FAQ’s and Studio Etiquette

MINDFULNESS AND STUDIO ETIQUETTE

Please take your shoes off and leave them in the shoe area before entering a studio.

We understand that some days traffic or obstacles will show up on your way to class. However, in order to minimize disruption in our yoga classes, no one will be admitted 10 minutes after the start of class. For safety reasons, we cannot admit anyone into yoga sculpt once the teacher is in the room - you don’t a weight dropped on your head!

We encourage you to disconnect from electronics during class, but if you need to take your phone into the studio due to your profession or emergency situation you MUST tell the teacher and your phone MUST be silenced.

Make room for others. Everyone should feel welcome. Make space for everyone.

Props are your friend. Grab the props you need at the beginning of class and keep them placed neatly near your mat and out of the way of others. Props that you use often should be placed strategically where you can access them. You’re never too cool for props. It’s the sign of an advanced practitioner to use props when needed.

Be mindful of practicing “watchasana.” Sometimes we want to see what others are doing in their practice. You might catch a glimpse, but remember that your practice and experience are for you alone. Try to stay rooted in your own space and practice. If you are taking a class for the first time place your mat in the middle of the room so you can easily catch a glimpse of what is going on without tweaking to look ahead or behind.

Always think about your drishti, or gazing point. Where we look affects our balance, our alignment, and can actually transform a pose. It’s natural to want to watch the person who’s speaking to you, but unless a teacher specifically asks you to watch a demonstration, you don’t need to watch him/her. In yoga classes, teachers are usually walking around, assisting students verbally and manually.

Please, no perfumes or colognes. The breath in yoga is deep and heavy and you will be within close proximity of others.

Be careful not to drink too much water. If you hydrate enough ahead of time, it’ll sustain you through a sweaty full-length class. If your throat is dry or your mouth feels gummy, take a small sip, but you don’t want to filled with water while you’re twisting, forward bending, inverting, etc. After class, hydrate as much as you need to!

Try not to eat a full meal before class. Give yourself time to digest. Everyone’s different, but 2 hours for a light-to-medium meal is good. 3+ hours for really heavy meals. If you have low blood sugar and need a little snack beforehand, have a handful of nuts or a little fruit.

Respect the Teacher. The easiest one is following along with the class, the poses or modified versions of them. Do not do your own series in the middle of a guided class. If the class isn’t what expected, please finish the class and choose another class or teacher in the future. Respect the teacher enough to remain in class with an open mind.

Ahhhh Savasana: the best part of the class! We encourage everyone to stay for the duration of Savasana. If you absolutely must leave, please advise the teacher and slip out quietly before Savasana begins.

Please clean up your yoga space - If you borrowed a mat from the studio, wipe it down. If you created a puddle of sweat, wipe it with your towel. If you used props, put them back neatly, unbuckle straps and wipe off the block. Please place hand towels and yogi-toes in the laundry bin. Pick up all of your items and discard any trash and place any recyclables in the appropriate bins.

Minimize conversation and noise in the studio - We LOVE our community! Meeting friends and family, and catching up before class is to be expected and welcomed in the reception area. When you enter the studio, your practice begins. Focus inward as you arrive and set-up. The few minutes before class are ideal for a short meditation and for setting an intention. Refraining from chit-chat is not just good etiquette but also really beneficial for your state of mind!