FAQs on Yoga: How do I find a suitable teacher or class? What are the questions I should be asking in my search?
Some of my students found me in the phone directory but you can ask your friends or colleagues to recommend a teacher of yoga centre. Visit the yoga centres and take a look at the facilities. Are they quiet and conducive to practice? It is best if the yoga class is conducted at a convenient location so that it is easy for you to attend classes. You do not want to get yourself in a position where you experience more stress rushing to yoga class that the amount of stress that your yoga practice alleviates! Try out different teachers and different venues to find a class that you like and one that is suitable for your current physical fitness. Talk to the other participants in the classes you try out after the sessions and ask for tips on teachers and venues.
Ask the teachers about their yoga teaching experience and if they have any relevant certifications. Also ask about their own practice and current training, what is their preferred style of practice: is it a more slow, meditative style or a fast, aerobic style, etc? If you have any special health or physical problems, discuss this and see if the teacher feels confident in teaching you. Generally, if you have any heart problems, high or low blood pressure or if you had any recent surgery, accidents, fractures or sprains, you should mention these. Of course if you have any of these conditions, do consult your doctor before that to ensure that it is okay for you to start yoga classes.
Find out the average size of the class: More people in a class means that the teacher has less time and attention for each of you. I feel that one teacher to a class of less than 20 is fair. Any more students than that, the class becomes a little hard to teach if most of them are beginners or if there are people of different levels of abilities in the same class. Ultimately, ask yourself if you feel if a particular teacher is one you can trust and try to do a series of regular classes with the same teacher for a few months. Allow for a period of consistent practice to feel the effects of the practice and then decide how you want to develop your practice, whether you want to continue with the same teacher.
Ask about the duration of a class (usually most are about one hour to an hour and a half) and get the weekly timetable. Enquire if there are any provisions for making up for classes that you miss when you are away on the odd urgent business trip occasionally. Ask about the cost of classes bearing in mind that many venues and teachers offer class packages which offer a better deal on price of an average class if you prepay for a set number of classes. These class usually come with an expiry date so do ensure that your schedule permits you to finish all the classes you are buying.
Find out if the venue provides you with yoga mats and towels or if you have to bring your own. Even if yoga mats are provided it is a good idea to bring your own large bath towel so that you can cover the shared mat with your towel. This is more hygienic and also provides a surface with better grip for beginners to work with. It is a good idea to invest in a good yoga mat if you are going to commit to yoga practice.
Ask the teachers about their yoga teaching experience and if they have any relevant certifications. Also ask about their own practice and current training, what is their preferred style of practice: is it a more slow, meditative style or a fast, aerobic style, etc? If you have any special health or physical problems, discuss this and see if the teacher feels confident in teaching you. Generally, if you have any heart problems, high or low blood pressure or if you had any recent surgery, accidents, fractures or sprains, you should mention these. Of course if you have any of these conditions, do consult your doctor before that to ensure that it is okay for you to start yoga classes.
Find out the average size of the class: More people in a class means that the teacher has less time and attention for each of you. I feel that one teacher to a class of less than 20 is fair. Any more students than that, the class becomes a little hard to teach if most of them are beginners or if there are people of different levels of abilities in the same class. Ultimately, ask yourself if you feel if a particular teacher is one you can trust and try to do a series of regular classes with the same teacher for a few months. Allow for a period of consistent practice to feel the effects of the practice and then decide how you want to develop your practice, whether you want to continue with the same teacher.
Ask about the duration of a class (usually most are about one hour to an hour and a half) and get the weekly timetable. Enquire if there are any provisions for making up for classes that you miss when you are away on the odd urgent business trip occasionally. Ask about the cost of classes bearing in mind that many venues and teachers offer class packages which offer a better deal on price of an average class if you prepay for a set number of classes. These class usually come with an expiry date so do ensure that your schedule permits you to finish all the classes you are buying.
Find out if the venue provides you with yoga mats and towels or if you have to bring your own. Even if yoga mats are provided it is a good idea to bring your own large bath towel so that you can cover the shared mat with your towel. This is more hygienic and also provides a surface with better grip for beginners to work with. It is a good idea to invest in a good yoga mat if you are going to commit to yoga practice.
