welcome to yoga                            

A few things you should know to enhance your learning and practice of yoga.  I'm glad you’re here. 

Please:

• Remove shoes at the door, we practice in our bare feet.

• Turn your cell phone off before coming into the studio.  Better yet, leave it in your car.

• Come to practice on an empty stomach (unless specific conditions prevent this).

• If your bring a water bottle to class, please keep it off to the side and take a sip when needed.  It's best to wait till after the practice to drink water.

• Be early to class.  Entering class constantly late is very disruptive and disrespectful to others.  If you do arrive a few minutes late, quietly sit at the entrance until students eyes are open and movement of class has begun.  At that point, enter as slowly and quietly as you can and unroll your mat carefully to not make disruptive noise.

• Bring your own mat, as it’s more hygienic.  We do have mats available for rent if you do not have one.

• Wear comfortable exercise clothing.

• Ask questions about anything that is not clear to you.  You may ask during class when appropriate, or after class.

• Refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, or strong essential oils.

• If you have health issues (illness, injury or medical condition) please notify your instructor before class.  Not every pose is appropriate for everyone. 

• Let go of the competitive mind-set.  Yoga is noncompetitive.  It is not just a workout, it is not just techniques for relaxation, and it is not just cross training.  It is a spiritual practice that makes the body stronger, more flexible and generally much healthier.  The purpose is to calm the mind, open the heart, and stimulate our spiritual evolution.

• Be kind and loving to yourself by accepting where you are.  It is okay to come out of a pose before the teacher says to.  Yoga is not “gutting it out”, or “no pain, no gain”.  To the contrary, the body will respond beautifully when you show it kindness, acceptance, and love.  Rest sometimes.  Do what you can, with what you have, with where you are.

• No experience or flexibility is required to practice yoga.  Yoga is for everyone.

• Stay for the entire class.  If you need to leave early, please tell me beforehand and exit before final relaxation (savasana).  Also, please ‘pace your practice’ near the time you need to leave so that you make time for a mini-savasava before leaving the class.

Finally, most classes finish with saying a gesture “Namaste”.  This means:  I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.  I honor the place in you, which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace.  When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.