New Students

Nervous about your first class?  No need to be, everything you need to know is right here:

Mat:  We have some that you can rent and others that you can purchase.  We strongly suggest that you own your own mat and bring it with you to practice for sanitary reasons.
Towel: Come ready to sweat!  It’s always good to have a towel to wipe off a bit during and after class
Water:  Drink plenty of water before coming to class and bring some to sip during class to stay hydrated

What to wear:
Wear comfortable exercise clothing that allows you to move freely.  Cotton is not recommended as it sticks to you when you sweat.  In order to allow the teacher to see your alignment during the practice, more fitted clothing is recommended.  A loose fitted shirt might also flip over your head during practice- not such a good thing for us females! ?

New Student Tips:

• Drink lots of water the day before and day of your class.  Don't wait until right before you practice to hydrate!
• Pay attention to your body!  At the beginning of class, you will be in child’s pose for at least a few breaths.  This is a great place to check in with your body to see how you are feeling that day.  If you notice any particular part of your body is a little off, then be kind to that area during your practice.
• Take modifications if you need to!  Let your teacher know if you have any injuries at the beginning of class so that we can work together to ensure that you have a safe practice.  It’s always great to grab a block at the beginning of class.  Blocks are great for modifications!
• Don’t be ok with pain! If it’s painful, stop immediately!  These postures are not designed to be painful.  No pain, no gain does NOT apply here!  We work through discomfort, however we do not condone pain.
• Take it easy!  Many times in our practice, we must take it down a notch in order to find our edge.  For many of us, this may be the most difficult thing to do as we are so used to pushing ourselves to the max.  Listen to your breath- if it’s choppy, chances are you need to back off.
• Breathe!  Your teacher will talk you through inhales and exhales for each posture- be sure to follow this.  Often when something is new or we are a bit apprehensive about something, we stop breathing.   This causes stress to the body as it stimulates fight or flight.  No need to go there; take child’s pose if it’s too much.
• Allow yourself at least 10 classes to get comfortable with your practice.  Like any other form of physical exercise, you may be sore after your first few classes.  Know that this is a part of the process and that you are getting stronger with every practice.