August 2006 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Yoga peeps, come in
I stopped doing yoga this summer when the gym at my old apartment complex started offering pilates instead of yoga. Now, I'd like to get back into it and am considering joining a yoga studio. There's a franchise that has locations near my house and my office that I'm looking into... it has a bunch of different classes, several different types of yoga, Bikram, etc, but it seems so expensive.
What should I be looking for? I mean, I know the kind of yoga I generally like, but aside from that, is there anything I should be on the lookout for? What's a normal or good price? I'm so confused!
Re: Yoga peeps, come in
I used to take classes at a studio until it went out of business (sigh). Regularly priced they were $10/class, but new people got a break that made it about $7/class. The more classes you prepaid for the better deal you got. They had an unlimited package that was really expensive but I can't remember what it cost - like $100/month or something like that. Now I'm at a gym and the classes are unlimited, which theoretically means more bang for the buck but I only go once a week so it's more expensive than the studio (about $12/class). I'm thinking of canceling and finding a different studio.
I have no clue what the different types of yoga are but soprano does, if she's still around.
Soprano would be a great person to answer this, if she's around.
Yoga studios are usually more expensive than gyms. I'm taking a session at a studio right now, and I think it costs me around $230 for 14 classes. It's worth it to me, because the studio classes are much more personal and tailored to my level of ability. The instruction is very hands-on. I've been taking these classes since June, and I feel like I've improved a lot (much more than if I had just been taking yoga classes at my gym).
Does the studio near your house offer any free classes? Or can you "drop in" to one or two classes to find an instructor and class that you like? My studio offers both of these options. It also helps that I have several friends who also take classes there, so I asked them for their opinions about the different classes and teachers.
I did yoga for about a year and a half, twice a week in a class of 6 before I quit, and am naturally pretty flexible, so I've got the basics down. The studio I'm looking at is $17 for each individual class, with bulk discounts and an "unlimited" option that's something like $130/month.
This seems outlandish to me. But, they're the only studio in my area that does Bikram, so if I decide I want that, I might be stuck.
Personal attention is important to me, but having ample classes to choose from at a bunch of different times is more important.... which is why I'm leery of joining a gym.
yay for yoga! i'm excited for you. and i feel your confusion. the variety out there can be overwhelming and classes can be hella expensive. my favorite studio charges a drop-in rate of $15 per class. if you pay more for a month, or two, the cost per class is cheaper. from time to time the studio advertises special offers. my favorite is a sunday night drop-in class for $6. but honestly, i love this place so much i'd pay whatever it charged. it has top notch instructors who are great with yogis of all levels and it specializes in a type of hot yoga (not bikram) that i've become addicted to.
since you're still getting a feel for this place, i'd try a few drop in classes before paying for a lengthier membership. see how you like it and decide from there. ask fellow students which instructors and classes they like best. instruction is so key. even if you are sold on one particular type of yoga, classes van vary wildly by teacher. and the worst let down is going to a yoga class only to get a crappy/strange/inadequate teacher.
$17/class??? I wouldn't pay that, but that's just me.
I used to do Bikram... which is a whole other thing in the Yoga world.
Bikram is a specific series of poses (26 of them) done in a heated room (to about 110 degrees)... I did it regularly before our wedding, and have done it off and on since (can't do it when pregnant or TTC because of the heat)
It's amazing. The heat really helps with the poses, stretching and such. You'll do things you never thought you could. But, when you stop, it's awful, you body really goes through some garbage...
The instructors are all certified by Bikram himself, so there's great quality control.
The Bikram studio in my neighborhood is super friendly and nice. They have the attitude that Bikram is for everybody - young and old, fit and fat, men and women. The classes are wonderfully diverse - the instructors walk among the students, giving praise and recommendations.
I have taken Bikram classes at another studio (in DC, I was travelling for work) and it was awful. The instructor literally stood in the corner wearing a headset mic. It was as hot or hotter than my regular studio, but it was a much dryer heat, making it super uncomfortable... it also felt much more stereotypical - - the vast majority of the students were very young women, in very good shape...
I tell you this because every studio will have its own culture, it's own feel, even within the very structured world of Bikram yoga... so try several different places until you find one you like.
Most yoga studios will let you come to a free class so you can see if you like it there - - - especially if you live in the neighborhood and are upfront with them that you want to check out several places to see how you like them.
good luck!
I am the 99%.