Introduction
What will your first class be like? As is understandable, you might be anxious about attending your first class. You might have a lot of questions. We hope this page gives you the answers you need. We want you to feel comfortable and welcome. If you don’t find the answers to all your questions or concerns, feel free to contact us either by phone or email, or set up an appointment to speak with us directly.
The following applies to classes attended in our studio. For information about online classes via Zoom, go to our Online Yoga Classes webpage.
Preparing for your first class
We request that you contact us to register before coming to your first class. Let us know what class you plan to attend. We want the teacher of the class to know you are coming. After attending your first class, you are free to attend any other All Levels class without registering; you need not attend the same class each week.
Before class, please fill out a history form and waiver. This form gives us your contact information, your state of health and medical history. Print it out at home, fill it out, and bring it with you, or come earlier to get a copy at the studio to fill out before class.
What should I bring?
Our studio is fully equipped. There’s no need to bring a yoga mat or any other yoga props or equipment.
You are welcome to bring a water bottle but it’s not necessary. We have water available in the studio.
Come a few minutes early to get familiar with the studio and to get settled for the class. Park off the street in one of our driveways. Pull all the way up to leave room for others to park behind you. (See the parking map on our contact-us page.)
What should I wear?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. We recommend not wearing blue jeans or a belt, each which can restrict movement. Leave your shoes in the mudroom before you enter the studio.
Masks are optional and welcomed. Class sizes are limited to assure social distancing in the studio. There is plenty of space in the studio with cathedral ceiling and good air circulation.
If you feel ill, have a cough or runny nose, or might have been exposed to someone who tested positive, please do not come to the studio, even if you tested negative. Feel free to join classes online until you are symptom free.
During the winter, the floor is heated. We have plenty of blankets as needed.
During the summer, the studio is air conditioned to keep the studio comfortable for you. Wear modest clothing. If you choose to wear shorts, we recommend biking-style shorts. Bring a large towel to cover the blankets you lie on or sit on. This protects the blankets in case you perspire or you have applied oils or lotions to your skin.
Help us accommodate those who are chemically sensitive to fragrances and other scented products.
Can I eat before class?
Do not eat a big meal right before class. It’s not necessary to starve yourself though! If you must eat right before class, eat something light. We provide light snacks at the studio. They are meant for your ride home after class, but you are welcome to have something before class.
What will classes cost?
We have many different class and price options. Our staff will be happy to help you find an option that fits you best. You can pay for individual classes as a drop-in, or you can buy the more economical class cards that we offer. You can buy a class card for 5, 10 or 15 classes. The larger the card, the lower the cost per class. We give you ample time to use the classes on the card you purchase, allowing for sickness, vacations and so forth. For prices, see the Classes page.
Which classes should I attend?
As a beginner with us, you can attend any of the All Levels classes. When you become more experienced, you can join our deeper Experienced classes.
You do not have to stay in the same class from week to week. You can change classes as your own schedule changes. We’re flexible. Your schedule can be flexible, too.
You can attend one or more classes a week. It’s up to you. Some students attend once a week, while others attend two or three times a week. The benefits you get from a class last for several days afterward. If you practice at home between classes, the benefits will last longer and even deepen. In addition, home practice helps guarantee a deeper experience in each subsequent class you take with us.
Will I be able keep up? I don’t want to make a fool of myself.
The yoga we teach is very accessible. Our teachers are highly skilled at explaining and demonstrating the poses. They customize poses to suit the individual needs of each student. However, if you feel you need special attention at least for one or more classes, see our Newcomers page.
If there’s something you cannot do, you can let the teacher know before class or anytime during the class. If practical and safe, the teacher might give you more propping so that you can do the pose more easily. Otherwise, the teacher will give you an alternative pose to try. Any time you feel uncomfortable or concerned about a particular pose, please let the teacher know. Don’t wait until after class to tell the teacher. The teacher will address your concerns appropriately. And the other students in the class will be supportive.
Note that there are no mirrors in the studio. We want you to turn your attention inward rather than worrying about how you look. Enjoy yourself! Be easy on yourself. Let go of competition. Yoga is not a competitive sport!
What can I expect in my first class?
Each class starts with a relaxation and guided awareness practice. You will lie down on a blanket on our carpeted floor, with your knees bent over a stack of blankets topped off with a rolled blanket. The blankets under your knees help your back lie flatter on the floor to release back tension. This gives your back much more release than if you lie on the floor without props as is done in many other styles of yoga. If you are not used to lying on a floor, you can use an extra blanket or two underneath for the first few classes until you become more accustomed to the floor.
The teacher will adjust you at the beginning of your first few classes to make you more comfortable. Then, the teacher will lead the class in a guided awareness relaxation (shavasana).
During the class, the teacher will demonstrate many of the poses and then lead you into them step by step. The teacher will watch you and the rest of the students closely, making sure you are doing the poses safely and properly to get the most benefit. You are free to ask questions at any time.
Classes tend to have a common structure from week to week, as follows:
- Relaxation and guided awareness for five or ten minutes to help you relax and settle in.
- Healing breathing practice for five or ten minutes.
- A contemplation quote read by the teacher for you to reflect on (yoga is for your mind and more, not just for your body). Each month, a contemplation article is available for you to take home with you to read on your own.
- Marker pose — a pose that is usually introduced near the beginning of class and taught again near the end so you can compare how much your body has changed during that class. (You will invariably notice a lot of change!)
- Ten to twelve poses to release tension along your spine, from the tailbone up.
- The repeated marker pose.
- Relaxation and guided awareness to help you integrate the changes your body has received and to find a new level of letting go. Find your Svaroopa® — your Self, the deeper essence of your own Beingness.
- The contemplation quote is read again.
- A mudra to help “seal” the practice (sustaining the benefits for a longer time afterward).
- At the end of the class, the teacher bows to you, with hands folded together in front of his or her heart, and says Namaste to you. Namaste (pronounced nah-mas-TAY) means “I honor the depth of your being.” We honor you wholeheartedly!
Each month usually features a new theme which includes:
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- Some new poses in each class
- Consistency plus variety
- Stair-step learning process
- Rapid self-improvement
- Incorporating yoga into your life
Themes include:
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- Daily practice
- Neck & shoulders
- Lower spine release
- Forward Bends
- Abdominals
- Backbends
- Seated poses and twists
- Heart openers
- Standing poses
- Vinyasa
- Balance & Inversions