New to Yoga?

Welcome! Here are a few tips to help make your first yoga class experience the best.

• Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach. Avoid large meals prior to your class. We also recommend that you avoid fluid intake during your practice; hydrate well after class.
• Wear comfortable clothing to allow freedom of movement. You may want to dress in light layers to accommodate variations in body temperature throughout your yoga practice.
• We recommend bare feet during yoga class. However, you may want to bring socks to wear at the start and end of your yoga practice.
• Bags, purses, and other personal items are left outside of the yoga studio.
• Cell phones are turned off and silence is observed while class is in session.
• Find your practice space allowing adequate distance between you and other students. Allow several inches between your mat and the next mat. Staggering your mat from your neighbor's often gives you additional space during your yoga practice.
• We appreciate a fragrance-free environment; thank you for avoiding scented body products.
• For your convenience, YogAsylum provides mat rentals for $2. We also offer professional grade, earth-friendly natural rubber or foam mats for purchase in our studio boutique. Keep in mind that a quality mat is an investment in you and your practice.
• YogAsylum provides blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets and eye pillows for your use during yoga class. Feel free to select any of these items before class starts. If you need props for your home practice, shop our boutique for a variety of products.
• On your first visit, you will need to complete a Questionnaire and sign a standard Release statement. Thereafter, the process to sign-in for a class is very simple. There are two ways to sign-in for classes:
     a) To drop-in anytime without advance registration, print your full name on the sign-in sheet when you arrive. We will collect payment upon arrival.
     b) You may also create a client profile at www.yogasylum.com and sign up online for any classes in advance, paying via our secure checkout. When you arrive at the studio, simply enter your initials next to your name on the sign-in sheet.
• We recommend that students arrive about 10 minutes prior to the class start time when possible. Classes begin promptly. If you are expecting to be late for class, we can accommodate a late class entry within the first 10 minutes of class.
• Inform your yoga teacher of any injuries or health concerns that you may have prior to class.
• We highly recommend that all students remain in class through Shavasana (meditation at the end of our yoga classes). Shavasana is important for rebalancing, restoring, and resting the body.
• During winter months, we ask that you leave your shoes on the carpet near the front entrance to help us preserve our beautiful cork floors. Note: Shoes are not permitted in the studios.
• Our teachers and staff are here for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please inform us. We will do our best to accommodate all requests and resolve concerns quickly.

What class should I attend if I have never practiced yoga?
If you have never done yoga before, we recommend our Yoga Basics Series. This is a four-class series that introduces you to the basic yoga postures in an easy and relaxed atmosphere. Small class sizes allow for plenty of individual attention, helping to direct you toward a solid understanding of yogic principles and alignment. This class is not a prerequisite for attending drop in classes. However, it is highly recommended.

What class should I attend if I have done some yoga in the past, but not recently?
We recommend beginning with any of our hatha yoga or yin yoga classes.

What should I bring to class?
Bring your smile and an open mind! Also, bring your own yoga mat. If you don't have a mat, we have mats for rent or purchase. Feel free to bring a water bottle for after class.

How long will it take me to be "good" at yoga?
Yoga is for anyone and everyone. There is no competition involved and no trophy awarded at the end. You do yoga for yourself. The most advanced yogi is not always the strongest, most flexible person in class, it's the person who knows their limits and can stay true to their practice. You will see an increase in strength, balance and flexibility by coming to class 2-3 times a week. Yoga is a practice for life, and what you put into it is what you will get out of it.

What if I can't do a pose?
What's important to remember is that you are coming for you. Yoga is a practice of self-exploration. Through this practice, we discover our strengths and weaknesses. It is important that when you find your "edge," you simply honor it and observe what is. Never do anything that would impose self harm. There are modifications to every pose, appropriate to all abilities. You will be amazed that with consistent practice what seems impossible today will soon enough come effortlessly.