Yoga Class 101

We realize that sometimes you might find yourself asking what we do certain things in our Yoga classes at YG, and that they aren’t always explained in class…

“Why Om? Why are we watching our breath? What language are the posture names in? Help!”

Check out a few Yoga Class 101 Tips below to learn about what the heck we are doing in our classes at YG!

OM

We chant OM at the beginning and end of many of our practices. What is Om? Om is a sacred mantra that signifies the beginning/end of many important texts and prayers. It is known in Yoga as a representation of the divine (Brahman), the universe, and everything within it. On a symbolic level, it reminds us that we’re all coming together as one, none of us better or different than another. As we watch each of our unique sounds become just one, its such a clear and powerful reminder of this truth. We could spend a whole day talking about Om and its meaning, but we’ll leave it short and sweet for now. If you’re very interested, please check out the Mandukya Upanishad, an entire text on this special mantra.

Sanskrit Posture Names

If you think that a posture’s name sounds funny or complicated, you’re likely hearing its Sanskrit version! Sanskrit is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages and arose in South Asia. We call the postures by their classical names to honour the roots and tradition of the practice. Sometimes, we use English names for clarity, or in other circumstances, there is no English name! Don’t worry about memorizing the Sanskrit names. You’ll find with time, you start to learn them slowly by hearing them repeated in class.

Watching the Breath

Watching our breath, we focus in on our current experience and still/direct our mind to the moment. Our inhales help us stretch and expand, our exhales help us ground, relax and find calm.

-Breathe through your nose unless explicitly directed to mouth breathe.

-Yogic breathing is long and smooth. Imagine you’re breathing through a narrow straw!

-Pair your breath cycles with the movement of your body, within poses and as you move in and out of them.

Helpful Tips Before Class

We want our Yoga practice to be focused and calm, like a moving meditation. To reduce distraction, we can prepare for this important

-Don’t eat for at least 2 hours before your practice (postures, breathing or meditation). If you get low blood sugar, try a few almonds, half a banana or another light snack before practice to create more ease for your body if fasting isn’t an option.
-Hydrate well on a regular basis (but we don’t recommend drinking during your practice! You’re stoking a beautiful, purifying fire when you practice, and chugging water will put it out.)
-Choose comfortable clothing wisely (comfortable, won’t move on you or need adjusting in class)
-Get a good, grippy mat and ensure the props you need are beside you before you start. We recommend B-Mats (B-Mat Strong 6 mm) which we have in-studio!
-Leave your phone out of the room (unless you’re on-call)

We hope that this info helps you feel a little more relaxed, clearer and more comfortable in class, friends. If you have any questions about the basics of our Yoga classes, always feel free to ask your friendly teacher and they will happily explain anything you want to learn!