11 Etiquette Tips for Yoga Class

People who are new to yoga and long-time student practitioners sometimes need a refresher in etiquette when it comes to yoga classrooms and yoga studios. Some of this is common sense. Other tips are not so obvious.

Experiencing a yoga class for the first time or the hundredth time should be enjoyable, stress-free and should include considerate behavior to all other students in the class and to the teacher.

Minding your manners in the yoga studio makes for a more productive and peaceful yogic experience for everyone.

Etiquette Tip #1. Bring Your Own Mat
While some gyms and teachers bring extra mats, it is best to use your own. It is more sanitary to use your own mat, rather than a shared mat. A decent "sticky" mat can be purchased for around $5 at any discount store.

Etiquette Tip #2. Turn off All Electronic Equipment
If you must bring your cell phone, pager or iPod or any other electronic equipment into the yoga studio make sure it is off or that all settings are on silent. If you are a doctor on-call talk to the teacher and let them know that you will be leaving your electronic equipment on vibrate. For anyone else, turn it off. If you are expecting a call that is that important, perhaps you should skip class. It is very distracting for other students to hear the beep, ring or vibrate of a cell phone in the middle of yoga practice.

Etiquette Tip #3. Do Not Talk
Once the teacher starts class, refrain from talking to your friends and classmates. Unless you have a question for the instructor or have been addressed by the instructor, it is good form in a yoga class to keep lips closed and ears open. This helps you focus your practice and does not disturb other students.

Etiquette Tip #4. Follow the Teacher
The reason to partake in a yoga class is to follow the instructions of the teacher. Doing your own moves, unless you are doing modified poses for back or other injury, or modified poses of pregnancy, stick with what the teacher is doing. It is better to sit still and skip certain moves if you do not or cannot do them than to do your own thing in the middle of class. This can be confusing for both the teacher and the other students.

Etiquette Tip #5. Do not wear clanky jewelry
Remove any clanky or otherwise loud jewelry before class. Removing dangling earrings and long necklaces will take one more distraction away from you. By leaving clanky jewelry off you will also avoid distracting other students in the yoga class.

Etiquette Tip #6. Do not wear excessive perfumes or oils
Because classes involve breath work and deep breathing, it is considerate to not wear excessive perfumes, colognes or even essential oils, or none at all. If you go to class from work, and wear perfume during the day, simply skip applying any on the day you have yoga. During yoga practice nobody wants to breathe in a medley of perfumes or colognes. For students with allergies or sensitivities, they may have to leave the studio if the perfume scents are too strong.

Etiquette Tip #7. Do not move someone else's mat
"Saving a spot" on the studio floor by leaving a mat there is acceptable at some studios and gyms, and not others. The general rule is not to touch someone else's mat if they got to the spot before you. They may have taken the previous class and have stepped out for a moment. Simply find another open spot.

Etiquette Tip #8. Do not Place your Mat Too Close to Another Mat
When selecting a spot to place your mat, it is okay to be friendly and sit near somebody, but do not sit on top of them. Make sure you have enough room on both sides of you and in the front and the back of you, because you may need to turn your mat more than once during class. If there is not ample room in the classroom, try to take it another day.

Etiquette Tip #9. Give Everyone Room to Practice Yoga
Placing your mat in the yoga studio or classroom with enough room to move should also leave enough room for others. Work with other students in the classroom to maximize both personal yoga space while still making enough room for everyone. Foster apositive yoga community by taking this leadership role.

Etiquette Tip #10. Show up on time
Try to get to class ten minutes before class starts, unless there is a class already in progress. By showing up early you can chat with other students and the teacher, and find a comfortable spot without rushing and disrupting other students.

Etiquette Tip #11. Do not disrupt meditation by leaving
While it is hard to convince some yoga students that the meditative portion of class at the end is the most important, try not to leave during meditation. If you know that you have to leave before meditation starts, sit near the door and leave before everyone gets into the relaxation position.

By following these basic yoga class etiquette tips you will help make yoga a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.