New To Yoga

New To Yoga ?

Yoga Etiquette & Studio Policies

Helpful Tips For Yoga Students

Before You Arrive

Bring or wear comfortable clothing. No particular clothing is required for your practice, but we recommend that you wear something you can move around in. Avoid clothing that is loose or baggy as it may interfere with certain poses.

If you are prone to heavy perspiration, please consider bringing a hand towel.

When You Arrive

Please arrive 10-15 minutes before class is scheduled and check in with reception to ensure and confirm your place in class. This will allow you time to set up a yoga mat in the studio and use the restroom if necessary prior to class. Classes will begin promptly at the the designated time.

Leave your things outside of the yoga room. Our “yogi lounge” is a secure space for you to leave any shoes, keys, cellphones or other belongings. We ask that you do not bring these items into class.

Please remove your shoes before entering our studio.

Bring your own water bottle to help reduce waste. Bottled water is available for sale if you forget.

Please understand that some classes are busier than others, especially in the summer months. We ask for your patience and understanding at reception. To ensure your spot in class, we recommend that you sign up for class online. In these busier classes, we reserve the right to give your spot in class to another student if you are not present within 5 minutes of class start time.

During Class

We have yoga mats and props available for use during class, free of charge.
If you have a specific injury or physical concern, let your instructor know so that they can help you with modifications.

Please refrain from wearing scented lotions, colognes or perfumes in class.

Stay for savasana. Savasana is a period of deep relaxation and meditation at the end of each yoga class. If you leave before this portion yoga class, you will miss out on one of the most essential and beneficial parts of the practice. If you must leave, please inform the instructor before class begins and excuse yourself quietly.

After Class

If you borrowed a mat, please utilize the antimicrobial wipes or natural spray that we provide to wipe down your mat before returning.

It takes a village. Help us clean the room after class by carefully returning your props to their proper places.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments! Take a schedule on your way out.

New to yoga? Stick with it!

We recommend that you try a minimum of 10 classes to lay down a strong foundation and give yourself a chance to experience the practice of yoga.

Beginners should try slower-paced classes such as Gentle, Beginner's or Restorative Yoga.

Consider scheduling a private session with one of our experienced instructors if you have specific questions or specific health conditions.

Try to stay positive and open about your practice. If you notice that you can’t do something that someone else is doing try not to compare yourself to them, and instead ask the instructor for help. By attending classes regularly you will continue to see your own practice evolve. It’s called a yoga practice for a reason!

Common Yoga Terminology

You may hear words from the language of yoga, Sanskrit, in classes. Click on the words below to get started with some of the basic ones, and always feel free to ask your instructor!

Asana

Yoga Pose/Posture

Drishti

Focal Point, Gaze

Hatha

Literally Sun (ha) and Moon (tha); Hatha yoga is the most known yoga in the west and all western types of yoga formed from this yoga.

Mantra

Repetitive Sound Vibration or Words

Mudra

Gesture; think of it as a hand posture

Namaste

I honor the light within you as I honor the light within me; I bow to you.

Om

Universal Mantra, sound of the universe

Prana/Chi

Energy

Pranayama

Breath Control

Shanti

Peace

Sanskrit

Ancient Indian language. Many historical yoga texts were written in this language and it is the language of yoga terminology, including pose names and chants.

Savasana

Corpse Pose, usually the last pose of a class

Yoga

]

Yolk, Union of mind and body

Why yoga?

You’ve probably heard that yoga is good for you. A regular practice can offers all kinds of mental and physical health benefits. Some, like improved strength and flexibility, are clearly evident. Others, including mental clarity and stress reduction, may be more subtle but are just as powerful. When put together, all the benefits below contribute to an increased feeling of well-being, which helps explain why so many people find yoga so addictive.

Flexibility

Moving and stretching in new ways will help you become more flexible, bringing greater range of motion to tight areas.

Strength

Many yoga poses require you to support the weight of your own body in new ways. Holding poses over the course of several breaths builds strength and increase muscle tone.

Balance

Improved balance is one of the most important benefits of yoga as you get older. Poses where you stand on one leg and, for more advanced students, inversions, are great ways to build core strength.

Joint Health

People with arthritis often see marked improvement in their pain and mobility with regular gentle yoga practice.

Pain Prevention

Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent the causes of some types of pain, which you can begin to address with yoga.

Better Breathing

Most of us take shallow breaths and don’t give much thought to how we breathe. Yoga breathing exercises teaches us how to take deeper breaths, which benefits the entire body.

Mental Calmness

Concentrating so intently on what your body is doing has the effect of bringing a calmness to the mind. Yoga also introduces you to meditation techniques.

Stress Reduction

Physical activity is good for relieving stress, and this is particularly true of yoga. You will leave a yoga class feeling less stressed than when you started.