What to do during a yoga practice

This is the third of a four part article about yoga etiquette.

In the previous two articles we covered:

• What to do before you come to yoga class.
• What to do once you enter the practice space.

In this article we will be talking about how to behave during a yoga class.

Remember that the yoga etiquette guidelines revolve around the concept of respect:

• Respect yourself
• Respect others
• Respect the teacher

And now for the third article about how to behave during class.

What to do during a yoga class

Respect the Teacher

When you enter a yoga class, you sign on to respect the teacher for the next hour and a half. You may discover halfway through the class that you don’t care for this teacher, style, or hour of the day. But you still should continue with the class, follow the teacher’s instructions, take your Savasana, and chalk it up to experience.

If postures are being taught in a different way from how you usually practice it, you should follow the guidance of the teacher and respect their teaching.  You may learn something new and perhaps improve how well you and your body respond to the posture. You should not insist on doing the posture in the fashion that you have done it previously.  You are in the class to learn from the teacher, take advantage of the situation and learn from the teacher’s insight and training.

Keep Variations Appropriate

Keep in mind the level of the class you are attending. If it is an advanced class and some of the poses are too hard, it is fine to take a more basic variation of the poses being taught. Usually the teacher will offer this option. If you are attending a basic class, stick to the basic versions of the poses so you don’t confuse new students. The teacher will offer you the option to take a more advanced variation when appropriate.

When it comes time to take a vinyasa, always feel free to take either Knees, Chest, and Chin and Cobra or Chaturanga and Up dog.   Usually the teacher will advise the students to do the vinyasa in any way that they are comfortable, including skipping it altogether.

The reason to partake in a yoga class is to follow the instructions of the teacher. Doing your own moves, unless you are doing modified poses for back or other injury, or modified poses of pregnancy, stick with what the teacher is doing. It is better to sit still and skip certain moves if you do not or cannot do them than to do your own thing in the middle of class. This can be confusing for both the teacher and the other students.

Honor Your Body

Yoga is a personal practice not a competitive or comparative one. Each of us has our own individual levels of strength, flexibility, and experience. That’s what makes the practice so much fun! Your body may express the postures in a way that is unique to just you. So do not push it too far, too soon. You are the only one who knows how you’re feeling at any moment, so listen to the wisdom of your body and take care of yourself.

Resist watching others

First of all it’s rude and it only encourages comparisons. Comparing yourself to others is not what yoga is about. There will always be different levels of physical flexibility and strength when a group assembles for a yoga class. Yoga is about being aware of your own personal flexibility, strength, and focus. You cannot be focusing inwardly when you are focusing outwardly on others.

Resist drawing attention to yourself

It is very distracting to be near someone in a yoga class who craves attention. They start talking, or grunting or make such a production out of each posture that everyone looks over at them. Yoga is supposed to be a pleasant, harmonic experience between you and your body.

Be tolerant

Yoga is not football or hockey but if your neighbor falls out of headstand he can take you out just the same. Remember, if somebody crashes into you, its an accident. It’s not fun for them either and they’re probably embarrassed so don’t make things worse by getting mad. This is your chance to show the class how equanimous you are.

Do Not Talk

Please be quiet during class instruction. It’s great to share with friends, but it can be distracting to others to have an extended or loud conversation.

Once the teacher starts class, refrain from talking to your friends and classmates. Unless you have a question for the instructor or have been addressed by the instructor, it is good form in a yoga class to keep lips closed and ears open. This helps you focus your practice and does not disturb other students.

Keep questions brief but do ask questions if you have them. Everyone will learn with you!

If you have an observation or insight that you would like to share.  Share it with the teacher after class.  The teacher has a certain amount of material to cover during the class and long discussions or personal revelations and insights can be time consuming.

Go to the Bathroom During Resting Poses

It is fine to leave class for a few minutes to go to the bathroom: There is no need to ask the teacher’s permission. The best time to go is when there is a period of rest, either in Child’s Pose or Downward Dog. You will not earn your teacher’s respect if you routinely dodge out during difficult poses or skip part of Savasana.

Flirting during class

Some guys have figured out by now that the male-female ratio in your typical yoga class is much in their favor.

Guys, I know you think you’ve hit paydirt but please save the pick-up lines for the bars or, at least, until after class. Flirting with the person on the mat next door during class is distracting to others and it’s unethical for the following reason:

• she’s trapped. She’s stuck next to you in a yoga class
• she likely feels compelled to be nice because of the setting.

At least after class she has a chance to make a mad dash for her car or send you packing with your mat.

Drink water sparingly

A key component of a yoga practice is the heat you generate in your body.  This heat helps your muscles to stretch and lengthen safely.  The heat also helps to detoxify the body.  The twisting and stretching of the body causes the toxins that are around the organs to move and these toxins are carried out of the body in your sweat.

Drinking water will cause the body to cool down which will result in cooler muscles and less sweat.  It is okay to take small sips to moisten the mouth, but large swallows should be avoided.

Next time

The last installment is coming up.  What to do after the class is over.