What to wear? Special yoga wear is not required; wear comfortable clothing that allows the instructor to see your feet, knees and posture. It also helps if movement in your arms and shoulders is visible. Yoga is practiced with bare feet.
Love perfume? Great, but please be mindful of others and their allergies. Help us keep the class as scent-free as possible.
What to bring? Just a mat. Props will be provided. A towel if you wish and water is always good for after class.
Eating before class? Yoga is best practiced on a partially empty stomach.
When to show up for class? 5-10 min early is best. Classes start precisely on time. If you are late, please enter quietly and be as non-disruptive as possible when you set up your mat.
New Student? Everyone was a first time student! We are all on an individual journey so there is no judgment in yoga. The saying goes that “You Meet Yourself As You Are On Your Mat.” Trust yourself. Trust your pose.
Aches? Pains? Bad Neck? This is not a problem. Just let the instructor know and poses will be adjusted for you to perform safely while still getting health benefits.
How flexible do I need to be? Flexibility is not a requirement, it is a RESULT of yoga! Iyengar Yoga is uniquely beneficial to people with tight muscles and joints. You will be shown how to support yourself in poses while you learn what your body can do.
Is Yoga a Religion? B.K.S. Iyengar said that yoga is an art, a science and a philosophy, but it can be as physical or spiritual as you wish to make it. At Block & Bolster we approach yoga as a means to physical and mental health with the hope that if you have a healthy body and a peaceful mind, you become a happier human being and interact with the world from that lovely space. Some people say the more peaceful they feel, the closer to the divine they become (however YOU wish to define “divine”). Please feel free to bring YOUR spirituality onto your mat, and experience it however YOU wish.
“Yoga is not a religion by itself. It is the science of religion, the study of which enables a Sādhaka [practitioner] to understand his religion better.” ~BKS Iyengar