Yoga Etiquette
Yoga studios have their own rules of etiquette-here's everything you need to know to feel comfortable in the yoga setting.
1. Use your inside voice
As soon as you walk into a yoga studio, start using your inside voice. There may be classes going on and when students are trying hard to develop focus and get into a moving meditation, loud voices can be a big disturbance.
2. Take off your shoes
Some yoga studios will ask you to take off your shoes as soon as you step inside their doors, while others have a cubby just outside of the classroom itself. Either way, no shoes are ever allowed inside the classroom. No one wants dirt and street grime where they'll be lying on the floor!
3. Arrive early
Arrive to class 5 or 10 minutes before it's scheduled to start. This gives you time to find a space for your mat, settle in, and get into the yoga mindset. Plus, you'll only do yourself a disservice by arriving late, as you'll miss warmups. If you're going to be more than 10 minutes late, save class for another day.
4. Don't step on other people's mats
Classes can get very crowded, with yoga mats positioned just a few inches apart. Nonetheless, make sure you don't step on other people's mats as you maneuver yourself through the classroom. No one wants your feet where they'll be resting their head.
5. Turn off your cell phone
Double check to make sure you've put your phone on silent during class. Then tuck it away in a cubby so that it's not a distraction. If your phone does happen to ring during class, own up and quickly turn it off so that it's not a disturbance to others.
6. Respect the teacher
There's a certain amount of freedom in yoga classes--you're encouraged to rest when needed, and practice advanced variations of postures when the teacher offers. But it's disrespectful to attend class only to dance to the beat of your own drum. Ignoring the teacher's directions and following your own flow shows disrespect and is also confusing for beginners in the classroom. If you've come all the way to a yoga class, then honor the teacher who's guiding you by heeding her instructions.
7. If you have to leave early, do it before final relaxation
Hopefully, you'll never have to cut class early. The last ten minutes or so are perhaps the most important segment of any yoga class; when both body and mind are allowed to rest. But if you do have to leave early, sneak out very quietly before the teacher guides students into savasana (corpse pose). This ensures that you won't disturb other students as they settle in for final relaxation.