What to Expect at Your First Yoga Class…
I remember the beginning of my first yoga classes clearly. In my early 30s, I finally agreed to my mother’s many suggestions that I try it. She’d been practicing for years and, in her 80s, still does! Despite hearing about it from her, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was a little intimidating! More than twenty years later, I think it’s important to remember that experience and try to help mediate it for others.
LOCATION—Yoga Horizons is accessible by Metra, CTA, bike, car (free street parking), and walking, of course. When you arrive, press #102 to ring the studio and get buzzed into the front door.
STUDIO—A short walk down the 1st floor hallway and you’ll arrive at the Yoga Horizons door. Come on in! The instructor should great you. Please feel free to introduce yourself. There is a place to put your coat, shoes, and any clothes, and benches to sit on. The men’s and women’s restrooms further down the hallway toward the back of the building can be used as changing rooms. Instructors generally arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the class. We try to only walk barefoot on the wood flooring to keep it clean.
PREPARATION—We encourage students to wear shorts or tights, and some kind of short-sleeve top. Because of the focus on alignment, it can be important for the instructor to see your knees and elbows. Grab a mat from the stack. The instructor’s spot is generally set up to the immediate left when you enter the practice area. You can get a sense from what props they have out about what items you may want to collect from the shelves and have near you at your mat, perhaps some blankets, blocks, a bolster and/or strap. Be sure to let the instructor know if you have any injuries or physical concerns or are menstruating so they can be sure to provide alternatives to any poses that might not be healthy for you.
CLASS—Most classes, with the exception of some Fundamentals, begin seated and by chanting the Invocation to Patanjali. This isn’t about worshiping any kind of deity, but rather acknowledging the origins of yoga as well as delineating a shift from our daily lives to the practice of yoga. If you’re curious to learn more about it, here’s an excellent article. There are laminated copies of the invocation and its translation on the studio bookshelf for students to use. No one is obligated to join the chant and it can take some time to learn the sound of it. Sitting silently is okay too! During class, the teacher might refer to poses when demonstrating them by their names in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-European language, and that are more universal than their English equivilants. If you need clarification, aren’t quite sure what to do, or have a question or concern, feel free to ask an instructor during class. This is a better strategy that watching or inquiring with someone next to you who might have only started a short time before you!
AFTER CLASS—At the end of class, students return their props and mats to the appropriate places before leaving the practice area. Feel free to share any feedback or lingering questions with your teacher and say hello to any fellow students.
For more information on these topics and others, please see Yoga Horizons’ Student Information page. We also welcome any questions you might have either by email (hello@yhchicago.com) or by leaving us a message so we can call you back (312) 363-3229.