How do you know if you are in the right yoga class… for you?
Many beginners ask me which class is best for them and it can be hard for me to answer because I know that every class can be a great learning lesson for anyone regardless of the style, teacher, pace, music, etc. It got me thinking about what I look for in a class and a teacher which lead me to ponder the answers to the following questions. There are no right or wrong answers here – only your answers that ideally would come from within your heart and your gut, not rationalizations like, “it’s cheaper, more convenient, it’s popular, etc.” When has the path to discovering the truth within ever been cheaper or convenient? Usually those willing to consciously risk and sacrifice more will gain more understanding on this spiritual journey. And yes, I still have some risking to do. 😉 So here goes…
1. Does your teacher smile at you, make eye contact and connect with you from the beginning of class?
How you feel upon entering a studio is indicative of what you might experience during the class. If the external environment is welcoming then there’s a better chance that your internal space can shift a lot easier. If your teacher smiles at you and knows your name or asks for your name if you’ve never met before, there’s an immediate connection created and it eases any tension that might have been collected from the day. It shows that someone cares. Remember: Smiling is contagious. 🙂
2. Are you being challenged beyond your own mental limitations?
This doesn’t mean the class has to be a super duper power yoga class with handstands, but just be able to go beyond what your edge might be for the moment. It could include just sitting cross-legged for five more minutes than you’re used to or trying a new breathing exercise or even chanting OM a little louder. Of course, it could include the periodic handstand for us inversion junkies. See where you start saying “I can’t,” or “I look stupid,” and then go a little further to see that you can and you look fucking awesome ’cause you’re fearless. And let’s face it, fearlessness is sexy.
3. Are you able to relax in a way that you usually don’t experience during the rest of the day?
Check in throughout class and see if you are able to let go in certain moments where you used to be more tense. In my opinion, an effective class ends with your parasympathetic nervous system kicked in and in a state of complete relaxation and peaceful introspection. Mind, body, spirit have melted together. This takes time to learn so be patient and gentle with yourself. It took me awhile to learn how to relax. I didn’t even realize it was a skill I had to possess until I started practicing yoga.
4. Do you get to connect with yourself from a place of love and acceptance?
Many poses can be challenging mentally and physically so pay attention to your level of self-love. Are you judging yourself the whole time and comparing yourself in class or are you able to ignore those negative thoughts and accept your body where it is in every moment. This form of healing also takes practice and time so let’s start it today. It will be an on-going practice so welcome aboard the self-love ship.
5. Do you feel comfortable with silence during the class?
A moment or two of silence during a class is imperative for you to experience. Most of us feel uncomfortable in silence because it forces us to sit with ourselves and our thoughts. Silence is not a bad thing. In fact, it is very telling of where we need to heal. The loudest parts of ourselves start to yell within when we are forced to listen in the deafening silence. We are constantly getting bombarded with sounds, people, emails, phones, texts, music etc. A yoga class is the perfect excuse where NO ONE can have a cell phone around them for an hour and 30 minutes, so let’s embrace this collective decision to just be on the mat and take it one step further. I feel it is necessary for each class to have a moment of silence in order to let you reflect and observe your level of comfort. When I first started yoga I was immensely uncomfortable with being still and in silence. But, as time went by, I learned how to just sit with it and find peace the best I could. Now, I embrace the quiet within which is grounding and healing. Try it… yes now… 😉 (Pause for your silent moment.)
How long did you last? hehe!
6. Do you feel safe in class?
Safety and trust are important aspects that allow you to heal and grow internally especially since it’s connected to your first chakra, but that’s for another blog. As a yoga teacher I want my students to feel safe physically, mentally and emotionally. This will enable you to prevent injuries by not creating walls and barriers which are just added forms of tension on all levels. When you don’t feel safe you immediately go into fight or flight mode (sympathetic nervous system) which creates a lot of stress in the body and mind. Let’s make a pledge to feel safe individually and together!
7. Do you feel empowered and inspired by your teacher and yourself?
This question is closely related to the last one but takes it one step further. If you feel safe then you feel empowered to try new things leaving your fear behind you. Also, this empowerment can help you realize that you are your own authority allowing you to create healthy boundaries with your teachers like telling them, “no, I don’t want to be adjusted please,” among other things left unsaid. Trust is the antidote to fear so what better place to learn this tool than your yoga class. Unfortunately, some classes may make you feel less than or stupid so you might want to observe if it is your own issue or something that the class, environment or teacher has brought to the class. Conversely, if you feel a sense of light shine brighter in you and more clarity is experienced with a sense of calmness then this class might be healthy for you.
8. Is your teacher informed and educated enough to tell you when he/she doesn’t know the answer to a question?
Always question your teachers. ALWAYS! Do not be afraid to ask your teacher questions about aligning poses, breathing techniques, yoga principles, something that felt wrong that they said in class, etc. As your teacher answers the question, discern if you feel they are being authentic and genuine with themselves and with you. This is vital for your intuitive development. If they are merely giving you lip service, then I would take a moment to reconsider their answer as truth. In the end, always ask yourself the same question and see what your inner teacher answers.
9. Do you feel connected to the other yogis in the class?
How do the other students interact with each other and with you? Do you feel that they are competitive with one another or are they supportive and loving? Are the walls and barriers broken down at the studio or are they reinforced by yoga image bullshit and gossip? Is there a genuine sense of community between the others in the class and the studio? Ask yourself what kind of environment is healthiest for you and you will know where you feel most connected.
10. Do you feel okay being yourself in class and having fun?
What is the element of fun in the class? Is the teacher taking themselves and you too seriously? Do you feel anxious in class or is there a sense of looseness that is experienced by the class itself? The practice of yoga is important to respect as a tradition and a discipline which can seem rigid and serious, but in fact, it is the softening, lightening, and blending that is necessary for the experience of yoga to shine through.
11. Are you assessing how you feel after class?
Always check in before you roll up your mat. How do you feel? Are you lighter, happier, calmer, more peaceful? Are you smiling? Do you feel like you just took the best yoga hit yet you feel grounded that you did it all on your own through internal work instead of external stimulus? The before/after assessment is key for any class you ever attend in order to connect with what has healed in the last hour or so. This assessment every time will create a wave for more awareness the next time you get on your mat. You become the observer.
12. Does the class and/or teacher leave you with something to reflect upon off the mat?
Remember that the class isn’t about escaping from your reality but finding ways to deal and cope with it. Did that happen for you? As you left class, did some words resonate with you so deeply that you carried them with you throughout the day? Or was it just the presence of the teacher and how you felt around the teacher or the class that made you reflect upon yourself. I have been told many times that my voice resonates in some of my students’ heads when they are making decisions and they hear me saying whatever it is that they remembered in class once. For me, this is both inspiring and humbling since I don’t plan what I have to say in class and understand that whatever lessons come through me that day are meant to be heard by those in the class. I trust that my messages are being sent to those in need and that I have nothing to do with them. Especially the messages that come out of me with an Indian man accent, but that is definitely another topic to discuss at a later time.
Namaste Every Day,
Rina
