We encourage you to come and experience yoga as it was meant to be experienced. Here are some points that will help your first class be a success.
Our Ten Yoga Commandments
- 1. Breathe.
- 2. Bring water, A LOT of water!
- 3. Enter quietly and if you need to leave early, then do so in quietly. This is out of respect for the other students.
- 4. NO CELL PHONES! Don’t be that guy or girl.
- 5. TAKE BREAKS when your body tells you to.
- 6. If it hurts, then DON’T do it! Everybody has a different body. Pain is a signal that something is wrong. LISTEN!
- 7. Be playful and don’t take things so seriously. You don’t know your limitations until you try and they change daily. Have fun with it.
- 8. No one begins the practice of yoga able to do all of the poses perfectly and that shouldn’t be the goal.
- 9. Leave your ego at the door. Yoga is not a competition, it is a practice.
- 10. Relax, it’s just yoga!
More Yoga Tips
Yoga 101
The word yoga has several meanings, but in general it means to unite, or join. What it is referring to is the mind and body. In yoga you move and you breathe, and slowly over time you begin to get to know yourself more deeply: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is like life in a sense. You practice, but their is no winning in yoga, just like there is no winning in life. You move through your practice like you move through your life, enjoying your successes, not giving up when you fall down, and looking forward to all of the splendors the future holds. See more on our page “What is Yoga?”.
Who can practice Yoga?
Yoga guru, Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, so eloquently says, “If you can move and you can breathe, then you can practice yoga. There is only one man that cannot practice yoga, and that is ‘lazy man’.” We can’t emphasize that enough.
What to expect?
Everyone in the class is on their mat and this is their personal space for the duration of class. A typical class starts off by chanting “Om”. Newbies often sit quietly during this time and wonder what is going on, or what have they gotten themselves into. Om means peace, and is often chanted as a way of clearing ones mind in preparation for class or as a way to end class. A warm up usually follows, then a flowing sequence, and the a floor sequence. All classes end in Savasana, which literally means Corpse Pose. Students are encouraged to stay through the duration of this time and allow the postures and their practice to settle into the body.
Where to begin?
If you are new to yoga, then you may want to begin by taking at least one Yoga Basics or Power 1 class, and then deciding on your progression from their. Please see the Class Descriptions page for more help on this topic.
How to attend?
Just show up! We rent yoga mats and towels, and we sell bottled water, as well, so even if you are just starting out we can provide you with everything you need to have an enjoyable experience.
What to bring?
We encourage you to bring water with you to keep yourself hydrated, a towel to keep dry from sweat and prevent slipping, and a yoga mat if you have one of your own. We can provide all of these things if you do not have them or forgot them. We also have very nice accommodations, including showers, and cubbies for personal belongings, so that you may change into something more comfortable after class. We also recommend you bring an open heart and open mind!
