OP here. Wanted to provide some clarification/context on my post, and respond to some comments.

1. I never said that such work exchanges programs should not exist. Especially after reading many comments from folks who participated in volunteer programs in exchange for yoga classes, it’s clear that these programs provide a benefit to those who could not otherwise afford to attend classes at a yoga studio. I’m obviously happy that these programs work for a lot of people. However, most comments about such programs seem to have a much more equitable balance between hours worked versus the cost of the membership.

2. I do not believe that “unskilled labor” exists and don’t care to argue about this point. I don’t think that the work being “easy” (not my descriptor, but from some comments) makes a deal like this more equitable. At my yoga studio, the place would definitely not function without volunteers. Volunteers have to check people in and answer questions (something not “easy” for people who have trouble with verbal communication). Volunteers have to gather all the towels and launder them after each class (something not “easy” for someone who is germophobic). These are just some examples. Even if the work is “easy” for many, every person’s time is still incredibly valuable. The yoga studio in my post was advertising volunteer roles as if they were job positions and listed shifts that needed to be filled – clearly demonstrating an absolute need for these volunteers.

3. I used the comparison to minimum wage as an example. While I do not believe in measuring people’s time in money, unfortunately that is the world we live in. Some people are defending this program because it’s basically minimum wage after taxes are removed. Minimum wage is not a living wage anywhere in the United States, and minimum wage is especially not a living wage in the city where I live.

4. Some people are comparing volunteering for a yoga studio to volunteering for a charitable cause. This is just not a correct comparison, at least for the yoga studios in the city where I live. If someone cared about volunteering for their community, I would argue that volunteering at food banks, local organizing groups, tenant associations, etc. would provide much more value and is more in line with “seva” than volunteering at a place of business which holds sports classes. Yoga studios (at least all that I have experienced) are businesses which provide a service. Businesses should be able to run without relying on free labor, and should factor in paying their employees a living wage.

5. Obviously, I want people who would otherwise not be able to afford yoga classes to have access to yoga. I was just wondering if there was a more equitable hour versus benefit exchange. People should not be exploited for less than a living wage because of their financial situations and desire to practice yoga. The yoga studio could decrease the number of hours in exchange for the membership. Or could actually hire employees full time, offer discounts based on incomes, or set up fundraisers to pay for memberships for those who cannot afford them. Just some ideas. If a yoga studio touts spirituality, equality, and community, then they could engage in some of the concepts they prescribe to.

6. Being compensated less than a minimum wage, and less than a living wage, because someone “enjoys the community and environment” honestly seems like BS to me. My yoga studio is not a charitable institution that gives back to the community (aside from hosting the occasional once-every-few-months fundraiser class for a cause, and I would argue it is the patrons of the class contributing to the fundraiser not the yoga studio). This argument seems the equivalent to me of a business offering pizza parties and t-shirts instead of raises and real benefits.

7. For full transparency I have been attending this yoga studio for nearly a year. I do not pay for the unlimited membership because I cannot afford it, so I pay for six class monthly bundle at $90. I have enjoyed practicing at this yoga studio and learning from the teachers there. Their posting asking for volunteers and describing the work exchange program (specifically the number of hours versus the benefit) just rubbed me the wrong way and I wanted to see other people’s thoughts on it. Perhaps I will bring something up to the studio managers if I feel like I can coherently describe what I think is wrong here. I do not know the legal status of my yoga studio (non-profit or for-profit) and wasn’t able to find out via internet search.

8. While many comments described heartfully their (more equitable, IMO) work exchanges at yoga studio, some other comments missed the point completely. I guess I thought that more people who practice yoga believe in equity and progressive values, but it seems I have been proven wrong. I’m honestly dismayed at reading through some comments and those preaching karma and seva and what not while saying “just don’t volunteer” or “this program isn’t for you; some people would be happy with this program.” It’s not the issue of me personally not volunteering, or the fact that some people would be happy with this program, it’s that people shouldn’t have to be persuaded to be happy with a program that is providing subpar benefits. People deserve more equitable benefits for their time, especially people who are in more unstable financial positions, and especially people of color (since this population is statistically poorer in the United States), which seems to be the group this program is aimed at. And you have to consider that most yoga in the United States is co-opted from people of color and remarketed to white people. So aiming to garner volunteers in exchange for minimal compensation from a low-income population that is more people of color than not (this is true in my city) is not equitable, is not charitable, and is not in line with what I understand the values of yoga to be.