06.15.09
How to prepare for a yoga class
If you’re new to yoga here are a few things to consider:
Do some research and find a good teacher. Ask your friends. Talk with the teacher for awhile and find out if they are certified, how much experience they have, and what kind of yoga they teach. Let the teacher know of any health concerns you have and if they can help you with them. See if you can take one class before you sign up for a series.
Get a yoga mat. It needs to be a yoga “sticky” mat. They’re about 5 and a half feet long, 2 feet wide and 1/8 to 1/4 inches thick. You need to have something for your feet to grip during standing postures. Wash it first before you use it. Just throw it in the bath tub and scrub it down with detergent. Get the shiny coating washed off. Roll it up in towels, squeeze out all you can, and hang it to dry. It will be softer and better to use. If you don’t wash it, the perspiration from your hands and feet may react to the shiny stuff and you will slide rather than stick.
Get a strap (an old necktie perhaps) and a yoga block (or 2) is extremely useful.
Bring some water. It’s not a good idea to keep drinking during class, but if you suddenly get a foot or leg cramp, taking a sip of water will relax it right away.
Don’t eat just before class. Wait 4 hours after a big meal, 2 hours after a small meal, and 1 hour after a snack.
Drink a lot of water after class. Yoga is more cleansing than you think.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes that are easy to move in. Consider what your clothes will do when you move into different positions. As a teacher, I’ve seen some body parts I really didn’t want to see.
Ladies – take it easy during your monthly cycle. No inversions. Period. (Pun intended.)
Arrive early. Get your space. Settle in and relax before class starts.
People come to yoga to learn yoga. You don’t already have to know it or be flexible. You will be come more flexible and stronger as you practice. No competing with anyone – including yourself!
Perhaps the most important aspect of yoga is that it’s not about the pose. It may take some time to experience what that means, but here goes – you get into yoga postures, breathe, stay calm, and reflect on the experience that you’re having in that moment. The posture is a tool for you to become conscious of the habits of your mind and emotions and body. You use the posture and the breath as tools to remain calm, focused, and aware of yourself. You slowly learn to act rather than react.
Now, go for it!
