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Six do’s on how to have a happy, fulfilling class and share that love with everyone else in the room.

First Do

Arrive on time. Yes, it is generally considered polite in our society to be on time but also it gives you an opportunity to let the teacher know if you have any health issues.  If you do have something you need to tell the teacher remember you may not be the only one with something to tell them.  If you are fit and healthy arriving on time means you can roll your mat out and just giving yourself the opportunity to settle down prior to the start of the class.

If you are late (and it does happen for all sorts of reasons) don’t clatter across to the furthest side of the studio in your outdoor shoes or boots and then fling your mat down creating a wind tunnel for those directly in line with your mat.

Psst! If you are late on a regular basis, people do talk about it, I heard some doing just that the other day whilst waiting to go into a class.

Second Do

Offer to move up or along to make room for a fellow yogi if the class is busy.  Too many of us have a ‘favourite place’, in the studio. If an imposter takes “your space” don’t tut or huff.  Accept it and do your practise in a different space.  Very often you have a completely different perspective on the class simply by moving a few feet. Go on, try it, you might like it.

Third Do

Turn off your mobile phone. Oh yes, and put it away.  It’s really annoying when a phone goes off in the middle of your quietening time at the beginning of the class or at the end of a class during relaxation.  I have got so paranoid about it being my phone, I leave it at home or in the car now.  The other week I was teaching and as the class were lying down on the mat getting ready for Shivasana, one of the class was texting, I kid you not.

Fourth Do

Stay for relaxation.  It’s as important an asana as those you have practised in the rest of the class.  People say “Oh, I can’t relax” that’s because they don’t practise. They are the ones who think they aren’t flexible enough to do yoga, it’s because they don’t practise (or even try).  Think of as your final posture, rounding up your practise and sealing in the energy you have created. Allow your mind and body time to relax and rejuvenate, you owe it to yourself.

Fifth Do

Tell the teacher if you have enjoyed the class.  Teachers spend a lot of time planning the class, and the smoother it goes the more students think it just unrolls in the time and space they are there.  One of the first things I learnt as a teacher was that my teachers ACTUALLY PLAN. I had never given it a thought before.  I saw my teachers in a whole new light especially as I started to learn how to plan and spend hours agonising over each class.

Ask the teacher if you want something else included, if you can’t be honest with your teacher how can you be honest with yourself on the mat?

Sixth do

Bring gratitude to your class and your practise, reflect back after class to see how you can do that again but even better that….

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