General Information for New Students
"You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state." -Sharon Gannon
If it is your first time at Ananda Yoga, please come 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork and get a tour. Or begin here!
Step 1: Sign our Online Waiver.
Step 2: Pick a class! Feel free to sign up online.
If your child (under 18 years of age) is coming to class, you must fill out a waiver for them before they attend class.
What to Wear and Bring
CLOTHING. Please wear comfortable clothing such as tights, sweat pants, or long, stretchy shorts, tank top, t-shirt, or other clothing that allows you to move freely and comfortably. Layering is always a good idea; everyone's personal thermostat runs a little differently. You might find the room to be hot or cold and it is nice to have options.
WATER. If you think you will want water during the class, please bring a water bottle.
MATS & PROPS. We provide sticky mats and props such as bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps.
CELL PHONES. DO NOT bring cell phones. If you have to have a phone with you, silence it or turn it off AND please leave it in the front area outside of the yoga room.
Towel. For our Warm Yoga class, please bring your own towel. We do not have towels available at the studio.
General Hints to Assist in the Postures
If it is your first time at Ananda Yoga, please come 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork and get a tour. Or begin here!
Step 1: Sign our Online Waiver.
Step 2: Pick a class! Feel free to sign up online.
If your child (under 18 years of age) is coming to class, you must fill out a waiver for them before they attend class.
What to Wear and Bring
CLOTHING. Please wear comfortable clothing such as tights, sweat pants, or long, stretchy shorts, tank top, t-shirt, or other clothing that allows you to move freely and comfortably. Layering is always a good idea; everyone's personal thermostat runs a little differently. You might find the room to be hot or cold and it is nice to have options.
WATER. If you think you will want water during the class, please bring a water bottle.
MATS & PROPS. We provide sticky mats and props such as bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps.
CELL PHONES. DO NOT bring cell phones. If you have to have a phone with you, silence it or turn it off AND please leave it in the front area outside of the yoga room.
Towel. For our Warm Yoga class, please bring your own towel. We do not have towels available at the studio.
General Hints to Assist in the Postures
- Always keep breathing. The minute you stop breathing is the minute you stop doing yoga. Your muscles need the oxygen to work efficiently. Don't hold your breath.
- Think about what is happening to each body part as you do the posture to get more benefit. Energy flows where focus goes.
- Say positive affirmation to yourself while doing the postures -- this really changes the energy.
- Feel what is happening in your body.
- Relax when your body is telling you to, even if the other students are not resting. Child's pose is a great resting pose.
- In yoga, the goal is not to make your body look like a "perfect" pose -- it is to explore and experiment with your body in a safe way. You will get the benefits of a pose if you are staying just before your edge whether you are very deep in the pose or not.
- To center yourself before any of the balancing poses, focus on one small spot in front of you.
- Love and accept yourself however you look in a posture.
- Concentrate on you and only you. Yoga is a personal thing so try not to compare yourself to anyone else.
- Don't forget to notice the things you CAN do! Yoga is a lifelong practice. Changes generally happen slowly in yoga.
- At the end of class in Savasana, momentarily visualize what is happening in your body as a result of your practice that day. Then, allow everything to settle. Let your body take it all in. Let go. Relax.
