Student Guidelines for Yoga Practice:

•Please remove your shoes upon entering the studio.

•Do not bring cell phones or pagers into the space.

•Do not wear perfume, scented lotions or oils to your yoga class. This is a deep breathing practice and your scent may disturb those around you.

•As you practice, you attempt to stoke the body's internal fire. Avoid drinking water within 30 minutes start of your practice time, and until after you rise from savasana. Keep water bottles outside of the practice room.

•Yoga should ideally be practiced on an empty stomach. Please wait at least 2-3 hours after any meal to begin practice.

•Arrive a few minutes early. Being on time to practice is a show of respect to the teacher and fellow students. If you do arrive late, please enter the space as quietly as possible and never during the opening chant.

•Consider your yoga mat and rug as an essential pieces of equipment. It is both cleaner and healthier to stand, sit, lie down and sweat on your own mat! As you sweat during practice, the body releases both water and toxins. These are absorbed into your yoga mat and rug. Keeping these factors in mind, please come to practice with both your body and your practice gear CLEAN.

•For women, especially those maintaining a consistent daily practice, tradition asks that you abstain from practice during menstruation. In particular, inversions are non-advisable. Knowing this tradition, and listening to your own body and its needs, will help you to determine your personal practice schedule.

•Ashtanga yoga practice is traditionally done six days a week. We understand that this is not always possible due to busy schedules and commitments. We recommend a practice schedule that maintains a minimum of three days practice per week. If you are unable to come to the shala three days per week, please discuss with a teacher a home practice schedule to follow on the days when we do not see you at The Yoga Shala. The benefits from yoga practice are directly related to our consistency and dedication.

A few Mysore practice notes:

At about 9:15am, the Mysore practice pauses for a moment to recite the opening chant of Ashtanga Yoga. Please join us at that time by stepping to the front of your mat. If you do not know the words, please listen in, allow the sounds to enter you, and if you would like to learn more, ask for guidance after class.

During Mysore practice, we aspire to teach in silence. Our intention is to guide you through the practice with as much non-verbal communication as possible and to maintain an atmosphere of concentrated focus. We are willing to speak with you as needed, and as it is appropriate to your personal practice.

If you require assistance with a posture or have a question, please wait for a teacher to come around to you. We might be busy with another student, but would like very much to help you when we are able. You may decide to try the posture first on your own and then repeat it with the teacher, or just wait patiently and in silence (with attention to your breath) until we can come over.

Please do not assist other students during the mysore practice. Keep your focused attention on your own breath, posture and gazing point.

Honor the Ashtanga tradition by staying with the traditional sequence and not moving beyond where you have been instructed by a teacher. If you have a particular situation that requires modification, please do so with the guidance of your instructor.
The Yoga Shala . 991 Danbury Road, Route 7. Georgetown Ct. 203-544-8811.