Arrival: Every Anusara class starts with centering, an intention and the invocation. It unifies the class and gives you a chance to refocus your mind on what you need for yourself. Traffic and weather are out of our control of course, but please allow enough time to arrive 5 minutes before class begins.

However, we ask that you not arrive for class much more than 5 minutes before start time. There are only 15 minutes between classes and while we try our very best to end on time, sometimes class runs over. Since Savasana (the final resting pose of each class) is a very important meditative pose that gives the body the necessary time to assimilate the benefits of practice, we ask that no one enter the studio during that time. Thus the five minute “rule” -- we don’t want you to have to wait outside, or in your car!

Sign into every class at the front desk: This is part of our accounting process, so please sign-in. Thank you.

What to wear & hygiene: Yoga is done with bare feet on a sticky mat. We recommend you buy a mat for your own use. If you forget, mats are available and wipes will be given to clean it for your use, but your feet must be clean. However, for a regular practice, we recommend getting your own mat. Please wear clean comfortable clothes you can move in, and remember you may be going upside down! Please avoid wearing oils, perfumes or cologne. Deodorant is welcome.

Food: It is not advisable to practice after a big meal, so please eat lightly 1-2 hours before class.

Your Commitment: We advise students to come to as many classes a week as they can fit into their schedule. As a beginner it is important to come more than once a week so your body learns the actions. Educating your body takes practice. Coming once a week is better than not at all, but to feel results and make progress, twice a week is the minimum. Three is even better. More than that and your progress will be exponential.

Injuries: Anusara Yoga Teachers are trained to help students with injuries, so be sure to inform the teacher before class begins so that he or she can give you specific instructions to avoid pain. A Therapeutic Private is also recommended. (Please read RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INJURIES.)

Ask Questions: If you are confused or need more information, don’t be shy -- ask the teacher to clarify. The teachers at Blue Lotus are trained to respond to the needs of the students in order to help everyone learn with proper, pain free alignment. We want you to leave class learning something about yourself!

Listen to your Body: This takes practice, as we are trained in so many situations to override its messages. There are different kinds of pain: it is necessary to learn to distinguish between the sensation of muscles working harder than they are used to, or joint pain that is telling you something is not in alignment. If it is joint pain, come out of the pose and ask the teacher for help.

Don’t Push: “Give it all you’ve got” does not mean “No Pain, No Gain!” The way the body gets stronger and more flexible is to honor it where it is today, then go to that edge -- but NOT PAST that edge. It is different for everyone.

How do you identify your personal edge? You must still be able to breathe, to hold alignment and not contort your face…and that takes practice!

Firming muscles properly vs. pushing is the difference between hugging and strangling. When stretching a muscle, it is important to gently firm it, and then stretch from the middle of the muscle belly, extending in two directions, allowing it to expand with your breath without “pushing too much”. Otherwise the chances are that you will just be pulling at the muscle attachments, and that is what leads to injury.

What does “Start from Perfection” mean? At Blue Lotus we practice yoga as a way of honoring ourselves rather than as a way to change what we don’t like about ourselves. Self-transformation is most effective this way. With this attitude, yoga becomes a fun way of learning how your body works, and is an expression of joyful engagement. Each pose is an opportunity for this self-honoring and recognition. More advanced poses do not do this any better than simple ones; wherever you are in your practice you start from perfection – your own!

Recommendations for Injuries: If you have any injuries, you must inform the teacher before every class. Even if your injury was a long time ago, tell your teacher about it. Some injuries have very high rates of reoccurrence – as high as 90% in the case of shoulder dislocation. Your teacher is trained to know which poses are contraindicated in such cases.

Teachers see many students a week, so please remind them before each class begins. Depending on the stage of your injury, a yoga class may or may not be the best thing for you. If the injury is in the acute or inflamed stage, rest and ice is usually the prescription.

In a regular public class the teacher will try to help you as much as is possible, but may not have time to properly address your injury. Please consider a therapeutic session.

To best address your injury we highly recommend an applied yoga therapeutics session so we can show you specifics of what you need to do to take care of it.

The Anusara principles, although effective, need accurate application to be effective and can be learned in a class but it takes time, time you may not have if your injury is currently an issue.

In a therapeutic session your individual situation can be addressed. Anusara Yoga’s reputation of being an excellent therapeutic remedy is well founded, but depending on the complexity of your injury, its benefits can only be realized through your committed attention and carefully learned application.