Preparing for Practice

Try to come to yoga in general with no expectations—whatever form your practice takes on a given day is the perfect practice for you that day! Before an individual class, you might want to think about setting an intention for that hour—maybe you’d like to focus on opening your hips or softening your heart, or you’d like to let go of a tough day at the office—but that doesn’t mean you need to judge your own (or someone else’s) progress toward a goal. Let your experience unfold.

Can I Take Classes at Whole Yoga if I’m a Beginner, or if I Have an Injury?

In general, yes! We are committed to helping everyone enjoy the benefits of yoga, but please consult your physician before practicing with us, and let your instructor know about any injuries or restrictions you have. All yoga poses can be modified, and our instructors are experienced with students of every level. Laurie and Dr. Robertson would be happy to discuss their personal healing experiences with yoga, too—just ask us!

If you've never done yoga before, or you've been sedentary for awhile as a result of injury or illness, consider starting with the Beginner Basics Workshop—we can give you modifications to help you stay safe during regular classes, and you'll get more out of your practice. You might also try a few Restorative or Gentle classes to get your body moving. Once you feel comfortable on the mat you can easily add a more active class, such as Hatha or Power Yoga, to your practice. (Intermediate Flow is not appropriate for beginners.)

Helpful Tips

• Although the atmosphere in our studio is relatively informal, please be mindful and respectful of your fellow students, and the instructor. Every class begins with centering and information you'll need for that day's practice, so plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early, and turn your cell phone off while in the studio. Tell your instructor about any conditions or injuries that could affect your practice.
• Make a commitment to yourself. Although Whole Yoga does not require advance sign-up (or a series commitment) for most classes, you will get the most benefit from a consistent yoga practice. As the Yoga Sutras note, a practice will succeed only if it is followed for a long time without interruption; the greater the effort, the greater the attainment.
• Don’t be afraid of a challenge! “Power Yoga” can sound intimidating, but students are often amazed at how quickly their bodies adapt and accommodate to even a rigorous class when they commit to a regular practice. Achieving crazy poses, however, is not the goal. Standing on your head can be invigorating, but the practice itself is the point—your work is its own reward!
• Wear unrestrictive clothing, preferably light layers that you can remove as needed; baggy, loose clothing is not ideal, as it obstructs the instructor's view of your body's alignment. Yoga is practiced barefoot. We have cubbies for storing your outerwear and shoes.
• Everyone will need a “sticky” mat. We recommend that you use your own, although we do have some mats for students to borrow. We also have mats available for purchase; low-cost yoga and pilates supplies can also be found here: www.sunshineyoga.com.
• Be sure to stay hydrated during and after your practice.
• It’s best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. If you get too hungry, you might try eating a piece of fruit no later than 40 minutes before class.
• Please do not wear perfume or strongly scented body products to class. You will be breathing deeply, and detectable scents can disturb your practice and that of your fellow students. Gum is also not permitted in the studio—combined with deep breathing it's a health hazard!
• Unfortunately, Whole Yoga does not have the space (or staff) for childcare. We hope to be able to offer family yoga classes soon, so stay posted! Until that time, please leave the kids at home.