STUDIO ETIQUETTE
Thank you for joining us to practice yoga. Yoga is predicated on respect: respect for ourselves, respect for others, and respect for the ancient traditions of yoga. To that end, kindly observe the following:
Please arrive before scheduled class start time so that you may sign in and set up your mat before class begins. The doors will be locked at 9:15 am and 5:30 pm. Late arrivals disturb practitioners and will not be permitted unless arranged in advance with a compelling reason.
Please sign in for classes at the reception desk just inside the front doors. If you are new to Surya Yoga, please complete a Registration Form. Whether a new student or a returning student, please let your teacher know if you have any injuries, are pregnant, or need accommodations for your practice.
Please remove your shoes after signing in for classes. Cubbies for shoes and other items are provided just inside Surya Yoga near the Sangha Sit. The practice studios and the changing room have additional space to store your personal belongings.
Refrain from eating two hours prior to practicing but be sure to come to practice well-hydrated. Water is the best form of hydration and aids in detoxification. Surya Yoga has a water cooler – please bring your own reusable drinking container.
Saucha, purity of the body, is a core component of yoga. Come to class clean and prepared to practice. Showers are available but please bring your own towel. Many people have allergies and sensitivities; please refrain from the use of perfumes, colognes or other strong scents inside Surya Yoga.
Come to class in clean comfortable clothes that allow you a wide range of movement.
Your asana practice begins the moment you enter the practice spaces. Please honor the Surya and Chandra practice rooms as you would any sacred space. Refrain from unnecessary talking. We have a separate yoga lounge, the Sangha Sit, and other private spaces where you can chat with your fellow yogis outside of the practice spaces.
Yoga mats are required for practice. You may bring your own or rent a studio mat for $1.00. You may also want to bring a mat towel or mat rug to prevent your mat from becoming slippery during periods of perspiration.
Respect your fellow practitioners’ spaces and avoid stepping on another’s yoga mat before, during, and after practice.
If you need to leave class early, please advise your teacher before class starts. Before leaving early, honor your body and allow at least five minutes for savasana before leaving the practice room.
Yoga means union. To unite your body, mind, and breath therapeutically requires respecting your limits. Before and after practice, check in with your body, mind, and breath and acknowledge all sensations emotionally and physically. Accept what you find and respect where you are.
If you experience unexpected emotions during your practice (tears, sadness, anger, frustration) and you are having difficulty accepting those emotions, you may speak to your teacher during or after class. Keep in mind that uncomfortable emotions often provide the most fertile ground for growth.
Yoga is more than a physical practice, more than just asanas. When you follow the eight limbs of yoga, you are engaging in powerful self-directed therapy that can lead to incredible personal growth in your body, mind and spirit. Honor your body, honor your mind, honor your spirit.
“If we wish for greater wisdom and kindness in the world, perhaps we could start by inhabiting our own body with some degree of kindness and wisdom, even for one moment just accepting ourselves as we are with kindness and compassion rather than forcing ourselves to conform to some impossible ideal. The world would immediately be different.” Jon Katat-Zinn. Make the world a kinder more compassionate place; begin with kindness and compassion towards your body, your mind, and your spirit.
