Common Questions we encounter…
I’m a beginner, what class should I take?
Most of our yoga classes are designed to be “all levels” classes. This means that the class will have students of all levels of experience (including beginners) and the class will be structured so that all levels can participate. Balance, strength, flexibility and the capability to move into various poses will come with practice. Over time, with a frequent and consistent practice, and with self-awareness, self-discipline and compassion, progress will naturally occur.
In most cases, the best way for a beginner to get started is to jump in at a convenient class time and begin practicing.
For those that are coming back from injury, we recommend starting with our Earth class, a yin/restorative sequence, to allow time for you to reconnect with awareness to the body.
For those who want to try yoga for the very first time, we offer an Intro to Yoga Workshop to get you started with the core poses and context for your yoga journey.
What if I’m not flexible/not strong/ not “in shape”?
A very common misconception about yoga is that you have to be flexible, strong and have a certain typy of physical body to practice yoga. Unfortunately, this keeps a lot of people from trying yoga for the first time.
The truth is that our body attributes, shape and size are often more to do with our genetic predispositions and anatomy than how hard or often we practice yoga or other physical activity. Lifestyle impacts and choices made throughout life combined with the “modern condition” of sitting in cars, at desks and walking around texting etc. can have deep impacts that take time to change.
The good news is that yoga will teach you ways to observe and move the body to improve your physical situation over time. Within a matter of weeks you will notice a difference in your flexibility, strength, posture and general sense of well-being.
What should I wear?
Dress comfortably in clothes that won’t restrict your movement, that are designed appropriately for yoga postures and for the sequence’s temperature and humidity. We practice in bare feet. Please remove your shoes when you arrive at the studio.
What should I bring? How should I prepare for class?
Bring your water bottle, clothes, and a yoga mat. If you are attending a Hot class, you may want to bring a towel or towel mat to avoid slipping. We do have yoga mats, water, towels, and any other amenities you may need available for purchase or rent.
Choose a class type and time that works for you and arrive about 10 minutes before the class starts (20 minutes if it's your first time at the studio). Bring a water bottle for class or buy one at the studio. Please don’t eat at least 2 hours prior to class time. Be well hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to get your body fully hydrated (46-64 ounces over your normal intake). Chugging water right before class does not have the same effect.
There are showers available in our changing rooms should you wish to shower after class!
Where do I park?
We have a parking lot behind the studio, entrance is off California Blvd. Feel free to park in the lot and enter via our back door for the quickest and easiest access the studio, our changing rooms and your mat!
How often should I practice yoga?
Practicing regularly, with good attitude and effort will yield excellence evident in many forms of results. Yoga is a practice that we hope will ripple positively throughout your life and life style. For maximum benefits and progress, practice consistently and frequently.
For best results, we encourage a regular practice of at least 3 times per week or 10 times per month; many students strive for 5 or more times per week. Of course, life can get hectic and it can be hard to find ways to integrate a consistent practice. Even one or two yoga classes per week is a benefit for body and mind, especially as part of a regular routine that you keep coming back to.
Can I bring my child/teenager?
Kids Yoga is offered twice a week for children 4-10 years of age. Our regular non-heated classes are open to children aged 13 and above with a legal guardian present. Minors aged 16 and above may attend any of our classes.
Yoga seems hard...Am I ready?
Yoga can be challenging, both mentally and physically. However, you will start slowly and go at your own pace, pushing yourself only when ready, and more importantly, when to slow down. Learn how to rest, not to quit! Wherever you are is more than perfect so long as you're doing your best and being safe. We have quality instructors and teachers to help guide your internal and external yogic process, but ultimately, you're in charge of taking care of yourself and knowing your limits.
Careful listening to the teacher's instruction, open-minded patience, determination, compassion, connection, trust, and discipline are required of you, in order to learn and grow.
What if I hurt myself?
We emphasize correctness and safe execution of the postures. As we learn to unite our bodies and minds our awareness of our anatomy and goals of the postures become more scientific as well as spiritual. There is an awareness that develops, and we start to understand our edges and limitation, and how to expand them. We begin to understand the edge of discomfort and pain. Before long you'll begin to appreciate and understand how your body responds to stretching and discover your own limits—and learn how to stretch beyond them.
Why the heated room?
Heat makes you malleable! And malleable people can reshape their bodies, minds, and eventually their practices. The heat helps to alleviate tension, promote detoxification through perspiration, and induce a strengthening of the mental aspects of the meditation. Heat can accelerate many of the benefits of your yoga practice.
I feel nauseous, dizzy during Hot Yoga classes. Is this normal?
It is not unusual to feel nauseous or dizzy during your first class. Practicing yoga in a heated room reveals to us our present condition, and inspires us take much better care of ourselves. Usually the problem is that we do not drink enough water for daily living, let alone for exercising in a heated room. Nutritionists tell us that we need 64-96 ounces of water a day to help the body function properly. In the heated yoga room, your body needs an adequate fund of water to allow perspiration to release heat from the body as you practice. So we estimate you need another 64-96 ounces (drunk throughout the day) to allow for your 90 minutes in the room. Once you are drinking enough water your body will tolerate the heat better and you will actually enjoy the heat.
I don’t like to sweat, why do we need to sweat?
The sweat glands are part of the largest organ in our body, our skin, and an essential component in the eliminative system that keeps us healthy through the removal waste. Regular profuse sweating generated by heat can:
Flush toxins out of the body including heavy metals stored in fat cells
Improve skin tone by cleansing pores and releasing dermcidin
Take detox pressure off liver and kidneys
Promote relaxation and well-being
Humidity in the room is also a huge factor. Please allow yourself time to adjust to a heated yoga environment. Also, consider the number of bodies in the room and the moisture from our breath. Remember that resting or sitting down when necessary isn’t giving up! Learn to rest, not to quit.
Sweat is good, and there are showers available in our changing rooms should you wish to shower after class!
Is Hot Yoga a cardiovascular workout?
Hot Yoga is a cardiovascular practice in that it will raise your heart rate. It consists of supporting your own weight in a combination of postures, holding these positions while breathing and dynamically moving into new postures, building strength and focus in the process. Be prepared to have your heart rate elevated! Whatever your level of fitness, you will find Hot Yoga challenging.
What are the goals of my yoga practice?
How quickly you progress will depend entirely on you. On your natural ability to a small extent, but mostly upon the honest time and effort you give to yoga. It will have little to do with how perfectly you can do the postures. It will have far more to do with how well you understand what you are trying to accomplish in each pose, how honestly you try to accomplish your goals, and how supple your muscles and joints have become in comparison to the place at which you began. Do as much as your body allows you on that day, always respecting and listening to your body's needs. Continue to show up, practice in the present moment, and you may be delighted by the unexpected benefits that emerge.
Will yoga help improve my sports performance?
Not only is yoga a great cross training tool for virtually all sports, it is in itself, a total fitness package encompassing many different exercises, both aerobic and non-aerobic. Yet yoga goes well beyond athletics. Through its controlled and precise breathing; and through its strengthening, stretching, and endurance building exercises, your entire body is toned. Circulation is stimulated and the mind relaxes.
A principal impediment to maintaining a disciplined exercise program is that the older we become, the more difficult is to maintain a regular workout. The body resists and there is never enough time. It always seems like the more we need to exercise, the harder it is. Yet in order for exercise to be effective, consistency over time is required.
When time is limited, we usually focus on one or two activities and tend to "just do it" without an appropriate warm-up or cool-down. In a best-case scenario, "just doing it" leads to boredom and in a worse case scenario leads to injury. Although cross training is essential for maximizing physical health, we don't make time for engaging in multiple sporting activities much less take time for effective warming-up, and cooling-down. This is when yoga becomes so advantageous.
What if I have health issues?
Consult with your physician before beginning your yoga practice, and make sure to inform us of any injuries or pertinent information so we can be aware and keep you safe! If you're experiencing health or emotional issues, yoga will support you and so will we. It's our job to push you to achieve your best, and it is your responsibility to know what is enough for your body on any given day.
What if I feel sore after yoga?
Muscle soreness is a buildup of lactic acid. The best way to get rid of the lactic acid is stretching. It may seem hard to believe that coming back for more will help, but it is the best way to relieve the soreness.