In a place where people take pride
in their Type A personalities and smartphones are a fifth limb, it is no wonder
that yoga has become wildly popular to de-stress. Finding good and affordable
yoga classes can be a challenge when it sometimes feels like the only two
options are being a member of a swanky gym that can run you
up to $150 a month or buying individual classes at studios or spas that
can be as much as $35 a class. Luckily for us New Yorkers, Yoga to the People
offers donation based yoga classes seven days a week. With a suggested donation
of $10, the studio runs on the donations of class members who can place money
in a Kleenex box at the end of class.
A true departure from the
aforementioned locations for yoga which display pristine studios, Yoga to the
People emphasizes the introspection of the practice, ignoring outside factors
such as the decor, other students or even the teacher. Started in 2006 by
Greg Gumucio who previously worked with the founder of Bikram Choudhury Yoga,
Yoga to the People has became wildly popular with an estimated 900 visitors per day
to the NYC studio. As I entered the studio, I was skeptical of the close
quarters where it seemed an impossible number of people had fit with eight
people to a row. Yet the Vinyasa flow of the movements emphasized both
flexibility and strength and there was some communal feeling with the other 60
people in the room focused on both the physical and calming effects of the yoga
practice. I would definitely recommend this yoga to yogis and fitness aficionados as the warm temperature and pace of the class make for a challenging cardio workout.
I am definitely planning on reviewing more affordable or
free yoga locales around the city, so let me know if you have any suggestions!
Yoga to the People
http://yogatothepeople.com/new-york/
Locations:
12 Saint Marks Pl. 2R New York, NY 10003
250 West 26th Street 304 New York, NY 10001
115 W. 27th Street New York, NY 10001
1017 6th Ave. 38th Street New York, NY
10018