Studio Guidelines

Each yoga class is a unique experience, however, these thoughts may assist you at this auspicious beginning:

Here are some awarenesses that will help you deepen your experience during yoga classes at Yoga Hawaii.

• Classes begin on time. Please come a few minutes early to sign in at the Om Lounge and set up your mat in the studio. If you have any extra time, please check in with your teacher to let her or him know of anything that might affect your practice that day, including injuries.

• Please plan to stay through until the end of class. Leaving early is disruptive to the energy created within a class, and robs you of the chance to seal in the experience you’ve had.

• You are encouraged to invest in a personal yoga mat. Find one that you really enjoy…size, color, design, thickness and stickiness. Each mat is unique and by finding one you really like, it will be a welcome landing place for your energy. Mat rentals are always available if you need one on short notice but please make it a habit to use your own whenever possible. (The Om Lounge carries a wide range of mats for sale.)

• Other comfort-related items that some people like to bring—but are completely optional—are an eyebag for relaxation, a small towel for sweaty practices, a mat covering, or a covering for relaxation on cold days. Yoga Hawaii sells a number of these items in our OM Lounge.

• Cleanliness is a basic awareness. The Yoga Sutras emphasize saucha, the purity of body and mind, as part of a yogic path to enlightenment. This includes having clean clothes, a clean mat, as well as a clean body.

• When you arrive for class, please turn off your cellphone.

• It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. However, if your stomach is growling from hunger, your mind will probably be thinking about your next meal. Find an agreeable balance between feeling light in your body and not feeling overly hungry.

• There are two bathrooms located within our studio. Feel free to use them whenever you need to, even during class. You are encouraged to listen to the urges of your body, not ignore them out of politeness.

• You are also encouraged to talk to your instructor about any concerns that may come up for you. Most of our instructors have had a lengthy personal yoga practice, during which they’ve experienced many of things you will experience. Allow them to guide you in your process of self-discovery; it’s good to have a friend along this path. Inquire about having a Yoga Mentor assigned to you too. This is a free service we offer.

• Listen to your body over any instruction you may hear. If something doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. However, sometimes a movement may not feel “good,” but it still feels “right.” Such a sensation will feel more like a deep intensity rather than “pain.” In the beginning though, it is recommended that you err on the side of caution until you learn to clearly distinguish between the two.

• During menses, it is recommended that women do not invert their hips over their head because it disrupts the downward flow of apana (an internal energy) that is necessary during this time. Instead, there are optional postures such as supine goddess or taking your legs up the wall, which are very comforting during this time. Your teacher can instruct you in these.

• Drinking water during class is not recommended. Water will cool the tapas (the inner fires), which are best kept hot. The greater the inner fire, the more impurities are burned away. The inner heat will also keep the muscles warm and pliable. However, it is highly recommended that you drink plenty of water after class to continue flushing toxins from the system.

Yoga can be a beautiful sacred journey, bringing you back in touch with your body and mind in a new way. If there is anything we can do to assist you on your path, please contact us.

Thank you for allowing us to share this experience with you. Jai Bhagwan.