Member-only story
Why I Stopped Supporting My Locally Owned Yoga Studio in a Pandemic
On battling the question, “how forgiving should I be?”
Yoga — it’s a product I love. When it comes to yoga studios, it’s also a product of experience. When I subscribe to a studio membership, I’m paying for something I can’t quite buy online. More than instruction, a local yoga studio provides something intangible — community, atmosphere, and temple.
I’ve consistently spent $108 a month on a yoga studio membership for nearly four years. I practice two or three times a week, participate in workshops and retreats, and value every dollar spent.
Until now.
I moved to Colorado from Chicago last summer and found a studio that offered outdoor classes at a park. For a few months, practicing yoga under the shade of an oak tree was an incredible experience. I’d show up to class several minutes early and chat with the instructor and other practitioners.
Only in the past few months did I begin to experience problems. Once the classes transitioned to indoors, I’d drive 15 minutes to a scheduled class only to find out it was cancelled. This happened multiple times.
I’d stand there with my yoga mat, holding my phone, and refreshing the schedule in confusion. No updates. Then I’d…
