The Yoga Passbook and Shopping for the Yogi in Your Life

Okay, so I just read this blog entry:

http://blogs.yogajournal.com/cityblog/new_york/

December 04, 2007 New York: The Yoga PassBook

In case you were wondering, I'm here to break it down for you. I've been a yoga skeptic, a yoga student, a yoga teacher, a yoga studio administrator, even a yoga tourist. So based on my experience, here is my take on what said blog dubs the "perfect gift"...The New York Yoga PassBook.

Pros

1. It is very inexpensive and a great deal. For only $75 you get a whole year's worth of yoga. Really, there are way more passes than a person can use in one year.

2. You get to try a variety of different classes and styles.

Cons

1. You'll always be going to a different studio. This could be a good thing, but you miss out on the whole student/teacher relationship.

2. Even though it is not always enforced, on the back of each pass, it says that the classes are for new students only. So you might be turned away if you try to use it at a studio you've already been to, or you might not.

3. Call ahead, sometimes the pass will only apply to certain classes on the schedule.

4. The studios DO NOT get reimbursed in any way in the sales of these books. What this means is that a studio agrees to be in the book and that they will give away an unlimited number of free/discounted classes. The idea is that students are buying these passes to try out classes and then to pick the studio they like best. Studios hope that students will pick them. Unfortunately, many people abuse the passbook and buy one year after year, returning to studios year after year, expecting free classes. Although the passbook itself says that passes are for "new students" only, they still sent me a notice reminding me to buy another passbook this year, perpetuating the cycle.

5. Sometimes, teachers are paid "per head" and "comp" students don't count.

6. My passbook arrived ONE MONTH LATE. This was after a number of phone calls to the "company" (a guy sitting in his pricey NY apartment, he didn't even answer the phone with a company name and seemed confused when I asked if I had reached the right number), asking for a new passbook to be shipped. There is a shipping fee and the guy would not even wave the fee, even after a month of waiting. He did, however, encourage me to meet him at his apartment to pick up a copy if I'd like. Weird.

Conclusions:

If you have a lot of time, buy the passbook, try out some classes. You only need to take about 4 classes to make it worth the purchase. Please keep in mind that the studios and teachers are providing you a free service, and be sure to thank them PROFUSELY!

Holidays got you stumped? What do you get the person who wants nothing but inner peace?

My holiday shopping recommendations for the yoga-enthusiast in your life:

1. Yoga mat bag. Its classic. But make sure they don't already own, like 10. Try to make it eco-friendly, or handmade, organic, etc. You'll get extra points if it has pockets for their stuff. Saka bags are really fab, but they are made in China:(.

2. An eco-friendly yoga mat. Try harmony, gaiam, or manduka. You'll get extra points if you offer to donate their old mat to charity for them. Contact organizations like bent on learning, homeless shelters, or your local animal shelter.

3. A gift certificate to lululemon, prana, gaiam, hyde, hard tail, or be present. You might think your taste is fab, but your gift recipient is practicing yoga. Although honesty is encouraged, they are likely to tell you that they love whatever you got them. Do them the favor and let them pick something they really like.

4. A private lesson with their favorite instructor. Do the research!

5. A class pack at their favorite yoga studio or a workshop. You get points if you are going to attend the class/es/workshop with them.

6. A mat cover. Either a "mysore rug" or Yogitoes. If they live in the city and don't want to haul their mat, they might be using studio rentals. I don't want to begin about that...Just believe me when I say that you really want them to cover that mat! The rug/yogitoes are light and convenient to use. If you know they aren't into that, maybe get them some mat wipes...

7. An eco-friendly water bottle. I saw these great metal bottles at wholefoods yesterday... While you are at whole foods, you could also get a gift set of all organic, paraben free products from companies like Pangaea organics....

8. A subscription to a yoga magazine. There is yoga journal, namarupa, joy and living, fit yoga, vegetarian times, etc...I know, its not very eco-friendly, but its better than buying off the newsstand!

9. Yoga/India movie. Check yoga journal's website for ideas. Try Iyengar's Estes Park Video if your person is into Iyengar and they already have a subscription to yoga journal. If they practice ashtanga, go to ashtanga.com and get them maybe "ashtanga, ny", "guru", or "sharath's primary series" video. You could also get them something that is all about India. There's that movie, "Water". OR you could go for a documentary like yoga unveiled, naked in the ashes, or yoga inc.

10. Books. So either think BIG like a coffee table book for pictures, information, or philosophy. If you are buying for an ashtangi, try the Mysore book, or maybe ashtanga Yoga As it Is. There's also Light on Life or anything by Pema Chodron. Shantaram is really great. I'd say Eat, Pray Love, but EVERYONE has read that... Think about what they are into and what makes sense for them. Oh! A cookbook from an ashram or retreat center would be great!

11. Massage

12. Ayurvedic consultation, nutrition consultation, going green advisor, palm reader, etc.

13. a haircut or other service from an organic salon.

14. eye pillow. not everyone will want this. but it is nice to have your own for savasana.

15. Donation. make a donation in their name to a charity.

16. Healthy Restaurant. A gift certificate or date to a healthy restaurant or an Indian restaurant. PS-you aren't allowed to complain if you don't like it.

17. Yoga vacation. Get them frequent flier miles, a ticket, or maybe the fees to take that dream yoga vacation. You get points if you go with them.

18. Yoga Date. Take them to a class, take the class with them (that is important), buy them something from the boutique if they want, take them out to tea/dessert/smoothies/a meal.

19. Baked goods/home cooked meal. always nice!

20. A pedicure! Boy do we yogi people need them!

Hope this helps! But really, what's best is to just spend time with them and maybe pretend you are interested next time they want to tell you about downward dog.