Donation-Based Yoga: Does It Actually Work?

This week on The Funny Thing About Yoga, we're tackling a topic we've been talking about recently and wondering how to do intelligently: donation-based yoga classes.

Can they actually work? Should yoga be free? Is there a way to make classes more accessible and still cover overhead and get paid? 

In this episode, we explore donation-based models in both in-person and online spaces, share examples of studios and teachers we've seen make it work (and others that eventually phased it out), and brainstorm alternative ways to increase accessibility while still creating sustainable careers for teachers.

Fair warning: this is one of our more chaotic episodes. We ask a lot of questions, throw around a lot of ideas, and don't pretend to have all the answers. We acknowledge that neither of us has extensive firsthand experience running donation-based classes. Bradshaw also becomes mildly obsessed with profit margins at one point, which probably surprises no one.

A candid conversation about accessibility, value, community, money, and the complicated reality of trying to make yoga available to everyone while still paying the bills.

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