If you encounter a pose or series that is too difficult for you, ask the teacher to help you to modify it. All our teachers are trained to help you find the yoga that is right for YOU. It is not uncommon that one person needs an adjustment for a certain group of poses. In addition, being stiff or tight in the body is not a reason not to do yoga! In fact, that is one of the reasons you come 'right'? Please feel free to ask for help in finding a comfortable and safe way to work within your limitations. This is a normal process. Don't forget, this is YOUR time and YOUR practice. We try to create a non-competitive atmosphere where you can also work on this with yourself.
FAQ
Please see through frequently asked questions about yoga and Yoga Moves Utrecht. If your question is not here, please send an e-mail through our contactform.
FAQ
Come to practice with an empty stomach (unless a specific condition prevents this). Do not bring large items into the yoga room. Keep personal belonging you bring into yoga room (including water bottles, hair clips, etc.) off the floor and to the side. You can bring a bottle of water in plastic in the room, but we recommend you drink before and after class, not during. Never bring your cell phone into the studio, when possible leave it at home (and definitely turn it off!).
All of our normal classes are on a drop-in basis. No reservation is needed, except in the case when they fill up fast - then a reservation can help you to hold your spot. At this time you can only reserve a spot through our online reservation system and you need to have an active class card for that. So for your first time(s) just come 10-15 minutes before class and sign in at the desk. For the courses or workshops we require that you sign in and pay ahead of time to reserve your spot.
I feel like I am not progressing in class. I cannot touch my toes and am not sure I should continue.
Let go of competitive mind-set. Yoga is non-competitive. It is not just a workout. It is not just techniques for relaxation, and it is not just cross training. It IS a spiritual practice that makes the body stronger, more flexible, and generally much healthier. The purpose of yoga is to calm the mind, open the heart, and stimulate our spiritual evolution. No experience or flexibility is required to practice Yoga. Yoga is for everyone.
There are many ways to begin the practice of Yoga, the most important part is to start. Yoga Moves prides itself in begin a place where everyone can feel welcome, we are down-to-earth, practical and professional in our approach. We recommend that you start with a beginners class or Introduction to Yoga course “ or both. Do not be so much concerned about the type of class when you start, more important is that you start with the appropriate level. While we have many styles of yoga, they all have overlaps that won't matter so much to you when you begin.
Depending on the injury you will need to discuss this with the teacher or contact us ahead of time. Yoga can help people discover their boundaries and build awareness, but during the acute recovery stage you may need a more individualized approach. Consider a private lesson to help you work around the injury. If you have a health issue (illness, injury, or medical condition), please notify your instructor before class. Not every pose/ type of yoga is suitable for everyone.
Yoga has a long long history of helping people with stress - both physical and mental stress (see benefits). It has the capacity to help you release built up stress, and establish a more balanced approach to your daily life. All of our classes will address this issue, but if you need to relax immediately, we suggest you start with a restorative, therapeutic or slow-down class first. Eventually you can also begin the vinyasa-based (vinyasa = breath coordinated with movement) classes where you will work more actively to promote a deep letting go and physical well-being.
We see many pregnant women coming to Yoga Moves and we are happy to support you and are dedicated to continuing to support your pregnancy and beyond. If you're pregnant, you should find a qualified instructor (go to our pregnancy courses!) and check with your doctor before jumping into dynamic yoga. Strong forms of physical yoga may not be appropriate when pregnant.
If you have been practicing a while and become pregnant - PLEASE inform your teacher - you need to modify many parts of the class, avoid overheating and perhaps take another style or class.
Please note: Not all yoga classes are appropriate for pregnant women! Please if you are taking our vinyasa-based flow lessons and you become pregnant - consider changing to one of these pre-natal courses. Things like too much heat, overstretching, deeper twists, bandhas, etc can be possibly dangerous to you and your baby's health! And our teachers can not always help you modify in their dyanamic classes or are not qualified for this speciality area.
Yoga improves your physical awareness, makes your body more flexible, helps you learn to focus and gives you better breath control. These are useful qualities in any kind of physical activity, so if anything you will find that yoga really complements the sport you are doing. Many top-sporters also use yoga as a complementary to their training.
The benefits of Yoga practice
The practice of Hatha yoga dates back 5000 years and its benefits have been repeatedly observed and documented over time. With regular practice, discipline and effort you can:
- Build strength
- Improve your posture and flexibility
- Reshape your body
- Create longer, leaner muscles
- Speed up your metabolism
- Lose weight
- Enhance your balance
- Recover from injury and chronic pain
- Reduce stress
- Tone and strengthen muscles
- Clear you mind
- Calm your soul
- Be more present and aware
- Have more energy and passion
- Experience a new level of emotional calm and mental clarity
- Open yourself to the process of transformation
- Enjoy life more
When you DO yoga regularly, you get the benefits of yoga!
We recommend you come in simple sport clothing. We work in bare-feet so no shoes are needed (we take them off as we enter the studio). Take your jewelry off as it mostly gets in your way. Please do not wear perfume.
We have mats you can use when you are beginning with us, but after your trial time we ask you to buy your own yoga mat. It is much more hygienic for you and others.
Each class and teacher has their own personal approach to building their class. We ask that you come on time, and IF you are late you wait a few minutes until the centering or meditation exercise is over before entering class. (We don't allow you to come in if you are too late) In general you will find that we start with a centering, relaxation moment or two and then begin the movement, connected to breath. Usually we will work to warm the whole body up and then go into more sitting postures or inversions or other variations depending on the level. We often say 'Namaste' at the end of class, this is a Sanskrit word that basically acknowledges that everyone in the room is made of spirit and that we recognize that we are more than we look like.
Are you wanting a new body shape? To feel more calm and centered? To relief pain or anxiety? Or to meet new people and connect to yourself? All these goals and many more are valid and perfect reasons to start yoga!
In addition, we like to look at the concept of results in yoga...what are we trying to achieve? What outside influence is directing our thoughts? When did we decide that we, as we are, needed to change? The beauty of it, is there is room for goals in yoga, and yet we strive to release our attachment to the results and enjoy the process. In addition, your goals may change as you explore yoga and discover the benefits yoga.
In order to enjoy the full benefits of yoga, try to work regularly with the same teacher(s) to build your practice; 2-3 times a week is the minimum commitment you need if you really want to achieve lasting and real changes. 1-time a week will compliment any other activity you are doing and will help you release tension and relax. Many of us from Yoga Moves practice every day because we see how it supports our entire life and energy
In some of our classes, we like to work warm, letting the temperature in the room warm up and keep it there (25-29 degrees). Heat helps you to sweat and takes toxins out of your body. It helps your muscles let go and lengthen. It also helps you let go in the mind, because the mind slows down a bit and releases its grip. Enjoy the process of surrendering and relaxing your attachment to what is normal, and instead, let your body sweat and release.
We offer Yoga for all ages and all experience levels. Finding the style of Yoga that suits your needs is crucial to having a great experience and reaping the substantial benefits that yoga provides. Having said this, many of our styles have overlapping approaches and can compliment each other. We recommend that you start with level one classes in one style, build confidence in your poses, and then take the opportunity to explore new styles or teachers as you grow. See our styles and levels page for more information about the different types of yoga Yoga moves offers.
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