Would you try out a yoga class if it were free? You might be suspicious when you hear they’re not charging—like maybe they’ll force you to buy something or put you through a sales pitch. To put your mind at ease, you’d need to do some research on the organization or school that’s offering the free product or service. There’s always a reason something is free, but once you know what it is, you can confidently go in and take the class.

There are a lot of English conversation schools, vocational schools, and universities in Sydney, and many foreign students attend them. My friend reached out the other day and invited me to take a free yoga class at the College of Sports & Fitness. It’s a two-year college where you can get a degree in yoga. My friend invited me to one of the free yoga classes that the school offers regularly. The reason they’re free is because the class is taught by students who are enrolled in the college. Since they need teaching hours as part of their courses, the free lessons are set up by the school to give them the practical experience they need to be yoga teachers in the future.

Once you know why the classes are free, you’re happy to take advantage of them. I certainly enjoyed going. The school is in downtown Sydney. The weather this time of year (March) is gorgeous. We can just wear our workout clothes to class without having to change. The one I went to was on campus in a studio they have set up for the free yoga classes. All the mats and props were there, making it convenient to just come as you are and enjoy the lesson. An energetic Brazilian instructor greeted us when we came in, and we found out that they were one of the school’s regular instructors. I loved their cheerful, lively energy and bright smile! I guess it makes sense that dedicating yourself to yoga might have this effect.

Finally, it was time for the class to begin. The student-teacher was a Chinese woman named Billie, and her English cues were perfect. The hourlong lesson consisted of asanas, movement, and even music that she had arranged herself. Nothing was too difficult, which allowed us to really relax and let go during the class. She explained everything in clear, easy-to-understand English. Her voice was incredibly soothing—to the point that I found myself almost falling asleep.

Everyone shared their experiences after class. It was wonderful to hear all of the positive, encouraging feedback. It was the first time I had done yoga in a while, and I felt so relaxed after stretching out my body. I hope that giving her my feedback helped motivate her to keep going in her practice. The teacher also observed the class and gave Billie some advice at the end. I was impressed by how this cheerful teacher was able to offer words that were even more positive and uplifting than anyone else’s.

My thoughts after taking the yoga class

I think it’s wonderful that free yoga classes are available. Anyone can pop in, and they have all the props you need right there. They’re right by a train station in a convenient location. Another thing that really struck me was the feedback session after the class. I realized how important it is for an instructor who has carefully put together a program to get encouragement and support from the people around them—and it felt especially meaningful given the cultural differences. Maybe the fact that the people were all gathered there to challenge themselves created a shared environment of support. It was wonderful to see everyone smiling after the class, offering positive words without a shred of negativity.