Get to know some yoga studio etiquette
Just like workout etiquette exists at the gym, there’s yogi etiquette when attending a class. Here’s my list of seven top tips to follow to keep the vibe high for you and your namaste community.
As a regular yogi undertaking teacher training, I am much more observant of not only my practice, but of those around me. I’m tuning in to people’s energy levels, their body language, and taking note of when someone is feeling a little lost/unsure/not overly confident.
And I apply a similar observation in my corporate life, when I’ve delivered training and workshops. I’ve learnt that if you can make people feel comfortable straight off the bat, create a sense of safety (think circle of trust) and let them know what’s coming up, you’ll have a great session.
So, in the second instalment of my three-part Helpful Hack series, I’m sharing some yoga etiquette so you can feel comfortable and get the most out of your next yoga class, confident you know the sometimes unwritten laws of what to do.
Here are seven etiquette tips to set you up for success
- Say hi to the teacher – an obvious one as you need to do this to sign in, but it’s also your opportunity to ask if there is a theme for the class, what yoga props you’ll need and have general banter. They love this!
- Leave your gear in the allocated space – most yoga studios, or community classes, will have a designated area for you to store your bag/car keys separate to the studio space. It’s important you leave your items here so there’s enough space in the studio to do the class.
- Enter quietly – there’s normally a few early birds that are already in the studio, lying on their mats or meditating. You don’t have to tip toe around them, but be mindful when rolling your mat out and placing any props to the floor that you do so gently and aren’t dropping or thwacking them down.
- Line up your mat in an orderly sequence – while you can set yourself up anywhere (unless told otherwise by the teacher), place your mat at least mat distance apart from the person next to you, with enough room to circle your arms up and above your head that you won’t hit your neighbor by accident.
- Breathe audibly – it’s ok to do this. In a class, you’ll do a range of breathing exercises (pranayama) that encourage you to expel air through the mouth, or to breathe in deeply through the nose. Don’t hold back, these breathing exercises are meant to be heard and you feel so much better when you are able to do this breath work in their full glory.
- Hold your namaste fold – at the end of class when we all say namaste, hold your bow forward a little longer in a sign of gratitude and respect for your teacher, coming up after they have. I love this ritual that is steeped in other practices – like martial arts – that shows humility.
- Wipe your mat down – most yoga studios have mats that you can borrow for class. They’ll have some sort of antibacterial wash in a spray bottle for you to wipe down your mat, ready for the next yogi. Make sure you do this after class, and you return the bottle back to where you got it from 😉
If you’ve enjoyed the second instalment of this series, let me know in the comments box below.
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Namaste!
Maryanne K
*Photo credit: Yoga Everyday studio, Stafford
