what do you bring to class?
2 large beach towels. (1 for class and 1 to shower afterwards) - water bottle- change of clothing-yoga mat.
*We rent towels, mats for $2 each, as well as we have mats and water available to purchase.

do you have to be flexible to come?
No you do not. Most people have the misconception that you have to be flexible to go to a yoga class, when in fact it is actually quite the opposite. The less flexible you are, the more you will benefit!

form over depth:
It is extremely important to remember it is always form over depth. Over time, as you continue your yoga practice faithfully using correct form, you will strengthen, lengthen, and open up much quicker and safely. If you allow the ego come into play and you are determined to go for depth before form you will injure yourself and will go 10 steps back instead of 3 steps forward.

rest:
It is extremely important that you rest as much as your body feels, completely guilt free. As the body becomes acclimatized to the heat and humidity, each class gets 100% easier than the last.
Over time as you become more in tune with your body, you will truly begin to notice how the body can change day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, and second to second; just like our minds.
Therefore one must stay in tune and listen to that, and respect the body wherever it happens to be at that particular moment. By doing this you will excel immensely on all levels.

when the postures become hard to stay in:

what about when I feel like its too hard and I want to flee the posture and quit?
That is great! This is called "your edge." This is when the real yoga begins.
When you hit your edge, this is when your mind, your body, and your spirit all comes together to work as one through your breath. when you feel like you need to get out of the pose, you "just breathe". Ride your breath like an ocean wave. In and out. Long deep slow inhales and long slow deep exhales. Keep it flowing. Keep it calm.
Just allow the body to relax, and always come back to your breath. Simple as that!:)....Lengthen and louden your breath. Your breath becomes your mantra to focus on.
When you begin to struggle, 1st question you ask yourself is, "am I breathing?"
*side note: I like to refer to the breath moving through the body melting away tension; like a knife slicing through butter.
If you stay calm, breathe, and visualize this happening, you will actually begin to feel it happening over time. It is one of the most amazing things to experience that connection with your body as a whole.

"forcing" the body
The worst thing you can do is force your body into something it is not ready to do, perhaps due to past sports or physical injuries, or even just simply genetically . You will injure yourself this way.
Your body may have taken many years to tighten up, so it will take time to open up. It is important to accept where it is and be patient. You have the rest of your life.
Just imagine you are on your own private flying carpet, and all that exists is you, your mat, your breath, and the instructors ques to safely guide you through your practice. Just breathe!

how do I know if I'm working hard enough?
The breath will always let you know.
Example: If you are holding your breath or gasping for air, let off a bit, as generally this means you are pushing to hard, and you will tighten up rather than open up.
If you are thinking about your shopping list or where you are going after class; generally this means you are not working hard enough.

will I ever be able to do that posture like Joe over there?
Maybe, maybe not. ..
Perhaps you are an athlete or have had previous injuries of which may prevent you from looking like Joe.
Each body is different and holds tension in different areas for various reasons.
It is always form over depth.
As you keep the form your body will open up in the timing that is right. If you push it and try to go for depth with improper form, you will not open and strengthen correctly and will get injured. Improper form is the biggest reason for yoga injuries.
Plus! There will be postures that you are more open in than Joe, however you may not notice "those" ones.

NAMASTE