Before you begin, you can print off this RHY – New Student Card!, fill it out before you come in, and save a few minutes in getting set up for class! Now, for the good stuff…
After your first class, you’re going to be more flexible. Guaranteed. You’ll probably also get that rush like when you were a little kid, where you could run around for hours and never get tired. You’re going to sweat, work and stretch every muscle in your body, and clear your thoughts by concentrating on the poses and your breath. Of course, that’s why you’re reading this page, so let’s get to the good stuff!
First things first: you want to be well hydrated before you take the class. Being well hydrated is easy, just start drinking water about 24 hours before you take the class. And, you don’t have to drink gallons, just make sure that you drink a couple litres more than usual.
Don’t eat a lot before you come in. Some folks like to practice on an empty stomach. Some feel better if they have a snack before they practice. Either way is fine, but avoid too much sugar or dairy. A piece of fruit or a power bar should do nicely.
Arrive about ten minutes before the start time on the schedule. Earlier is fine, but don’t be late! We can’t admit late arrivals because it disturbs the class, and especially if your new, you need a few extra minutes to get settled. When you come in, introduce yourself to the instructor, and when you fill out an info card, make sure to let the instructor know if you have any injuries or limitations.
This is important – if you twisted your knee while running, please tell us about it. If you’ve had any surgeries in the last year, let us know. Back pain, high blood pressure, or anything else, is always worth mentioning. We need to know this stuff because we might be able to offer a rehabilitative pose that will help, or make an an adjustment to make a pose easier for you. Or, we might ask you skip a pose, or practice a different pose, so that you don’t aggravate an injury. There are many ways to make the practice more successful for you, and the more we know, the better!
After you check in, you’ll set your mat up in the room. In any studio, there are a few simple rules to follow:
1. Slip your shoes off before you go into the room. We practice barefoot, and you don’t want to track stuff all through the studio.
2. Set up quietly so you do not disturb others. Many people arrive early so that they can enjoy ten or fifteen minutes of quiet before the class, and you are welcome to do the same (after a long day, it’s really nice).
3. Please make sure that you only bring your mat, towel, and water into the room with you. There are not many rules set in stone, but this is one of them: you must leave purses, phones, and keys outside of the room. It is essential to the practice that no outside noises disturb the class. Please do not smuggle a phone into the room – and we do sympathize with new moms and on-call doctors – but to be fair to everyone, we can’t make any exceptions.
4. On that same note, please do not come to class if you are sick. Many people crave the heat and sweat when they have a cold, but again, it’s not fair to everyone else. This goes for hangovers as well (not that you would ever be hungover…).
As class begins, listen to the instructor. Follow along with the poses as they describe them, and enjoy your class! Rest whenever you get tired, and if you have any questions for the instructor, wait until the end of class, and then they will be happy to help!
That’s it! Keep drinking water after class, and try to make it back to class tomorrow! If you do have any questions or concerns, you can always email us before the class. Namaste!
