Yoga Etiquette: Mindful practices to enhance your experience: Avoid eating one to two hours before class. Yoga is traditionally practiced on an empty stomach. If you need to have something before class, a small amount of yogurt or fruit may be taken. Wear loose comfortable clothing. Choose clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in. Dressing in layers will give you the most options for comfort and for regulating the body’s temperature Arrive a few minutes early. Give yourself enough time so that you can begin your practice in an unhurried manner. If you are new to class, there is a short registration form you will need to fill out before beginning. If you are a continuing student, please remember to sign in. Leave your shoes, coats, backpacks, food or water in the coat room. If you are late, enter as quietly as possible and give yourself a few moments to connect with your breath before moving into any poses the class may be doing. If you know you need to leave class early, please situate yourself close to the exit so that you may leave without disturbing others. Please do not use scented lotion, hairspray or perfume before coming to class. These can trigger allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to them. Remember to turn off your cell phone. Drink water before your practice, not during. The practice of yoga postures eliminates toxins by raising the core temperature of the body. To facilitate this process, we recommend that you drink plenty of water before and after your practice, but never during. Help us to help you. Inform your instructor of any discomfort, recent illness, accident or trauma so that we can adapt the practice to your needs.
7 Things I Wish I Had Known About Yoga As A Beginner
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1. Everybody wins! Yoga class is kind of like a soccer tournament for kindergarten children. You're not supposed to keep score and everybody gets a trophy….even the kid who pouted the entire second half. If you show up to yoga class and make some attempt at breathing, moving, and being aware, you'll benefit….even if you fall out of Tree Pose or get your right and left feet mixed up. 2. Failing is an important part of the learning process. This practice is designed to frustrate you. That's how you learn to relax in frustrating situations. You're supposed to fall down! If the postures were always easy you'd never learn anything! 3. It's not about the poses. It's a lot more interesting to notice how your mind, breath, and energy level reacts to the pose. Those reactions will eventually give you amazing insights into who you are, your strengths and weaknesses as a person, and what you can do to make your situation better. 4. You are the only one who cares what you look like in Downward Facing Dog. Think about it: When you are in Down Dog are you thinking about what the person beside you looks like in her new pants? Most people are more preoccupied with straightening their legs, lengthening their spines, or, depending on how hot the room is, just trying not to slip and fall on their faces. 5. Sometimes you'll have to go it alone. Yoga teachers are great resources, but they don't know everything either. Since yoga is a very individual practice, it's different for everyone. Your teacher can only tell you what works for him or her, and that might be completely different from what will work for you. There are many lessons you'll have to figure out on your own. So you'll have to learn to trust your own intuition and pay attention to cues from your body, mind, and spirit. 6. Your teacher wants you to ask for help. Your teacher really wants to help you with your pose, answer your question about philosophy or explain what that Sanskrit word means. So if you don't understand what's going on, always feel free to ask. 7. There is no expectation that you will be able to do handstands, bend into some sort of peaceful pretzel, or some other advanced pose. Whatever you can do right now is perfect. You are given the space to start where you are at, and see what happens. The only pressure you will ever feel is from yourself. And the good news is, one of the many benefits of yoga is quieting the mind. This internal dialogue to always be better - begins to quiet down - giving you the chance to end this conversation and feel content in each moment. |
