First, a funny story…In an effort to get myself ready for St. George, I took as many yoga classes as I could. I even splurged on one private yoga session. The teacher, Phil, whom I had never met, taught my class in a private yoga studio in someone else’s home. We had a brief interview session before we started about why I needed hip opening yoga poses and why I couldn’t attend classes normally (timing) and that was it. This whole situation was fairly intimidating for me being the only student and the teacher being a fairly young good looking guy staring at me the whole time. Before we started, he went over his “rules” for yoga- mainly that there was no talking except to clarify a pose. It wasn’t the time to discuss dinner plans or anything else. This I completely agree with. There should be no talking in yoga. So, we started the session and I’d eaten my collard greens directly before going and I had an awful need to fart (and I don’t mean the loud smellless kind, I mean the silent really stinky just ate broccoli kind of fart. This is NOT cool in any yoga session and what made it worse was that it was just him and me. No way to let any silent gassy types slip out. In addition to the yoga I was practicing, I was also practicing squeezing my butt cheeks together for 90 minutes. Honestly, the yoga was amazing, but I was a bit distracted for a lot of it.
Yoga Etiquette or lack thereof can really be a turn off to other students in the class. Here is a post I just found on Yoga Etiquette and I’d like to add a few more of my own that have really irked me in the past…
Clothing Do’s and Don’t’s
Wear clothing that fits you! I have my favorites in yoga clothes, but, the most important thing to remember is what you present to your students is what will be reflected back to you. Baggy white t-shirts from 10 years ago that stop before your waist band is not attractive. It’s a distraction really. If you are going to demonstrate a pose and all we see is your shirt flipping up- that takes away from the actual meaning of the exercise.
Talking
At the beginning of the yoga session, there is some small talk going on, but when you get right into the heart of yoga, it needs to be quiet. Because what you are doing is what is most important. It is also best to not comment on every single pose the teacher is asking you to do. Yes, they are hard. Yes, they will be challenging. A good teacher will offer modifications for each pose and there will be something you can do. Also, keep your voice down to a “inside voice”. Finally, hysterical laughter when asked to do something is rude. It’s also rude to the students around you who would really like to focus on yoga.
Heat
Most yoga classes do offer some heat as part of yoga. In our town, we have hot yoga. The room is heated to 80 degrees before the start of the class and then fans are on throughout the class. Don’t ask to turn the fans on or off. The heat is there for a reason. Your body will do better when it’s warm!
Teacher’s
Please don’t use the word “ass” in a yoga class. I’ve been to one class where he actually said more than once “get your ass in the air”. Bit inappropriate, you think? Encouragement is good. Checking position and alignment is also good. Ask the students how are you feeling? but don’t stop the class in between each one and ask each individual. Just keep going! Another preference would be for the teacher to teach the student a little about each pose and why/how it helps your body.
There are no two yoga teachers that are alike. Understand that it will not always go perfectly and they might say things that bug you or the students might bug you, but, yoga can be so valuable for everybody, that I really feel strongly that if you remain focused on your own practice, that you will reap the benefits. Be grateful and thankful too for the teacher. (just my two cents)
Opinions, suggestions, thoughts on yoga? Best or worst things about a yoga class?
1 response so far ↓
1 WeightingGame // Nov 2, 2008 at 7:43 pm
There’s no farting in yoga!
Congrats on keeping ‘em squeezed
WeightingGames last blog post..5 Ways to Master Your Emotions
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