STEAMY BUDDHA YOGA ETIQUETTE
How to honor your yoga:
Be mindful of keeping the studio room sacred for everyone before, during and after practice, a few tips for all.
Silence in the room while prepping before class. Everyone is coming into their own mindset of time for self and we’d love to help honor that for everyone.
Come at least 15-20 mins before class to settle yourself in and to not disrupt the class once it has started. If class has started, come in and set yourself quietly, easily, smoothly and join in.
Specifically for Bikram, once class starts, we are in a mindset space.
Drink water when in transition to postures, not during the posture as this is distracting to others who are in posture.
Try not to leave the room unless you need to visit the toilet. Walking in and out distracts the energy of the class. If you have to leave or come back, leave or enter in between a posture, not during a posture.
If ever you feel it is too hot, too humid, non-stop thoughts in your head, stay, breathe and release any expectation on yourself.
Allow the process of emotions to ride through. Take a short break and join back in again. You will be surprised how you are able to continue and move the mind. We all go through this in our practice. Which is part of doing the practice.
May you discover and honor yourself here.
Preparing for Class - Specifically Bikram
Ensure your last big meal is at least 2.5 hours before class. The feeling of nauseousness, dizziness and difficulty in breath is your digestive system being heavy and trying to process it’s food while you are trying to process the asanas. Give your body only one thing to do. It can’t do both at the same time. No black coffee before class. This raises the heart rate up unnecessarily too fast. I’m a coffee drinker and I drink at least 1.5 hours before class.
Hydrate more the day before class and after class. If you come for more frequent classes, water is your best friend and will help flush out toxins more with drinking water and practicing.
Come prepared with the right clothes - less is more here. Sports bras, sleeveless tops, short yoga pants. Come prepared with your water bottle. We have changing rooms, cubicles, showers and yoga towels and mats for rent at $2.00.
Come prepared, to surrender on the mat. No expectations and no pressure on self. Showing up is the biggest challenge and the toughest work. Once you show up, you are here, then all you have to do is just practice with the teacher supporting you.
If ever you are too drained or need a break, just sit down, be still, breathe and when you are ready, join back up. The others who are practicing are all vouching for you and their compassion and hearts are with you.
Take care of yourself with good food and water, nourish yourself with good sleep to help your practice go deeper. Think of this as balancing your input of resources into the body to equalize the output you use from your body.