HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

While not always practiced, this is typically done as a sign of respect for your teacher

5. Honoring washroom breaks and bodily functions. If you need to leave the room to go to the washroom, do so quietly. There is no need to tell your teacher or apologize for having to the leave the class for a few minutes. Also, it is not uncommon for other bodily functions to occur during a class. Some poses are terrific for helping to relieve gas but the action isn’t always a quiet one. If you find your body making unanticipated noises during a class, there is no need to apologize Your teacher and other students will understand that this can happen

6. Stay for the entire class. There is often an inclination to want to get up and leave once the sequence of poses has been done. Leaving when others are settling into the final relaxational pose of Savasana can be disruptive for others and robs you of the full yoga experience.

7. Clean up after class. Wipe down any borrowed mats after practice and put away any props that were used. Some students may choose to rest in Savasana a bit longer so be mindful of being quiet when tidying up There will be opportunity to chat when you reach the reception or lounge area

8. Chanting OM. Pronounced as

‘A-U-M, this is sometimes chanted at the start of a class Teacher preferences to do so vary and there is never any requirement or expectation for students to join in. OM is a sacred sound generally known as the sound of the universe. It unifies everything in the world. The vibrations that the OM sound creates are believed to energize the chakras throughout the body, especially the ones that connect us with our divine Self (such as the third eye and crown chakras). When chanted in class, OM signifies unity and can help to bring a sense of community to the group. Chanting is also believed to help align the body, mind, and soul, and that may be a reason why people feel more connected with themselves after meditating and practicing the chant If you don’t feel comfortable joining in, no problem You may find you enjoy simply listening in instead. The sound can be very powerful.

9.Ending your class with Namaste. Pronounced ‘nuh-MUHstheh,’ this word is commonly used as a form of salutation when meeting or parting with another person. It is also often exchanged at the end of a class to show a sign of respect between yoga teachers and their students Some teachers will say this while students are still lying in Savasana, giving them added time to rest, if they choose Other teachers will bring students out of Savasana and into a seated position before exchanging Namaste with one another Whatever the choice, ending a class with Namaste is very common ‘Nama’ means ‘bow’; ‘as’ means ‘I’; and ‘te’ means ‘you,’so, simply and literally put, the term means ‘I bow to you.’ There are other translations that are more all-encompassing and honouring, such as, “The Divine in me honours the Divine in you.” My own personal favourite version is: “The Light in me honours the Light in you. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are One.”

Joining a class as a way to learn more about yoga and to connect with other kindred spirits is a terrific way to deepen an existing home practice I salute you in your efforts to share your time ‘on the mat’with others Namaste

Heidi Pfleger has been a Yoga Teacher and Wellness Coach for more than 30 years and a student of yoga since the age of five. Born and raised on a farm in the Paris area, Heidi ventured further afield to study Yoga around the world in her twenties and has since been sharing her experiences and continuing in her studies both on and off the mat. Heidi offers regular yoga classes and individual sessions as well as wellness coaching sessions and retreats throughout the year. For more information on her programs, contact Heidi at 519-755-1447.