Yoga has become one of the fastest growing fitness phenomena to find its way to the city of St. Louis. This age old exercise offers a variety of health benefits, including increased flexibility and strength, improved posture, bone health, and circulation, as well as the opportunity to relax and enjoy a few moments of focused peace.
Even though it requires no equipment, yoga can be very costly, with an average cost of a group class being between $10 and $30. That means that in order to maintain a normal routine of three sessions per week, the price could be as high as $360 per month.
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See also: Yoga Six Opens New Studio in Des Peres
However, St. Louis has everything needed to stay fit on a budget and take advantage of all that yoga has to offer with affordable and even FREE yoga all around the city.
Year-round free and affordable yoga:
Outdoor Yoga St. Louis is a Facebook group that shares indoor and outdoor yoga events in the St. Louis area that are free or donation based. Teachers submit free or donation-based yoga events, which are shared on the Facebook page.
Many are unaware that St. Louis County Library offers free/donation based yoga at various branches. This unique place to practice is more fitting than most because if it’s quiet nature. Just bring your mat and let the relaxation begin.
There are a number of local gyms and fitness facilities in St. Louis that offer free yoga classes with their affordable membership fee. If you already belong to a gym, then you might be missing out on classes. Next time you are in the gym, ask a staff member if they offer classes and if they are included in your membership.
Class Pass is a fitness membership that costs $79 a month and includes access to several local facilities including gyms, boxing clubs, and, you guessed it, yoga studios. Although this isn’t cheap relative to other options discussed, it makes sense for someone who likes to participate in other types of exercise in addition to yoga.
Seasonal free and affordable yoga:
In addition to affordable produce, Tower Grove Farmer’s Market offers affordable yoga. It is instructor lead, free/donation based, and suitable for all levels of fitness and yoga experience. The yoga is offered, as long as weather allows, every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. during warmer months. Yoga will pick back up at the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market this April.
This will be the third annual Summer Yoga Series that Ballpark Village hosts on the old Busch Stadium Diamond, Busch II Infield. All ages and abilities are welcome to this FREE yoga hotspot, scheduled to begin classes this year in April on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. More details on this yoga series will be released to the public soon.
Update: Yoga Buzz, which hosts yoga events in and around St. Louis, shared its own list of free and affordable yoga events with us. Check out Yoga Buzz’s list, organized by day of the week.
So now that we know all the health benefits that yoga offers as well as the many opportunities all year round to practice yoga affordably in St. Louis, I guess there is only one thing left to say:
Namaste.
Emily Eckley is a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and NCCPT (National Council for Certified Personal Trainers) certified personal trainer.
