To help us all create and maintain a friendly, calm, respectful, safe, inclusive and comfortable space for everyone, please follow these general guidelines when attending a yoga class with GreystonesYoga:
Preparing & Settling in
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Arrive on time: Please arrive at least 5 minutes before class to roll out your yoga mat and settle down quietly
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Be neighbourly: When class gets busy, please be neighbourly and make space for others near your mat
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Digital detox: silence or switch off your phone/smartwatch and store it together with your personal belongings away from your mat
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Footwear: Please take off your shoes and socks when practicing (for better grip and stability)
Physical Comfort & Health
- Mind your mealtime: It is best not to eat a meal for at least 2–3 hours before the class for maximum comfort
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Hydration: Drink water before or after your practice, but not during, as there are many forward folds and some inversions during the practice
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Personal hygiene: Mind your personal hygiene: avoid strong perfumes and lotions. A shower before practice helps to increase flexibility, mental focus, and also makes the experience for others practising around you more pleasant
Safety & Self-Awareness
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Communicate injuries: Let the teacher know about any injuries/health conditions that may affect your practice and/or if you prefer not to be physically assisted
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Listen to your Body: Follow the teacher’s instructions and sequencing when attending a group class, but also feel free to opt out of any postures for whatever reason—always listen to your body first
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Early departure: If you must leave early and can’t stay for Savasana (relaxation), let the teacher know before the class starts
Most importantly: Enjoy your practice
Two different styles of yoga we teach at GreystonesYoga
Practised regularly, Ashtanga can bring about real transformation. The method involves set sequences of postures (asanas). The teacher instructs the class and everyone works together in unison. The teacher will intermittently demonstrate the poses, give verbal instructions, sometimes offer physical hands-on assists and often suggest different options to suit students’ individual needs and abilities.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is perfect to balance a fast paced Ashtanga practice as it is beautifully calming, slow, more meditative style of yoga practice that targets deeper connective tissues. In a Yin class, poses are usually held for 3-5 minutes at a time, allowing to turn our awareness inward and feel the different sensations in the body whilst staying focused on soft smooth breathing. Many Yin yoga poses are seated or reclined to allow muscles to release in order to focus on areas like the hips, sacrum, and spine.
It’s important to note that Yin yoga isn’t the same as restorative yoga, and can be quite intense physically but, as always, the teacher will offer alternative options to try.