YOGA ETIQUETTE
Give yourself time to get settled in.
You’ll enter 5 Points Yoga through the side door of the building. There, you’ll find a comfortable space to leave your shoes and gear. Grab a mat and sign in for class. Exchange hellos with your classmates. If you arrive late, please wait here in the foyer until after the opening meditation before entering the studio. Please note that this door is locked after the opening meditation, so if you’re more than a few minutes late, you’ll have to practice with us in spirit only! (Oh, and the
bathroom is conveniently located just off the foyer.)
Please sign in before each class.
The sign-in sheet is really straightforward. Just print legibly, and add your email address if you haven’t shared it with us before and you’d like to receive occasional updates about 5 Points Yoga events. If you’ve purchased a class pass, we keep those at the front desk too, filed by first name. Please be sure your card gets punched. Good karma points for you! We appreciate your help in becoming a successful studio.
Bare your feet.
When you enter the studio, you can place your shoes and other gear in the cubbies available in the foyer. If you’re the sock-wearing type and you like cozy toes during savasana, you may want to take your socks with you into the studio. Otherwise, bare feet will help you feel grounded throughout your yoga practice—and there’s the added benefit of helping to keep our studio clean
and free of whatever might otherwise be tracked in off the street.
Tweaks, twinges, aches, pains, injuries, special circumstances? We want to know!
Yoga is often challenging, but it should never be a source of pain, nor exacerbate any injuries you might have. By sharing injury information with your teacher, class can be adapted to meet your needs and promote your healing process. Pregnant students, you are welcome to attend any 5 Points Yoga class, prenatal or otherwise; just be sure to let your instructor know that you are pregnant and fill us in as to how discreet you’d like us to be with that info.
Eat smart.
Go easy on eating before you practice. Avoid heavy foods and high-sugar foods. With continued yoga practice, you’ll soon discover what works best for you when it comes to eating before class. Some people feel best when they refrain from eating for several hours before class; other people feel better if they eat a little something light. You’re welcome to drink water during class. Please take care to avoid spills, drips, and leaks for the comfort and safety of everyone in the studio. Be sure to drink plenty of water after class to replenish your fluids and to maintain healthy hydration.
Mats, blocks, blankets, and straps.
We’ve got ’em, and you’re welcome to use ours. Please use whatever props you need to support your body during your practice. You’ll find mats, blocks, blankets, and straps in the foyer of the studio. If you use a studio mat, please spray it down with our mat cleanser and hang it to dry after your practice.
Which class should I attend?
Except where noted on the schedule, all Five Points Yoga classes are accessible to practitioners of all levels. Pose variations and alternate poses may be offered to accommodate students of varying levels in the same class. If you’re very new to yoga, you will likely feel most comfortable in a Yoga Basics or Vinyasa Basics class. Classes that are specially marked as Level 2 may move at a faster pace and include more challenging poses.
What’s that smell?
Nothing beats the fresh scent of “naturally clean.” Please avoid bringing heavy scents and odors into the studio.
Hold the phone.
We invite you to participate fully and without distraction in your yoga practice. Let your practice time be a little gift to yourself. To honor that, please turn your cell phone off and leave it with your shoes in the foyer of the studio. We understand there are some instances when it’s critical to be “on call. “ In that rare case, please set your phone to vibrate, locate yourself near the studio exit so you can step out of the studio if you must take the call, and mention your situation to your
instructor before practice begins.
