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| | Yoga increases the body's balance and core strength by partnering poses with deep breathing. The combination lowers blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates and the body's level of cortisol, a hormone it produces to combat stress.
Some yoga studios also offer a popular, contemporary form of yoga called Bikram, commonly known as hot yoga, where instructors turn the heat up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. | | |
| Typical costs: | - The average cost of single drop-in sessions at yoga studios and fitness centers across the country is $12, although some instructors in metropolitan and coastal areas charge as much as $16. Many gyms offer unlimited yoga classes to clients as part of their overall membership package.
- Prices decrease when practitioners buy multiple sessions. Studios in California, Texas, Nebraska and North Dakota offer packages of 5 sessions for $50 to $75 and 10 sessions range from $90 to $135.
- Some studios offer monthly bundles for a flat fee. For example, San Francisco chain Yoga Tree offers a variety of packages, including a 1-month plan for $190, which covers up to 30 classes.
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| What should be included: | - Yoga classes are typically an hour long. While some studios specific classes based on the level of difficulty, most offer just a general type suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners.
- Instructors are often certified by an accredited fitness program or specialized yoga school, but it is not required. Many studios provide mats for greater comfort and play soft, soothing music as background.
- Sessions typically begin with stretching, followed by asanas performed in mirror image by both sides of the body to achieve balance. Instructors often customize individual classes to address specific challenges, like stretching the back or creating core abdominal strength.
- Practitioners, sometimes called yogis, often end sessions lying on their backs, arms extended outward with palms open. This pose, called shavasana, fosters a period of still meditation that lasts 10 minutes or longer.
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| Additional costs: | - Yogis can buy their own mats in a variety of colors and thickness levels. Yoga.com sells rubber and cloth mats from $22 to $80, and special microfiber towels for $30 to place on top of mats for absorbing perspiration.
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| Shopping for yoga classes: | |
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Article updated April 2007 |
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