O_Y_UK_2015_05_

An alternative guide to studio etiquette

Y

ogis, by nature, are not sticklers for the rules. But in

order for a class to run swimmingly there must be some

dos and don’ts. Each yoga studio has its own list of

polite requests, but here are my own random rules:

Mobile phones

A mobile phone on ‘vibrate’ is not on ‘silent.’ A vibrating phone in a

handbag or deep in the pocket of a puffa jacket is hardly noticeable.

A buzzing phone coming sharply to life and juddering across a

wooden floor while you are all deep in the land of Savasana i s a

different matter. It’s a recipe for a heart attack or at the very least a

severe case of bad vibes.

Territorial mats

Wherever you lay your mat, that’s your home (at least for the

next 75 minutes). If you are a studio newcomer you may well have

inadvertently pinched someone’s ‘spot’. But however much they give

you the evil eye or huff and puff do not move. It is un-yogic to have a

‘spot’ in the first place. Embracing change is all part of the higher plan

so you are actually doing them a favour.

Cover teachers

Play nice with the cover teacher. It’s not her fault that your instructor

is away sunning herself in Goa for two weeks. Rather than snarling

under your breath like a terrier as she enters, welcome her with open

arms. Help her fathom the cryptic heating control panel or guide her

gently to the dimmer switch. I speak from experience. Stepping into

the space of a treasured teacher is nerve racking at the best of times.

Inappropriate clothing

Avoid wearing see-through leggings. Put all the lights on and do the

bend over test in a full-length mirror to check. The person behind you

does not want to see your pants in down dog. Men wearing running

shorts: ensure that the crown jewels are safely housed to avoid doing

an Alan Partridge in cobbler’s pose.

Wind cheaters

Never acknowledge a fart in class. Yoga involves a fair bit of

contortion and the resulting occasional trump is perfectly normal and

nothing to snigger about. We do, after all, have a posture called ‘wind

relieving pose’ (Apanasana). The protocol if you or your neighbour

does break wind – however loudly – is to simply stare stoically ahead

(or up at the ceiling if in shoulder stand). Keep calm and carry on.

Lexie Williamson is a yoga teacher and health and fitness writer

(pulseyoga.co.uk)

om lite

Please, please, please switch off that mobile phone, says Lexie Williamson

teeki.co.uk

We’ll be at

the Om Show

Manchester -

come say hi!

15 th -

17 th May

Stand D12

We take water

bottles and turn them

into some very special

eco-friendly yoga leggings.

Follow us for the latest

news and offers.

@Teeki_UK

@teekiuk

@TeekiUK

Tarot Magick

Summer’s comingSummer’s coming

is back!is back!

Tarot Magick