Ellen Kay Yoga Class Guide

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER YOUR YOGA CLASS

Try and not eat for at least an hour before class. You want you body to focus on other things other than digesting.

It’s uncomfortable to do belly down poses, twists and forward folds on a full stomach.

If you’re hungry, have a light snack and plan to have a meal on hand ready for after class!

Yoga mats are relatively inexpensive. Get a good quality mat that’s nice and sticky (keeping your Down Dog hands and feet in place), lays flat, has a good carrying bag and is the right thickness for you.

You’re going to spend a lot of time on it.

Try out a few and buy the one that’s feels wide and long enough, keeps your knees comfy when kneeling and that you love the colour and texture of.

Try your best to arrive a few minutes early to class so you can settle in calmly and not disturb others. If it’s your first time coming, arrive 10 minutes early so we have time for a quick chat. If you do happen to be late, please enter quietly.
Wear comfortable, stretchy clothes that are not too loose. Choose appropriately based on how your clothing may respond to sweat, twisting, lying down and bending forward.
A water bottle and a towel or blanket. Eye pillows or a small soft towel are great for covering your eyes in Savasana if you like. If you have a Yoga block and Belt, please bring them too. If you keep up with your practice, it’s a good idea to buy them.

Please don’t wear perfumes. It’s not great to be next to someone who’s wearing strong scents.

Likewise, please have a shower before class if you’ve had a long day!

Please let me know if you have any injuries or medical conditions I should know about before the day of the class. If either of us feel we need to discuss things face to face, we can arrange that you come to class 15 minute early to give us time to talk and for me to pre teach you alternative poses or how to adapt your practice.
For many people, their mat is a safe, clean and even sacred space. Please respect this by not stepping on other’s mats.
Please put bags and other belongings at the back or side of the room. Instead of keeping your mobile, watch etc by your mat, please put them in your bag. I could step on them and it’s great to give yourself a break from tech. Keep your water bottle and Yoga props to the side or back of your mat.
If at any point you feel dizzy or need a rest, take Child’s pose or simply lie down in Savasana. Please don’t worry about what people might think. I may check on you to make sure you’re ok, but feel free to take a break for as long as you feel necessary. Feel free to wait for a pause in the class to ask for clarification or questions and at any time, let me know if you’re in pain or feeling unwell. Asking for clarification and help can make all the difference between you experiencing a miserable class or a great class. *Remember other students will learn from any questions you may have too.
Unless you are taking Child’s Pose in order to rest, please follow my cues rather than following your own sequence. If there is a pose that you feel you cannot or should not do, let me know and I can provide a modification or an alternative.
Savasana, Corpse Pose, is the last pose in class and is when you lie down on your mat to rest and relax. It gives your body the opportunity for the charged and freed energy (prana) to move around your body evenly. Savasana is a very important yet often challenging pose. With practice you will soon settle into it and love resting like this. The art of relaxation, rather than sleep, is a fantastic art to get good at, so keep trying!
Please respect our space by not offering your own business services to other students attending the class unless previously agreed with by me.

If you’re new to Yoga and under 12 weeks pregnant, please don’t do Yoga.

In the early stages of pregnancy your tiny embryo is still implanting into the uterine wall.

Yoga poses move the internal organs around, stretch and compresses them.

In my opinion and experience it’s best to be patient, go for lovely walks and join us after 12 weeks or, even better, ask me about some pre-natal yoga.

If you’re a confident Yoga practitioner, please let me know and, if the pregnancy is going smoothly, by all mean join us, but again, after 12 weeks.

Also, we’ll arrange for you to come early to class where I’ll teach you poses that you will take as alternatives to ones that might not be right for you.

*Please let me know before coming to class it you want me to keep your pregnancy quiet, especially if this is a corporate or work based class..

Please pay and book online before class, go to my class schedule page to book. Please note that, as with most small businesses, I have a 24 hour cancelation policy. If you cancel within 24 hours of class I cannot give you a refund or move your class to another date.

Please feel free to speak with me after class if you have any questions or concerns about your yoga practice.

Feel free to chat before and after class with your fellow Yoginis and Yogis!

Yoga class is a great place to meet like minded people.

It’s where I’ve met many of my loveliest friends.

Looking forward to seeing you in class!

Yoga & Meditation

Love & Light

Ellen x