BY GET LIFTED
If you are attending your first yoga class, you might be wondering what you will need in the yoga class.
Even though the most important thing is to bring yourself, there are a couple of things that might be really handy in a yoga class:
- A yoga mat: Some studios provide complimentary yoga mats to their students and some others offer them for rent ($1 usually). A good reason to bring your own yoga mat is hygiene.
- A towel: If you choose a yoga class that has a heated room like hot yoga, Bikram yoga, or some Ashtanga method based classes, you are going to sweat a lot. You will need a towel for your own comfort.
- A bottle of water: Water will be really important especially if you are attending a hot yoga class. Some teachers do not allow water in the classroom, so be sure to ask when you check in. Either way, bring water because after the yoga class it will be good to hydrate.
- Yoga clothes: Wearing yoga clothes, such as form fitting pants and fitted tops might be something you’d like to consider. For men, try not to have your clothes too loose. There are some yoga poses (asanas), such as inversions, in which you’ll be more comfortable in clothing that is fitted to your body.
- Humbleness: A first yoga class can be very humbling, especially because some of the yoga poses can be really challenging for a beginner. You won’t be the best in class, and that is ok. Yoga is not a competition, just go with the flow.
- Open mind: Sometimes in the class, things may seem a little out of the ordinary. For example, teachers using words in a language called Sanskrit, you may be able to hear the person next to you breathing, or the teacher may adjust your posture by touching you. These are not things to alarm you, but knowing about them and accepting it as part of the practice is a good start.
- As far as what not to bring: Have in mind that a lot of yoga studios do not have lockers, so bringing valuables with you might not be the best idea.
- I know you love your cell phone, but make sure either not to bring it to the yoga studio or to turn it off. Yoga studios are often quiet places and it is important to respect that aspect of the practice.
Make sure to let the yoga instructor know that this is your first yoga class, so he/she will be able to help you and make your experience enjoyable.
The benefits of yoga are solid, both the primary and secondary benefits. I really encourage you to attend your first yoga class with a positive attitude, knowing that you are doing something good for yourself.
If you are in the Chicago area, and you are not sure what yoga studio to attend, there are a lot of options. Check out the Chicago yoga studio directory and find one that is conveniently located near you by zip code.
About the author: Get Lifted is a Chicago area yoga instructor with ten years of background and experience in both practicing and teaching yoga. He has traveled the world practicing and studying with teachers deeply rooted in the ancient forms of the art, philosophy and science of the practice. His over 1,000 hours of yoga teacher training has been with instructors with combined yoga teaching experience of over 100 years; passing down the tradition of kriya, puja, pranayama, mantra, samyama, yoganidra and asana.
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