Before You Practice

1.  Inform the teacher of any special
needs or medical conditions such as
past or current injuries, illnesses,
pregnancy, or recent surgeries.

2.  
Wear clothing that allows
freedom of movement
.  Remove
shoes, socks, watch, and jewelry.
Consider wearing form-fitting
clothing--it allows the teacher to see
your alignment.

3.  
Practice on a near-empty
stomach
.  A full stomach makes it
difficult to breathe deeply and move.  
Blood flow is reduced to the limbs as it
moves to the digestive organs.  Allow
two to four hours after a meal before
practicing, or one hour after a small
snack.  If you must eat something
before class, choose something easily
digestible.  

4.  
Come to class fully hydrated.
Drinking water during class breaks
your concentration and cools you
down when you need to stay warm.
Be sure you are hydrated and your
bladder is empty.

5.  
Enter the class fresh and clean for
the benefit of yourself and others in
class. Shower or cleanse your hands,
face, and feet. Avoid wearing strong
fragrance.

6.  
Arrive a few minutes early.  
Arriving late disrupts class and
prevents you from having a complete
practice.  Be respectful and
considerate of your fellow students by
arriving early so that you can be ready
to start class on time.  This also gives
you time to slow down, put the day's
activities behind you, and prepare for
class.  

7.  
Turn off your cell phone and
watch alarms.  A phone ringing during
yoga practice is disruptive.  Please
leave your cell phone at home, or turn
it off prior to the start of the practice.  

8.  
Get your props before the class
begins.   Bring a sticky mat and a
towel to class, and set any other
props neatly by your mat.

9.  
If you do not want to be touched,
let the teacher know
. In many yoga
classes, the teacher will offer physical
adjustments to make sure you are
performing each posture safely and to
help you to go deeper into postures. If
you would rather not be adjusted,
please tell the teacher before the
class begins.


Do your hands
and feet slip
on your yoga
mat?

Click here for
some tips.
During Your Practice

1.  Listen to your body.  Only through
your own internal awareness will you
come to understand when to work
more deeply and when to ease up.

2.  
Allow yourself to sweat.  
Sweating is healthy because it helps
to detoxify the body.  Rubbing sweat
off with a towel will break your focus
and can clog the pores.

3.  
The breath should always be
louder
than your internal dialogue.  
Breathe through your nose (not your
mouth) and maintain ujjayi breath.  If
you are not familiar with ujjayi breath,
ask the instructor to explain it.   

4.  
Never force yourself into any
posture.  No posture is worth injury.

5.  
Take ambition out of it.  You are
competing with no one.  Take your
time and build your practice slowly.  
There is nowhere to 'get' to.  What's
the rush, anyway?

6.  Remember that the
drishti (gazing
point) is never on your neighbor's
mat
. If you are focused in your
practice, you will not be aware of what
your neighbor is doing.

7.  
Stay for the entire class.  You are
encouraged to stay for the whole
class, but if you must leave early, be
sure to tell the instructor before class.  
Practice close to the door so that you
won't distract others when you leave.  

8.  
Set up a regular practice for
yourself.  Yoga is a system of
self-discipline.  Try to establish a daily
practice.  Take class two to six times
per week, and on days you can't make
it to class, practice at home. Start
slowly and build.  Start by finding just
five minutes in your day to do a few
Sun Salutations.  Be consistent!  Even
five minutes per day will enhance your
class experiences monumentally.  
Helpful Yoga Terms

  • ujjayi breath - a way of breathing through the nose while making a slight
    whispering noise in the back of the throat (on both exhales and inhales)
  • drishti – the spot upon which we rest the gaze during each yoga posture
  • bandhas – the gentle contractions of the pelvic floor and lower abdominals that
    help center and energetically lift the core body
  • vinyasa – a sequence of postures that we move through with careful attention
    to the breath; each movement is initiated by either an inhalation or an
    exhalation
Guidelines for Yoga Practice