What should I bring to my first class?
- Wear comfortable exercise clothes. Form fitting clothes tend to be more
comfortable and less distracting than loose clothes. Either shorts or long
pants are appropriate. Yoga is practiced barefoot. If you have long hair you’
ll probably be more comfortable with it tied back away from the face.
Remove watches and jewelry.
- Bring a towel.
- Bring a yoga mat. If you don’t have a mat you are welcome to use a studio
mat.
- Come well hydrated. You can bring bottled water to drink before or after
practice. Please refrain from drinking during practice to avoid distractions
and prevent the body temperature from cooling down, thus quenching the
fire (tapas) we are trying to build. Be sure to drink plenty water for several
hours after practice.
- Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach. Refrain from eating anything
but a light snack for at least 2 hours prior to practice. Avoid coffee for a
couple hours prior to practice.
- Please arrive at the studio 5-10 minutes prior to class start time. This will
give you time to set up your mat, arrange your props, and relax.
- ALWAYS TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE, or just leave it in the car. There
is nothing more disturbing to the class and embarrassing to hear your ring
tone during Savasana.
- During class there should be no conversation among students. This is
important to maintain the concentration of everyone in the class.
What should I expect from my first class?
Approach your first few classes with ease. Don’t try to do everything,
especially if the instructor specifically asks you to leave out a posture or to
repeat the previous posture. This is not punishment, rather caring advice
intended to minimize injury. An experienced teacher can assess your
range of motion and skill level within the first few moments of class. If you
feel fatigued during class, take a short break in Child’s pose, and resume
practice when you feel ready.
You may be tempted to look around you during class to see what the other
students are doing. This is acceptable – in moderation. In general, the
teacher should be providing enough verbal queues for you to follow. If you
are struggling, the teacher will likely come to your assistance. You will
likely receive only a small number of adjustments per class. This is not
because the teacher wishes to ignore you, but rather, because progress
comes gradually, and there is only so much new information a student can
absorb in one class. An experienced teacher will likely provide
rudimentary feedback at first. This will give you the basic outline of the
posture and ensure that you do not injure yourself. As your experience
grows and ability improves, you will receive progressively more subtle
adjustments. Trust the teacher to give you the amount of instruction that
is appropriate for you at your level. Having said this, most teachers
appreciate your proper feedback. If you feel any pain or discomfort during
an adjustment always speak up immediately. Other feedback or questions
are welcome after class.
Does Yoga practice conflict with my religious beliefs?
It shouldn’t. Yoga is a spiritual practice but it is not religion specific. The
main purpose of yoga is to strengthen the body and calm the mind in
preparation for a spiritual experience – with your God and following in
accordance with your beliefs and customs. Having said this, Yoga is an
ancient Indian tradition, and consequently, it has links to other Indian
traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Out of respect for yogic tradition,
we maintain the Sanskrit terminology and yoga customs. The beauty &
power of yoga is its universal appeal.
Could certain medical conditions interfere with yoga practice?
Some postures or yoga practices are not appropriate for certain medical
conditions. For example,
- Inversions are not recommended for individuals with Glaucoma, high
blood pressure or detached retina
- Individuals with severe osteoporosis are cautioned to approach
bending and twisting carefully.
- Some postures can aggravate migraines.
- Individuals with injuries should be cautious not to aggravate such
injuries.
- Women are advised to rest during the heavy flow days of their
menstrual period.
- Consult your physician first if you are pregnant.
If you have a serious condition affecting major organs or a serious illness
or injury, always consult your physician first. Remember that your yoga
instructor is probably not an MD, so heed the advice of your physician.
Proper practice can be very therapeutic to many conditions. Please discuss
your condition with your yoga teacher before class. Your information is
private and confidential, and will be used strictly to guide your practice.
Why should I consider practicing Yoga?
- Practice and All is Coming - Regular yoga practice will change your body,
mind, and your life. Yoga develops discipline, which carries over to other
facets of life. Patience and non-attachment are the keys to success and
fulfillment.
- A complete physical exercise routine - yoga practice tones and strengthens
the body, improves flexibility, balance, and coordination. Ashtanga
practice particularly emphasizes strengthening the upper body – abdomen,
shoulders, and arms. Vinyasa practice provides excellent aerobic exercise.
- A low cost alternative to costly medical care - Yoga is not a cure to serious
illness. For this, western medicine is the most appropriate course of
treatment. However, Yoga combined with a healthy lifestyle is the perfect
preventative care, and is appropriate for the treatment of many chronic
diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety &
depression, addiction, and insomnia. It is a complete physical practice
addressing the skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, and
endocrine systems. It tones muscles but also internal organs. Yoga can be
a healthier alternative to pharmaceuticals, but ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR
DOCTOR before altering your treatment regiment.
- Lose unwanted weight - Yoga helps you get rid of unwanted body fat in 4
ways. First, you are burning more calories while you practice. Second,
yoga practice raises your resting metabolic rate, so you burn more calories
even while you aren’t practicing. Third, yoga increases your awareness of
hunger and satiation levels, and why/when/what you are eating. Fourth,
Ashtanga practice reduces stress and tension; many of us overeat as a
reaction to stress.
- A social experience - As your yoga practice gradually takes on a
prominent role in your life, you will develop a longing to be around people
that share your passion and interests, and are interested in exchanging
ideas.
- Something special to share with family & friends - Wouldn’t it be nice to
have an activity that you share with your spouse, mother, daughter, or
friend?
- There is nothing to buy, just show up and practice - In spite of the recent
commercialization of yoga (perhaps a tribute to its success), there is really
nothing to buy, except for a rubber mat. Progress in yoga comes simply
through mindful repetition of the practice – not by spending money on
gadgets. It’s a different way of thinking. You might find that it affects your
spending habits in other areas as well.
- The practice is yours to keep - We will teach you the asana technique, body
alignment, breathing techniques, sequences of postures – everything you
need to build your own practice. While we’d love for you to keep coming to
classes, our goal is to make you independent of the school, so you can do
your practice anytime and virtually anywhere.
- An ancient tradition universal in its appeal & reach - Share in a tradition
and way of life that is not only thousands of years old, but also practiced
throughout the world. Take your yoga mat on your travels – you are
virtually guaranteed to find a yoga school at your destination. Enjoy the
wide range of yoga styles, the rich philosophy, and the many wonderful
people you will meet on this journey.
- We promise to challenge you - Whether you are a long distance runner,
professional dancer, a martial artist, long time yoga practitioner, or a couch
potato – we will complement your current skills, and provide you will a
challenging yoga program. Once you master one version of a posture, we’ll
show you a more advanced one; If you’ve mastered a series, we’ll show you
the next one; And we’ll share the insight on the more challenging and
subtle aspects of asana practice – until your practice flows like a river…
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