What Happens In A Yoga Class?

Does the thought of going to a yoga class fill you with anxiety? What if you are not flexible and you can not reach past you knees?

What if you don't own any "yoga clothes" or maybe your feet are best left inside your sneakers. Hopefully this blog will answer some questions and give you some answers on what to expect if and when you join a class.

You will be greeted by the yoga instructor and made to feel welcome. Remove your footwear (yoga is done barefoot). There will be a designated area for shoes. If you are hesitant to practice yoga barefoot there are yoga specific socks you can purchase in athletics sections of most general stores. Aside from that your attire should be comfortable. So, if a baggy t-shirt and shorts is what you like, wear that.

Find a spot for your mat. If you do not have a mat ask a instructor for a rental mat. Rental mats at Rayne or Shine Yoga are $5, this is to cover the use and the cleaning of the mats between sessions. If you are curious about mat types ask the instructor for suggestions and advice and even to demo some mats that are available there at the studio. Leave a good amount of space between you and the next person, as you may be stretching out your arms and legs. Staggering the mat can also help to create space between other fellow students. You will need to silent your phone notifications and bringing a water bottle is suggested. Doing yoga on a full stomach is not recommended. You will be doing poses including twisting, folding, bending and extending. Treat it like you would any other training session and don't have a big meal just before practice.

The instructor will introduce the session and guide you through centering for the class. This usually includes sitting, lying, or standing while doing breathwork, focusing the mind and setting intention for the practice. The instructor will then take you through a series of poses (asanas). You will be reminded to come back to your breath throughout the session. Remember to listen to your body and come out of a pose if its too difficult. There will be different options for postures Choose the option that works best in your body in the present moment. Just before the session ends there will be postures and breathing exercises to relax the mind and prepare for the final resting pose Savasan. This is the relaxation segment of the class. It typically lasts anywhere from 3-10 minutes in a 60 minute session. This is a really lovely relaxation process and the teacher will talk you through it.

Yoga is open to anyone at any level of fitness and even more so any level of flexibility. You may be dreaming of reaching your toes and just be able to get your hands below your knee caps, but that is equally as good as getting hands to to the floor. Your yoga practice is personal and it is about your own progress. So try to keep your focus and work on the areas that you need. The most important thing is that you see progress week to week yourself.

Yoga can help with relaxation, strength, flexibility and much more. A good yoga class includes mindfulness, breath control and specific poses. Hopefully now I have given you a good example of what you can expect when you decide to try out a yoga class. If you still have questions contact me! Find more info about yoga offerings at rayneorshineyoga.offeringtree.com and contact me to set up a free discovery class!

Hope to see you on the mat!