Class Etiquette
Arrive Early
- Give yourself time for a moment of meditation and set an intention for your practice.
- If you arrive just as class is beginning, enter quietly and find a place in the back of the class.
- Late arrivals will be flogged ... but then allowed to enter.
Stuff to Leave Outside
- Phones (most important)
- Shoes (another important one)
- Water bottles (drink water before and after, but not during class ~ see below for reasoning)
- Goldfish (optional ... if goldfish gets lonely we'll consider it)
- Arguments with in-laws (prohibited)
- We
will provide you storage in our exclusive, custom-made bins giving you
confidence knowing they are secure. The bins are located just as you
enter the store directly in front of the window labeled "Pre-owned
Shoes & Phones - Buy 1 get 3 Free".
- Note: Blue Anjou cannot be responsible for missing or misplaced items.
Come hungry, leave happy.
- Yoga is best practiced three hours after a meal.
- If you're hungry, eat a small piece of fruit.
- During class, please do not drink water if you can help it. Water cools the inner heat (what the yogis call "tapas" and what the Spanish call appetizers) that helps makes the body flexible or"rollable", depending on which definition you're going with.
- Do drink plenty of water after class.
Injuries
- Tell your teacher about any injuries or special health conditions before class.
- This will help the teacher make suggestions to make your practice safer and more enjoyable.
Bring your own yoga mat to class for hygienic and energetic reasons
- Several mat styles are available to enhance your practice (don't worry, we'll be selling them)
- Rental mats are free on your first visit; after that, the fee is $1 per use.
- If your body enjoys perspiring, please either strengthen your anti-perspirant ... or bring a hand towel. Look, don't drip all over our nice clean studio blankets. That means we've gotta take them all the way home and wash them, and dry them and haul them back. And you wouldn't want that ...
- Yoga mats may be kept fresh by washing them from time to time.
What to do if nature calls?
- First: why are you drinking water? Didn't we tell you not to drink the water? (Hmm ... a little Dave Matthews anyone?)
- If your bladder is about to explode, excuse yourself quietly and head down the hall. Return quietly.
- If you let your bladder explode on our new floor, you will be flogged. Then sent to the hospital.
Oders
- Refrain from wearing perfumes or fragrances as some people are allergic to strong odors.
- And ... come a little closer. Some of them don't smell that good anyway.
Do Not Punch Your Teacher
- Repeat after me: do not punch your teacher no matter what pose they try to make you do. Respect your teacher.
- When you enter a yoga class, you sign on to respect the teacher for the next hour and a half.
- You may discover half way through that you don't care for this teacher/style/hour of the day, but you still should continue on through the class, follow the teacher's instructions, take your relaxation and chalk it up to experience.
Keep in mind the level of the class you are attending
- If it's too hard, it is perfectly all right to take a more basic variation of the poses being taught. Or sit on your butt.
- Normally, our teachers will give voice to options.
- Note: If you are Madonna (or Sting, if you're a dude) most likely everyone knows it. So if you are attending a basic class, its best to stick with the basic versions of the poses, so that you don't confuse new students. The teacher will shine our giant spotlight on you when they want to highlight more advanced options.
Stay for Savasana (final relaxation)
- If you must leave early, let the teacher know. They have been instructed not to flog you for leaving early.
- Plan to rest in savasana for a few minutes before leaving. Your final relaxation in Savasana is a very important part of your practice.
