HATHA YOGA CLASS STUDIO ETIQUETTE
The word etiquette means the protocol of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group. A yoga class which is all about focusing on strengthening the mind and body, which is usually practiced in a calm and peaceful environment, requires a code of conduct to maintain discipline among the students as well as the teachers, so that practice and learning can take place efficiently.
Let’s discuss some points over keeping up with the right attitude towards attending a yoga class and the kind of behavior the teachers must maintain with their students.
The yoga classroom is a tidy, spacious place filled with positive vibrations, that deserves to be treated like a holy sanctuary, the place that helps us heal the mind and body must be respected.. Trainers and practitioners must follow the code of cleanliness in the classroom and must always make sure they enter the hall with clean bare feet (like they do in a temple) and tidy up the place before exiting the class by returning the props back and switching off the lights and fan.
Indulgence in physical workout comes with the need for personal hygiene, it’s important to keep our body healthy and clean devoid of internal and external toxins. Students must be encouraged to wash up before the practice of hatha yoga, keep their mats clean, and avoid the usage of cologne, so that their scent doesn’t disturb the class and allows everyone to breathe comfortably. The attire we wear for the practice must be neat and comfortable, and not come off as an unwanted source of distraction. In case a student has turned a blind spot towards following the right protocol of being hygienic, the teachers are suggested to approach them personally and deal with the situation by remaining calm and collected, to explain tem the importance of following classroom ethics.
Maintaining punctuality is an important quality of discipline, and as teachers of disciplinary practices we must inform students to be at the studio at least 5 minutes before start time and stay till the end of class. In case some students are running late or they need to leave in between the session, they have to inform the teacher beforehand so that they can be guided in and out of the class without causing any disturbance for the others. When a student comes very late we must assess them separately, allowing them to do either a few warm ups or remain in child pose before coming back up in sync with the group practice.
The world is surely a stage where various characters play their role, Hence as teachers we can’t expect everyone we meet to remain patient enough to attend the class silently at all times, so instructing the students to focus on their breathing sound and your verbal cues can slowly help reduce the talkative disturbances in the classroom. At the same time students must be encouraged to politely clear their doubts regarding the subject matter. In case of talkative students causing a disturbance in class, teachers must talk to them in a person slowly asking them to remain silent during the time of practice. It’s also recommended to not keep any attachments with the students, and make sure we don’t indulge into their laments so that we can conserve our mental energy, and not let the class turn into a counseling session. Overall, following these ethics can create a big impact in practicing hatha yoga very well and to bring out optimum and quick results from the focused practice.
Courtesy To: Ananya Kasiraj, RYT – 200 Hrs (student assignment)