone have recommendations for hip strengthening/mobility asanas? When I stack my hips in a three-legged dog, my hip often times cramps despite being warmed up. Same with poses such as hands and knees with one leg held straight out to the side. Im not sure if this is the solution. If anyone has another recommendation please share it. Thank you! submitted by /u/Cleinsi [link] [comments]”
“I find that i have more motivation to do a yoga session at the local gym or a studio environment more than at home… I do make social media content sometimes when I practice.. I’ve gotten over the social nervousness of being a guy doing yoga in public and on instagram. Our space is smaller and I don’t really have an area that is set up for me to flow like I normally do at the gym where I will get at least an hour flow in. I’m self taught, but when my wife and I went to Louisiana she pushed me to”
“What are some other excercise you guys do besides doing yoga for strength and power building?? I don't do gym, and I think yoga is good for internal organs but not for strength building. submitted by /u/Tricky_cielito00 [link] [comments]”
“I saw an influencer go on a rant and say the yoga industry is struggling right now and it got me thinking Out of the 4 studios in my area all of them have gradually phased out a majority of their classic yoga class offerings. One went entirely mat Pilates with some sculpt, and the others adding in workout classes just held on a yoga mat. Vinyasa and hatha classes are offered 3 to 4 times a week meanwhile there all these ambiguous workout classes that are disguised as yoga. The industry feels dra”
“This is the most useful comment so far, thank you. On pricing – you've put your finger on the tension. The plan is 6 weeks, but the re-measurement is meant to be ongoing (it's the part that stops you sliding back). Right now that's bundled into one subscription, which does read like "pay monthly for a one-off program". A one-time price for the 6-week plan plus something small for ongoing measurement is cleaner and honestly closer to how people think about it. We'll mode”
Any experience? submitted by /u/AvailableHold3304 [link] [comments]
“I’ve been attending a yoga studio for a year and a half now, taking regular classes with five different teachers across various styles. I keep noticing that while the practice itself does me good, I struggle with the teachers' vibes - both before and after class (and sometimes during) I enjoy yoga, but it really annoys me when they start bringing their everyday moods into the mix. I feel disappointed and frustrated with myself for not setting boundaries, especially since I’m going there volu”
“I'm not buying nothing. If it's free, I'll consider, but anything "recommended" to me on LinkedIn or YouTube, I'd rather pay for trusted establishements. I suppose if depends at what company you are a PM for. Some of these, employees considers them gods, almost, so I suppose they like the prestige and tolerate the downsides. As for why so many scams and lies? Companies will always need these roles and with all the layoffs in the recent year, mainly thanks to AI, I mean”
“I'm 5'10 and really want space on my mat -- any thoughts from fellow yogis? I'm thinking manduka pro mat 6mm (215cm), but also tempted by liforme (although not crazy about their limited selection for xl mats). submitted by /u/prbeautygirl [link] [comments]”
“I know there’s a lot of content out there, but I just don’t know how to start doing yoga on my own. Plus, sometimes I come across the whole “wellness influencer” type of yoga and I get really upset. I’ve been doing yoga at an amazing “school” for two years now, but the prices are high and I can’t afford to keep going. How can I learn to practice properly on my own? submitted by /u/ceterisparibae [link] [comments]”
“Hi, as the title suggests, I have been practising yoga with my trainer for over an year. I have made progress, but I am used to doing it under her guidance only, and on days she doesn't come - I don't do it as well, or get that kind of relief and experience. I mainly practice hatt yoga. Any suggestions on getting started to doing it alone? submitted by /u/Civil-Photograph4499 [link] [comments]”
“I can't advise you on the business but I can tell you about my disappointing experience of enrollng our kid in a new studio. Also the dancers first studio.... Sure you wouldn't make these mistakes but just sharing as it might be helpful. 1) After we signed up for 6 months, the owner went on a holiday for 4 weeks (!)... We still had to pay for when they were away. 2) The instructor was kind of just making it up (didn't seem intentional), couldnt remember what we had done the week prev”
“Would you do a retreat, training or just head to India & go explore. Based in US. Edit: I want to get out of the US for a lil bit. Our food is garbage & sure we can consider this an eat pray love thing, but no. Just yoga & healing my body. submitted by /u/FrolfNfriends [link] [comments]”
“Hi friends. I’m not a pro by any means. I started really doing yin yoga at the beginning of this year. I noticed my anxiety and chronic shoulder pain almost 100% disappear when practicing 4-5 times a week (before bed specifically). About 2 months ago, my soul dog started having some minor health issues. Nothing that I thought would be a huge concern (I did bring her to the vet multiple times). But I just had this odd feeling that she wouldn’t be with me much longer. I started to spiral. I though”
“This isn't taught in my small town but I miss it so much where I used to live. I don't want to pay $40/mo for buti MVMT as I only have time for occasional class and I like small studios better and enjoy live classes vs prerecorded. So I've been looking online for studios that Livestream it (or on demand)and preferably charge for individual class vs monthly but not having much luck via Google nor the mindbody app. Also similar like somatic, etc would be cool. TIA for any recs! s”
“Hello! I recently started doing yoga, about six months ago. I can say it’s one of the best things that I could do for myself. I work an office job, 9 to 5, there’s lots of sitting. My hamstrings and hips feel specifically tight, keeping me from doing poses properly. Lately, I’ve heard a lot about trauma being stored in your hips, hence the reasons they are so stiff. I just can’t truly understand that. While I noticed progress along these six months, I am still unable to touch my toes with my leg”
“Hi everyone, sorry, but English isn't my first language. I practice Yoga and Power Vinjasa at a center in my city. Until now, I've been using a package with entrance fees of €80 for 10 classes (the cost of a class was €10 if booked individually). Starting in October, the price of Advanced Yoga and Power will increase to €15 per class, or €130 for the 10-class package. This is because they'll keep the basic yoga class (1 hour) at €10, while the advanced yoga class (2 hours) and the po”
“Hi all, This is a strange one, for me at least. I feel many types of ways about speaking on this, but I only have a very limited few that I can speak to about this IRL. I'd love anyone's feedback or wisdom here. Basically the gist of it is that recently one of my teachers has converted to Christianity and subsequently dismissed yogic philosophy. This person was one of my first and most impactful teachers and I have attended her weekly classes for the entirety of my two years of practicin”
“I've had a regular workout mat for years assuming that there wasn't that much of a difference. This year, I've been trying to commit myself to doing yoga once a day, general for 60 minutes (I've definitely done it for 15 minutes due to time constraints. I'm currently following Inner Dimensions Level Up 108 program). Previously I had super old yoga towels that really weren't gripping. I didn't know until this week that you weren't supposed to use fabric softener on”
“What's the actual difference between "Power Yoga" and standard "Vinyasa"? I'm not talking about chain studios like CorePower that trademark it. I mean independent studios that list dedicated "Power" classes on their schedule right alongside regular Vinyasa. Is there a specific structure to it that sets it apart? submitted by /u/Public-Ad8008 [link] [comments]”
“This is a PSA and a bit of a warning for people who practice yoga in Toronto. I've had two really weird and bad experiences at Modo Yoga Danforth. I'm currently doing a two week trial and I'm not even through the first week and I'm honestly appalled at the way I've been spoken to by their staff. For context, I'm a gay man, and it's pretty obvious that I am from my appearance. On my very first day, the man behind the counter was super weird to me. He acted like someone”
“Hi, y'all really enjoy doing some gentle poses. Every night. Experiencing pain in my back glutes. Hips. Especially. Finding it hard to do a lot of poses any thoughts on what else. I can do. I'm trying to use pillows et cetera. I always use blocks. I miss my practice and I also have pelvic floor issues, which makes it really important submitted by /u/Leading-Kale-2327 [link] [comments]”
“Hey, I'm looking for something that isn't just some 30 day program that I complete and then am lost on where to go after that. I need something that offers long-term progression and not another 7 day challenge. Any ideas? I really want to progress in strength and mobility. Looking for something in-home where I'm not constantly needing to search the internet for the next video series. Maybe some kind of longer form progressive course? thank you in advance! submitted by /u/”
“Through meditation, I learned to notice and release tension in both my muscles and my mind. I also learned a more sustainable way to become flexible—not the usual 10-second, force-yourself-deeper stretch that many sports teach. Ironically, I often feel most relaxed and flexible after a 10-day meditation retreat, despite barely moving at all. That’s what sometimes bothers me about “modern/western” yoga: it can be so movement focused. It seems like people want to do fancy, flowing sequenc”
Yogasana submitted by /u/WorkingPercentage106 [link] [comments]
“hey all, I developed a numbness/tingling in my right outer hip after doing dancer’s pose. i’ve been taking a break from doing yoga/hip openers specifically but i was just curious if anyone has experienced anything like this before? i have an appointment with a doctor this coming monday. submitted by /u/Emotional_Original60 [link] [comments]”
“Hi all, I started yoga/pilates practice through classes about a year ago up until April when I started having some health issues that I believe now may have been rooted in high anxiety. I’ve been trying to get back into practice (mainly at home practice) for the last 6 weeks. I tried this one flow this past weekend that includes a backwards plank, I’m not sure if I’m just trying to get into the pose too quickly but I notice that my right forearm (my dominant arm) feels really tight/almost numb o”
“Joined a so called “accountability” group. They started selling classes, and when I asked about false advertising on Reddit, they deleted my message and removed me from the group lol. submitted by /u/benedict250 [link] [comments]”
“As I've gotten better my desire to go to classes gets less and less. Sometimes in the middle of a sequence I wanna forward fold for like 10 minutes to decompress my spine. Or hold a chair twist for longer. Or just do bicycle crunches at the beginning to warm my core (instead of a bunch of Surya A's which is what many teachers like to do). It's nice to have someone manage the sequence for me tho, and tell me what's next. There's a number of teachers I like that upload their cl”
“I recently went to my first couple yoga classes and I was starting to really like the movement. I am working on nervous system regulation and feeling safe in my body, Ive had a lot of emotional trauma so I thought yoga would be good for me. I had thought it was more about listening to your body as your doing the poses and what feels right for you. I don’t know the poses so I was looking around the room but I didn’t really mind doing so, but then the instructor was harshly telling me I’m doing th”
“A: a class include more challenge poses, but have poorer fluency and flow between postures & feel less like a “true” flow OR B: a class include primarily more basic poses with one main challenge pose, but have it feel more natural to flow between each posture I went to a class at a different studio in a different town than my usual one today and the instructor was fine, but the flow felt very nonsensical and disjointed compared to the classes at my home studio. However, there were a number o”