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Inner Sun Practice Guidelines ~Please arrive 10-15 mins before your class. We have a first come, first serve policy and arriving early reserves your spot. Door is locked when class begins. ~Bring water and a mat to each class. (Mats are available to borrow for your first few classes) ~Wear comfortable and light clothing. ~Inform your teacher before class of any injuries, physical limitations or health concerns. ~Turn off cell phones and pagers. ~Inner Sun Yoga Centre has a scent free policy. Please be mindful of using any perfumes, creams or cleaning agents that may be scented. ~If you are uncertain of which class to attend, please call or email ahead. (some information adapted from YogaJournal.com) Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Patanjali's eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind. How many times per week should I practice? Yoga is amazing-even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. Don't let time constraints or unrealistic goals be an obstacle-do what you can and don't worry about it. You will likely find that after awhile your desire to practice expands naturally and you will find yourself doing more and more. Is yoga a religion? Yoga is not a religion. It is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago. Yoga sometimes interweaves other philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but it is not necessary to study those paths in order to practice or study yoga. It is also not necessary to surrender your own religious beliefs to practice yoga. I'm not flexible-can I do yoga? Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible. This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being. Do I have to be fit to attend these classes? No. These classes will help you to build strength and enhance your overall fitness. What do I need to begin? All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your body, your mind, and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of sweat pants, leggings, or shorts, and a t-shirt that's not too baggy. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot. It's nice to bring a towel to class with you along with a bottle of water. As your practice develops you might want to buy your own yoga mat, however Inner Sun has rental mats for $1. Why are you supposed to refrain from eating two to three hours before class? In yoga practice we twist from side to side, turn upside down, and bend forward and backward. If you have not fully digested your last meal, it will make itself known to you in ways that are not comfortable. If you are a person with a fast-acting digestive system and are afraid you might get hungry or feel weak during yoga class, experiment with a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts, or juice about 30 minutes to an hour before class. * If you are pregnant, it is recommended that you eat a small snack before you come to class, or bring a banana or apple slices and a bottle of water to class in case you need it. Stormy weather? If we need to cancel our classes for any reason, i.e., weather, power outages, sickness, etc. we will leave a message announcing our closure on our telephone voice mail. If there are school or activity closures in our area, please call our voice mail to check if we are closed. |
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