By Gina Fore

If practicing yoga is the best response to daily stress, why does it have to be so expensive and does paying more make it better? I would respond that the value a student assigns to their place of practice has more to do with the benefits they feel and less to do with the money they spend. That being said, yogis are all types of people with all kinds of careers and a wide range in W-2 statements. Some of us have financial limitations that exceed our physical limitations, so where can we go to get our yoga on and still afford to keep the heat on as well? Read on to find affordable yoga near you.

DALLAS

Dirt Cheap Yoga First class is free. $8 drop-in, 8 classes $50, 16 classes $95.

With a name like that, they’d better deliver, right? Three locations: Samuel Grand, Reverchon Park and, most recently, Mighty Fine Arts in Oak Cliff-Dallas. Dirt Cheap Yoga is a non-profit with the mission: Yoga is for everyone. All profits go toward building kid’s yoga programs, Spanish yoga classes, and sponsoring teacher training for underprivileged teachers-to-be.

Karmony Yoga Dallas’ only completely donation-based yoga studio. Suggested donation: $15.

Karmony also believes that yoga should be accessible to all and they have, as the adage goes, put their money where their mouth is. The suggested donation is just that; a suggestion. Come; enjoy a wide variety of well-known names in Dallas yoga teaching various styles. Pay what you can.

Super Yoga Palace $10 drop-in, 10 classes $50, monthly unlimited $75.

Located in an art gallery attached to Mokah coffee shop in Deep Ellum, Super Yoga Palace is super fun and family friendly. Email Jessica for the latest schedule: superyogapalace@gmail.com.

Tsada Yoga & Yoga Underground First class is free. 10 days for $10 and Sunday’s Yoga Underground is donation-only. Suggested donation: $12. Tsada is like the groovy family you found after you’d already grown up.

AUSTIN

Black Swan Yoga Austin’s only co-op donation based yoga studio. Suggested, after-class donation: $10-$15.

If you feel that glow of inner zen at the end of class, drop what money you can. There are no contracts, expiration dates or fees and your donation supports your instructor.

Ruta Maya Yoga is free with a coffee house purchase.

Classes are held six days a week, taught by Pam Brewer. Bring a mat and take home some organic coffee, cultivated by Mayan farmers.

Casa De Luz Free yoga on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

The “house of light” is a place to learn how to live and practice in integrity. They offer vegan, macrobiotic and organic dining, as well as cooking classes, tai chi, massage and spa services.

Yoga Sanga offers affordable classes for the Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock and also Free Yoga/Meditation classes on the Second Friday of the Month from 6-7PM at Dance Elements http://www.danceelements.com Call 512-255-8109 for information.

Athuai Rush offers Kriya Hatha Yoga class (18 postures of Babaji Nagaraj) w/ Pranayama Kriyas (breathing exercises) & Devotional Music (flute & tanpura) every Sat. starting this Sat. Jan. 16th from 10:30-11:30am @ Barton Springs on the Robert E. Lee side under the big central tree in the middle of the field behind the springs.  The class is by donation basis ($7 suggested love donation) and/or barter & all are welcome to come regardless of money.  Also, people are welcome to bring tea/drinks/juice/fruit & food to share afterwards if interested & a swimsuit to take a dip in the springs afterward if we feel so inclined! Call 512-928-2281 for more information.

Seva Yoga. Seva Yoga is a collective of certified Yoga Teachers from diverse traditions, where part of every single class donation goes to charity. Pay what you can, when you can. Suggested student donation:  $10. To learn about the classes and schedule log into http://oneyoga.us/oneyoga.html

HOUSTON

Joy Yoga Center 4 classes in 4 weeks – $49, 8 classes in 4 weeks – $89, 10 classes in 3 months – $135.

Recently featured in New York Times Magazine, Joy Yoga Center has a stellar reputation among the yoga students in Houston. Joy teaches a challenging vinyasa flow, open to all fitness and experience levels.

Contemporary Yoga $45 for any 4 classes month.

With over 18 years of teaching experience and a plethora of yoga articles, Aileen Hansen is no less than a Houston expert on the subject of yoga.

NiaMoves Studio Two weeks free for first-time students. Ask about frequent flier rates and discounts when you’re ready to buy.

Toss out your concept of a hushed yoga studio, NiaMoves puts fitness in motion. While you’re enjoying your free two weeks, try a Capoeira class, or Hoop Dance, Belly Dance or Zumba.

Affordable yoga is out there. If you are still looking for a place in your neighborhood, keep searching. If you’ll tell me what you find and I’ll tell you and everyone else what we find—all for one and yoga for all!

About the author:

Gina Fore lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is the founder of Dirt Cheap Yoga. She has been 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified and teaching yoga since 2003. Her passion is to reach out to those who believe that yoga is “not for them.” After living in the Middle East for three years, she returned to Texas in 2009 to continue that mission with a renewed perspective.

Photo by Professor Photography. Photo caption: Jump for cheap yoga! Dirt Cheap Yoga celebrates their newest location in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.