Yoga Etiquette

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Yoga Etiquette

By Erica Harris

Imagine you are sitting in a tranquil sitting posture in your local studio.  Your mind starts to drift form the days errands, deadlines, and chores back at home.  For a few moments you experience a tiny glimpse of bliss: thinking only of your smooth, calming, breath.  Suddenly, your awareness comes back to where you are as you are jolted out of your zen state: someone talking loudly on their cell phone enters the room, voice echoing through the small studio.  “She said what? What? Really.... And what did he say? Well that is just unacceptable.  Hey I better get going I’m at my yoga class. Oh yeah, I come here about twice per week now.  Its right off of main street.  Remember that old pizza shop where we saw Jim last week?.....” 

Have you ever been in this situation? So what is yoga etiquette? Keep these 3 Yoga Etiquette tips in mind:

Be on time, be present

Usually you want to show up to class about 10 minutes before the start of class.  This allows time to get settled, use the bathroom, or ask questions.  Turn off all cellphones during class to silent.  Sometimes it can be just as distracting to hear a vibrating phone on a wooden floor in a silent room.  Try to take care of all cell phone conversations before you enter class.  Be respectful of those yogis that come to class early to unwind.  Sometimes students may need to leave early.  Although, “Savasana”, or final relaxation is an important component to any yoga practice, it is understandable if you have to leave early.  It might be a good idea to let your instructor know that you need to leave early.

 Talking during class

Many times I am asked if its okay to ask questions during class.  Since many yoga class rely on a flow format questions should be reserved till the end of class. Many instructors are more than happy to clarify poses or find a good modification pose.

What do you do if you think you are doing a pose wrong during class?  Many instructors follow a similar technique on how to correct students.  First, instructors will correct a student(s) verbally.  The best thing you can do is listen.  Listen to suggestions the instructor is giving on how to do a pose.  Next, if spoken communication is unsuccessful, an instructor may demonstrate a pose.  This provides further clarity to the students.  Lastly, if even further clarity is needed, an instructor may ask a student if its okay to touch them.  This allows the instructor to slightly touch the student and how them exactly where their arms should be in Warrior II for example.  Many times I find that even without touch many students follow the lead with my hands.

 Personal Hygiene 

It is respectful to not wear any perfume or cologne when practicing yoga with others.  Also, being respectful in good personal hygiene habits and clothing.  for example, concealing body order is appreciated by others around you especially since there is opportunity for sweating during class.  Clothing should be respectful and not too revealing.  Many people enjoy wearing workout pants that are easy to move in and a shirt.  Its also a good idea to bring a towel to class to help with any sweat cleanup.

Yogi Toes

As a second part of my challenge I will also try out Yogi Toes: a super absorbent towel that can be placed right on the yoga mat.  I'll be the first to admit that when I practice yoga, I sweat like a pig! Yogi Toes have been seen in such publications as: Fit Yoga, Self, Flare,Shape, and Vouge magazines (just to name a few!)  Yogi Toes come in many colors, including a Chakra Collection-

SKIDLESS® PREMIUM

 .  Once you select your unique color ( I think I will go with the blue chakra, emphasizing life and yes, sexuality ;), you're ready to use!  Place the Yogi Toes towel on your mat (towels will fit the width of the mat and about half of the length).  Yogi Toes towels are unique in that they have tiny silicone nubs or grips on the back of the towel (

SKIDLESS® PREMIUM

)

--providing optimum grip to the mat.

So, if you should happen to look over at me in one of our classes at Mighty Yoga, perhaps I won't be slipping around my mat and there will be more sweat on my towel than dripping off my face!

Confessions from a Yoga Instructor

By Erica Harris, Instructor at Mighty Yoga

If you think about it, it makes sense.

Any exercise program focuses on warming up our bodies before vigorous activity. The temperature of the yoga room is similar to our body's own temperature. This accelerates improvement in many of the benefits of your yoga practice.

Regular exercisers recognize that peak performance occurs when fully warmed up and your body generates heat from the inside radiating out and into your muscles.

On a personal experience I have noticed my students are able to get into poses they don’t general have the flexibility for.  When I do yoga in a heated room, especially a hot yoga room, I sweat a lot! Its probably a good idea to bring a towel and defiantly drink water before class, a little during, and a lot afterwards.  During class, I feel challenged by all the sweating and rewarded by the poses.  After class there is a sense of rejuvenation and detox.  When we sweat we are cleansing our bodies-I’ve even noticed healthier skin!

For my regular hatha style classes (Spark! Studio, TC3, and private yoga) I use the space to my advantage.  For example, the first 15 min. are crucial for warm up. So, don’t be surprised if we sweat a lot during that time.  Once we get to the balancing poses (about mid-way through the class) our bodies will natural start to cool themselves.  Another extremely important time to have a warm body is during our back posing sequences (bow, locus, wheel, bridge, etc.)  By the time we hit the floor in savasana our bodies are cooler and the fans or outside air comes on: and it feel AMAZING!

Mighty Yoga studio is unique in which we are able to control the temperature more accurately.  So when you arrive to your first class we are ready to go!  Be prepared to be challenged and amazed with what your body can do! How do you know if you can do power yoga at Mighty Yoga? "If you can sit down on the floor and get back up, then you can do Power Yoga!"