Yoga Class Considerations

Please arrive early. Getting to class about 5-10 minutes early can help you settle in. Take your time; sit or lie, breathe, and get centered.

Please do not eat before class. If you practice yoga on a full stomach, you might experience cramps, nausea, heart burn or vomiting. You'll thank yourself for it.

Please let the teacher know about any injuries or illness. I've had many students tell me after several months of practice, "Oh, I have fibromyalgia or arthritis etc.," It is very important for the teacher to know these things so necessary adjustments can be made.

Create an intention; a word or a phrase and stay with it for several deep grounded breaths. Life gives us what we ask for so set a clear intention each day.

Please turn off pagers &/or cell phones. And if you are expecting an important call at least be courteous enough to explain it to the class. They will understand if someone in your family is ill etc., and will appreciate the sharing.

Please be quiet. Many people come to yoga as an outlet, a sense of community; which is great. Yet there is nothing worse than trying to meditate or work deeply in a pose when the people next to you are chatting. Please respect the class enough to save it for an appropriate time.

Whatever you do, listen to your body. I know people get tired of hearing this. Yet it is important. Do not push it. Instead of trying to go deeply into a pose, do what you can without strain. When I took Rodney Yee's class in Toronto year he expressed the importance of this. "Its not about going too far into it (any pose), its about creating space for the breath." My teacher used to say, "Go to your edge and not past it." Good advice!

If there is pain, there is something wrong. Know there is a definite difference between hard work, discomfort and pain. Work with your body and not with your ego; which is easier said than done even for the most seasoned practitioner.

Don't get discouraged if your body doesn't move the same way your neighbour's does. Know that each one of us is unique; each with different life experiences and that all life experiences are held somewhere in the body. With time you will release another layer of holding, yet not if your mind is in a competitive state.

Have realistic expectations. If during uttanasana (standing forward bend) your hands are floating above your knees do not expect to touch the floor after a 6 week yoga class. Change and transition take time; yet with time (and sometimes much patience) your body will make shifts. Know these shifts can take years for some people.

Namaste