New Students
Hi there, and welcome to Shakti Rhythm Yoga Studio. We are here to assist you in any way we can, to give you a great yoga experience and to help you feel a part of our community the moment you walk through our doors.
Let's take a moment to discuss what Yoga isn’t; yoga is not a form of religion, cult or anything you need to subscribe to. You don’t have to be flexible, spiritual or interested in any healing. Whatever brings you through the door is the avenue you should focus on in the beginning, and the rest will unfold uniquely for you in your own time.
Quick Tips
What to Wear: It is important that you are comfortable and have flexible clothing. General and appropriate workout clothing is recommended.
Recommended Classes for Beginners: Gentle, Intermediate, Yang/Yin, Meditation and Restorative.
What to Bring: It is important to stay hydrated. Please try to bring your own reusable water bottle. We have filtered water in our equipment hallway which can be accessed before, during and after class. You are encouraged to bring your own mat, but we do have a limited number of mats available for use.
Arrive 15-20 minutes early so you’ll have time to park, sign in, and get settled before class. You will also have to sign a waiver if it is your first class.
Please let the teacher know if you are working with anything physically, mentally or emotionally that may affect your practice.
Once you enter the studio space, please keep your voice low or be silent.
Managing expectations: This can be a lifelong practice and journey. Please do not feel that you need to accomplish everything in your first few classes. It is important to not measure yourself against other students, but to use them for inspiration and to cheer others along in your thoughts.
Our parking lot: Our lot is for studio members and the offices above the studio only. Please use this parking lot when you attend classes. There is also street parking and parking on the east side of the building.
Cell phones: Cell phones are not permitted in the studio. Please leave them turned off in the lobby.
Lobby: All coats, purses and yoga non-essentials can stay in the lobby/front desk area. The inside door is locked during class.
Beginner’s Mind: Yoga is a journey towards self discovery; it takes time, patience and practice. Try to arrive to each class with a sense of self-compassion, willing to trust the process and enjoy each phase of the learning process. The only wrong way to do this practice is if it causes pain.
Rest: If you find yourself feeling fatigued, it is ok to rest quietly on your back on the mat. As part of the practice, we invite in some challenging elements and lovingly push our students out of their comfort zones. With that said, we are always searching for the balance between ease and effort, and sometimes this means that we just need to rest. We encourage you to avoid skipping Savasana (deep relaxation); for some folks, it can be a challenge to let go and relax, but it is part of the formula for a well rounded practice and it allows time both for integration of the practice and to ease the body back into the rest of your day.
Your Body: We cannot possibly count how many time we have heard, “I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible.” Flexibility isn’t exactly a key element to this practice. Yoga is for everybody and every body. With our wide range of classes, we will help you to find the appropriate style and practice for you, and this may change over time. It is important to start slow, be humble and treat yourself with compassion at all intervals.