I’m broke. Seriously. If you know me or read my blogs, you might know I quit my job to pursue teaching and DJing yoga about a month ago. So far so good. I guess in all honesty I was never “well off” or whatever that means, so it was not a long drop down to “broke.” If you think this is a complaint, then think again. This is my statement, and at what better time than tax time? Can I claim a yoga tax? Hmmm. Welp, I broke it down to see what that return might look like:
After doing some calculations on a healthy (or shall I say wealthy?) yoga year, the Special Yogi is spending about $1200 a year, the Simple Yogi invests about $2,000-$5,000 a year (if in training) and the Overachiever Yogi spends about $6,000 – $10,00 per year. Which brings me to my next observation….
All of my money may be funneling into a pit, but it is a pit of my deepest passion. Don’t get me wrong, I am a-okay with this. In fact, I love it, because I love yoga. I love practicing it, teaching it, studying it, DJing for it. Clearly, this is my life purpose. I happily assume a sort of “Hand-to-Foot-to-Mouth pose,” because the return is far beyond monetary terms. I get the return of its intangibles, its friendships, its revelations, and of course, balance. But here’s the biggest return on my yoga dollar: It’s the feeling like, Hey, I’m not going to bust a cap in someone’s ass for acting in a certain way, because I did my yoga today. No lie, that’s BEYOND priceless.
Agree or disagree? Oh and can I bum a ride to Hanuman Festival with you?
I must be a Super-Special yogi … I had spent less than $500 a year on yoga (mixed with mat pilates), all told, including the occasional to fairly frequent class, props, accoutrements, music, and reference material (for at-home practice). This in New York City.
I think yoga isn't the reason why you became broke, its your lifestyle. There are many options wherein you can substitute all those training and materials. Its a matter of looking for other cheaper option to practice what you love to do. You can actually just do it yourself after a few sessions and mastering the moves.
So hilariously true!!! Eye opener really… I try to give 102% for everything I do, and I tend to think that I need to be an "overachiever yogi", but you are right, being special is more than enough. Thank you so much for the article! Namaste.
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If all your money is going into Yoga, are you still balanced? If you are enjoying it and it makes you happy, then that is all that matters.
Myself, I fall under the simple yogi, although I have been doing some yoga at home with my 2 yr old son, he loves it.
So very true! Thanks for the perspective and good humor. ~Brian