We ask everyone we meet if they practice yoga. Wonderfully, we get a different answer every time. Responses range from wrinkled noses to hurried excuses to big wide grins. And while everyone has their own ideas about what a class might be like before they try, it’s the people who have smiled or grunted their way through an hour or two in a studio who offer the most enthusiastic nods of agreement. When all the preconceived notions disappear and you simply start to move, it all begins to make sense. We think it’s simply the best exercise going. Millions all over the world agree.

Yoga in North America has evolved rapidly since the first yogis arrived from the east to share their knowledge. In the decades that have followed, North Americans have not only embraced the teachings of acceptance and peace but have enthusiastically connected with the physical aspects of the practice. Indeed, the notion of practicing yoga primarily as a workout is very recent concept. It is just as realistic now to find a class as rigorous as an hour of aerobics as it would be to find a class where gentle stretching mends seamlessly into meditation and relaxation. It is a testament to yoga that it can offer this much variety for people of different physical ability without losing the message. So while the postures and the technical aspects of the practice may not necessarily be centuries old, the intention and the meaning resonate deeply.

But mystery and intrigue still remain about what might happen in a yoga class. While the best idea to rid yourself of these notions is to simply attend, there may still be a few surprises you can prepare yourself for. There are a few things you might not know about yoga class:

Yoga can be hard.
Physically, yoga can be very challenging – even a beginner class. It is best to be open and honest about your physical abilities and the limits you are setting on yourself. Muscle strength is just as important in yoga as stretching and the two compliment each other. Be prepared to move!

How you engage yourself in class is a lesson in itself.
We see people struggling, forcing, pulling and flinging themselves into postures. Not only is this uncomfortable but it can be dangerous. To avoid frustration, simply listen. A well-trained teacher will offer options and cues and successful students heed them. Understanding where you are and what you are doing is the beginning of self-knowledge.

There will be meditation of some sort.
Every class will have a component of silent time. Sharing moments of peaceful contemplation is certainly the most ancient portion of yoga and it has defied the boundaries of geography, race, time, gender and social class. Meditation is deceptively simple and can be difficult if you’re not sure what should be going on. What should be happening in this silent time in class? Absolutely nothing. Go figure!

You could end up upside-down
Inversions are common in yoga classes and even if you’re not doing headstands, there is most certainly a chance that your heart will be over your head at some time. Wear a shirt that won’t fly over your head and pants that you can control. Or simply wear good underwear.

You are not too old, too fat, too weak, too inflexible, too….
Yoga is enjoyed by people from all walks of life and there are no limits to what you can accomplish when you approach the practice with patience and acceptance. Ask some of the people who come from class flushed and glowing – they all started somewhere, too.

Come join us and nod in agreement! Yoga Source & Therapy Studio is located at 16925 Yonge Street, Unit 25, in Newmarket or you can call (905) 830-9700 or visit www.yogasource.ca