I’m not very flexible. Is Yoga still for me?
Yoga (particularly hot yoga) is one of the best ways of improving your flexibility, so yes you should definitely give it a go however inflexible you think you are. Flexibility is a process that can be improved over time by practicing yoga regularly. Hot Yoga can help you to achieve faster results as the heat allows you to move into deeper stretches more easily with lower risk of injury. Yoga is a non-competitive practice so you can develop at your own pace without trying to keep up with the person next to you and there are plenty of classes to suit all standards.
Why hot?
The heated studio allows muscles to stretch further and because your muscles are warm you are at less risk of injury. By inducing sweating, toxins are emitted from your body leaving you feeling deeply cleansed, relaxed and fully rejuvenated.
Should I eat or drink before I come to class?
We recommend that you refrain from eating for 2 hours before a class, but it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water right up until the start. We encourage you to bring a bottle of water into the class with you so that you can stay hydrated throughout. Bottled water can be purchased from reception. For our early morning classes we recommend that you have a piece of fruit or a non-dairy smoothie before class to kick start your metabolism – working out on an empty stomach is not advised. Smoothies are available from our Juice Bar.
What do I wear?
Please dress for comfort ensuring you have complete freedom of movement. For the hot classes it’s normal to sweat so wear comfortable light clothing. Women usually wear shorts or leggings with vests or crop tops and men wear shorts with or without a t-shirt. The golden rule is wear as little as you are comfortable wearing as you will sweat a lot and the body will cool itself better
What do I bring?
We provide everything you need, but you may prefer to bring your own yoga mat and towel. For hot classes you will need a yoga mat, a large bottle of water and we recommend that you bring two towels (one for the studio, one for showering afterwards). Don’t worry if you forget as you can buy water and rent towels from reception.
I’m new to yoga. What’s the etiquette?
Nobody likes rules but here are a few guidelines we like to follow and encourage:
1) Please take off your shoes before entering the yoga studios and leave them at reception as we have a no shoe policy.
2) There are lockers and hooks for clothes and personal belongings in the changing rooms.
3) Please ensure mobile phones and smart watches are switched off and are left in the changing room lockers as they are not allowed in the studio.
4) Please refrain from chewing gum in the studio and put all litter in the bins provided.
5) Please avoid wearing heavy perfumes or colognes.
6) Please don’t chat in the yoga studio before, during or after class as this is a space for yoga and meditation only.
7) Listen to your body. Feel free to take a break any time you need during class by sitting or lying quietly on your mat.
9) Please enter and leave the studio quietly as some people use that time for quiet meditation.
And finally. Enjoy the benefits! Most likely you will feel relaxed and energized at the same time. You may also have the best nights sleep of your life afterwards. It is recommended that you attend classes at least three times a week to reap the full benefits.
What if I have an injury or illness?
Remember to listen to your own body. If in doubt please ask or notify a teacher so we can assist you during the class. We want you to leave the studio feeling better than when you came in!
