STUDIO ETIQUETTE

We are thrilled to see so many new and old friends returning to their practice. In order to create the best group experience together, we thought this was an excellent time to go over our etiquette guidelines.

Though each person’s yoga practice is individual, each class is a collective experience. We should come to our mats with an attitude of respect for those around us to help everyone thrive.

Please note: We don’t look at etiquette as a set of harsh rules for people to follow but as a general attitude of mutual respect.

We don’t like to call them rules because we know some will become upset if they are broken. Others will see rules and immediately want to break them. Rules also turn yoga teachers into yoga police officers. Instead, we invite you to look inward to see how you are carrying yourself and how that affects those around you. How can we all benefit by creating a collective experience?

Register for class. Due to limited space, reservations are required to attend class. Be sure to register for classes at least 60 minutes in advance so our front desk staff and/or the instructors know to expect you. The cut off time to sign up for class is 10 minutes prior to the beginning of class. Walk-ins are not guaranteed a spot. Availability is based on a first come first serve basis. Please note that if there are no participants signed up within 60 minutes of class time, that class will be cancelled for the day. For all 6:00 am, 7:15 am and 8:15 am classes, please register no later than 11:00 pm the night before. If there are no participants signed up by that time, that class will be cancelled for the day. There are no standing reservations or assumption of a participants attendance by the studio or the instructors.

Arrive early. Tardiness to yoga class is disruptive to the teacher and other students, especially in classes where there is high attendance. Starting immediately, The studio doors will be locked at the beginning of class to keep our students and their belongings safe. To avoid being late, aim to arrive a few minutes before class is scheduled to start; this gives you time to relax, breathe, and settle in.

Turn off your cell. Make a habit of doing this before you step foot into the yoga studio; this not only minimizes interruptions for your fellow students, but allows you to focus on your yoga practice. If you need to bring in your cell phone, please advise the instructor and place the ringer on silent.

Remove your shoes. The studio stays most hygienic if everyone leaves their shoes (yes, even flip-flops) in the designated areas in the lobby. And while walking barefoot be mindful not to tread on other's mats.

Talk to the teacher. If you have any injuries (past or current) or concerns, talk to the teacher before class. This way, the teacher can recommend variations on certain poses during practice to allow you to reap the benefits without unnecessary strain. If you have lots of concerns, consider scheduling a private lesson.

Practice the Class You are In. Please follow the yoga series being taught during class. If you have an injury and need a modification, our teachers are more than happy to assist you—we just ask that you practice in the back row so as not to confuse other attendees in class.

Reduce odors in Yoga Room. While you may think you smell like a rose from your perfume, scented lotion, essential oils, fragranced laundry detergent, or the invisible cloud that trails you after smoking—any kind of odor in a small room (and heated) is amplified. Your wonderful scent or odor—intentional or not—could give your fellow yogis a headache!

Excuse yourself quietly. If you must use the restroom during class, it's no problem! Just leave through the door in the rear of the studio quietly and return to your practice.

Leave (even well-behaved) children at home. As lovely as your children may be, think about the length of the yoga class, their level of focus and attention, and whether it is realistic to expect your child to make it through the entire class. Children under the age of 12 cannot be left in the lobby by themselves. We do require an adult to be in class with any child under 16 taking a non-heated class. We do prohibit children under the age of 16 from attending hot yoga classes. The age to attend a hot yoga class is 16 and up.

Be Present. A yoga classroom is like a sanctuary-people come here to relax and find peace. Honor this by observing as much quiet as possible during the practice, saving any loud chit-chat for after class.

Stay til the end. We ask that you stay for Savasana. Savasana is a delicious period of meditative relaxation at the end of yoga class. If you roll up your mat and dash out the door during this quiet time, you're not only disrupting your fellow students, you're missing out on an essential part of the practice. Forget about the to-do list that awaits you after class, and allow yourself to really sink in to this incredibly restoring pose. Breathe and remind yourself this is why you're here. You'll be glad you did! However, if you need to leave early, please advise the instructor before the start of class.

“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:

Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” - Buddha

Part of a yoga practice is developing not just physical flexibility but also emotional and mental flexibility.

Consider this: even if we had rules posted all over the studio in flashing neon signs, there will always be someone now and then who doesn’t listen or read them, someone's phone may still go off, someone’s scent may still be particularly overwhelming. Is any of that worth your blood pressure spiking and potentially ruining your class or day? Keeping that in mind, here are a few additional guidelines we ask you to follow.

Give new students a little grace. Why is it important to be generous with new Thrivers? Because hopefully you were treated courteously and with respect and dignity when you were brand new to yoga, even when you didn’t know all the rules. Let’s continue to pay it forward. Welcome newbies in the same way you were first welcomed.

See opportunity in distractions. To say you can only relax if there is silence, or that you and only have a good class if other people are behaving in a certain way, is a mindset that sets you up for failure. You simply can’t control the environment of the yoga studio mentally, that’s not the purpose of coming to yoga. Take a deep breath. It’s possible to set yourself up for success by taking a more all-encompassing mindset…. for example, you can enjoy silence when it’s there, and if it’s not, are still all-right, because you know distractions can be a golden opportunity for inner growth. Either way, you benefit!

Let's see the best in each other when we are in the studio. That is our commitment to you—to do our best to always see the best in you. A sharp word or reprimand to another student will only teach new students that the people at Thrive are intolerant, rude, and mean. And it certainly is not in line with the culture we have painstakingly strived to create over the last few years since we opened.