Practice Guidelines

At Trinity Yoga Centre we strive to create a safe and pleasant environment for our students to practice yoga. You can help us realize this goal by observing these guidelines:

• If you are new to yoga, please read the class descriptions before coming to your first class. Be sure that the class you have chosen is appropriate for your level of experience.
• Plan to arrive at least 5-10 minutes before the scheduled class start time.
• Please turn off cell phones and pagers.
• Please limit the use of perfumes and scents.
• Please inform us of any injuries/illness you did not list on your student intake form, so we can fully support your yoga experience

FAQs

Do I have to be flexible? No, not at all. In fact, being “tight” gives you plenty of opportunity to improve. You will have no problem finding the ‘areas of greater sensation’, which is a key. To notice what is going on in your body, breathe into it, and allow it to release.

How often should I practice? The physical body repairs itself from microscopic tissue tears in about 48 hours. So, 3 times a week, giving you a day between for rest is best. Once your body adjusts to the postures, you can practice every day. As for the mental/emotional body, the more you can be in the peaceful/balanced state, the better.

How do I know which type of yoga to practice? Yoga has become a big business, and with big business comes big marketing. You will hear many claims as to which yoga is right for you. The truth is, the right one is the one that you will practice! Try different styles and different teachers. Find the one you feel most comfortable with. Then commit. Put youself fully into the practice.

What to Expect

Many people are surprised to discover that yoga can be one of the most physically challenging forms of exercise they have ever done. It can also be one of the most relaxing and restorative experiences. The beauty of yoga is its versatility. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you perceive your limitations to be - everyone can practice yoga.

By addressing both physical and mental imbalances in the body, yoga can be a life balancing tool. And in our culture, life balance is something that we often struggle to achieve. Yoga can help to unify the body and mind and release tension and negative energy from both. In fact, the word yoga means “union” - through yoga a union develops between body and mind through breath and movement.

On the physical level, yoga can be a cardiovascular, strength and flexibility workout all in one. Flexibility is a cornerstone of a yoga practice; it helps realign the body and make it more supple and comfortable as we age. But yoga is much more than just a good stretch. It requires plenty of strength – you will use muscles you never knew you had! But perhaps more than anything else, yoga will help you to get reacquainted with something we typically take for granted – breathing. Our breath is basically our life force. But our fast-paced lives can leave us feeling breathless. No wonder it is calming and grounding to spend some time focusing on the breath.

Yoga off the mat You may begin to notice the effects of this practice showing up in your life. You may show a little more patience, not react a quickly. You may find yourself making healthier choices, and you may see your relationships change in a positive way.