Washington DC City Council is considering new ways of raising revenue for the city by taxing yoga classes and gym memberships. While I can understand "sin" taxes like cigarettes or alcohol, my yoga community here in DC is collectively upset by the notion that taxing yoga or gyms makes any sense.
And before you visit below the fold, please consider joining a special rally tomorrow morning, May 7, from 730-9am in Freedom Plaza RALLY LINK HERE on Facebook
And if you think this is just going to be proposed in DC, think again. Your city is next.
Join me below the fold.... Ommmmmmmmmmmmm..........
[UPDATE: The DC City Council is being lobbied to consider this tax by an organization called DC Fiscal Policy Institute.]
[Update 2: City Council members have received over 3000 emails today alone, on the first day of the campaign]
The DC Council is being asked to consider imposing a 6-8% sales tax on yoga classes and gym memberships. Thanks to the efforts of many studios here in DC, word has gotten out today and I hope we've already sent the clear message via our petition (and tomorrow's rally) that taxing yoga MAKES NO SENSE AND IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE to the goal of a healthy populace. With obesity on the rise, our national priority should be to support exercise regimens, certainly not tax them.
[Disclosure: I work for a yoga studio in DC.]
The truth is that most yogis and gym members are middle-income citizens who've made their health a priority. This should be rewarded, not taxed.
Washington, DC is no stranger to the challenges of modern life that yoga is so well-designed to address: stress, stress-related illness, depression, anxiety, and the secondary impacts of these ills that make it harder for people to simply "get along". Why put yoga -- a potent antidote to these problems -- further out of reach for District residents?
Some advocates of the new tax argue -- mistakenly -- that people who practice yoga and attend gyms are wealthy enough to afford the additional tax burden. We disagree. And taxing exercise sends the wrong message.... PERIOD.
The DC Council should encourage healthful behavior, and by their leadership help more people take responsibility for their own well-being. Doing so will have direct upsides on the DC coffers. Why? Because when people are healthier, more balanced, grounded, and happy they're also more productive, more self-reliant, and better able to function in our interdependent society.
If you're a resident of the District, please tell the DC Council now: "Don't tax yoga!" We invite you to send your opposition to taxing yoga via our petition: DON'T TAX YOGA!!!!
We respect the DC government's need to increase revenues in a time of economic recession. We just feel that taxing yoga and other health and wellness services is one of the craziest ways to do it. Services that support people's health and well-being are not luxuries. They are essential - just as much in the District of Columbia as anywhere, if not moreso.
Please make sure the DC Council gets that message. Tell them: "Don't tax yoga!"
And watch out... your municipality will be next. Cities all over the US are facing major fiscal hurdles, and are looking to close their budget gaps however they can. In my dream world, the Surgeon General will read this story and make a strong statement against taxing exercise.
NAMASTE.
OMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...................