Brand new to yoga? Curious, but don’t know what to expect? Great news, yoga is for everybody, and we can help you choose the right class for you. Here are a few questions you might have about yoga with Grassroots.
What is yoga?
Yoga is physical movement practice where you do “poses’. It is practiced with bare feet on a rubber mat. You will mostly be given instructions verbally. At our studio the teacher will ask before they touch you, and you can say no if its not right for someone else to touch you. There are breathing techniques and meditation that are part of the class. The class will begin with time to centre yourself, a warm up, the key poses, followed by a cool down and finishes in “savasana”, the relaxation pose which is 5-10 min long.
What class should I come to?
Yoga 1 is our beginner yoga class, where you will learn the foundational principles and poses of yoga. We offer 5x Yoga 1 classes, see our timetable for times and days. If you are recovering from injury or working with an ongoing medical condition you might prefer to start with Gentle yoga, or Yoga Restore (read our full class descriptions here).
I’m not very flexible can I do yoga?
Yes! yoga will help you become more flexible. The most important thing is not that you are perfect to start with, but that you will notice an improvement on flexibility, strength and stability, the longer your practice.
Do I need to bring anything special?
We have studio mats so you don’t need to invest in a new mat until you have tried yoga. We sell beautiful, ethical mats at the studio or you can buy economical mats at the Warehouse and many other retailers. Rubber mats rather than foam work best on our wooden flooring. At Alert Level 2 for Health and Safety we do ask you to bring your own mat.
How often should I come?
As often as you like! Making yoga a regular and consistent part of your week will offer noticeable benefits to body, mind, and spirit. 1-3 classes a week is a great way to start. See our full timetable or read more about our different memberships.
What do I wear?
Wear what is comfortable to you, exercise clothes. Leggings, baggy pants and shorts are great for men & women. T-shirts or singlets for the top.
Should I eat before class?
Avoid practicing on a full stomach but a small, easily digested snack like a piece of fruit or muesli bar is fine an hour before practice. Bring a reusable water bottle.
What other equipment is used in yoga?
We have woollen blankets, cork blocks, bolsters, straps and chairs available for use, your teacher will let you know which items to use. There is no cost for these. At Alert Level 2 we don’t offer use of these.
What type of yoga will I be learning?
We teach Hatha yoga, the broad general description for all modern postural yoga. We do not follow a guru or one set of rules, and each of our teachers is unique, bringing you a diverse experience of yoga. Our teachers have all been inspired and guided by principles of alignment and Non-dual Tantric Philosophy, so there is consistency in the instructions in all our classes. Other names of yoga (eg Bikram, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Baptist) are variations of Hatha yoga, which are named according to the “Founder” of these schools of yoga.
Is yoga a religion?
Yoga is not a religion, you can belong to any faith and do yoga. Yoga offers you the opportunity to connect to your body’s inner wisdom, learn mindfulness and breath techniques. There are spiritual teachings in yoga and in advanced classes you might learn more about this if it interests you. Our classes are designed to inspire and uplift you, and include a focus for you to contemplate as part of your practice.
