Now this is a topic that I am passionate about. Etiquette is about respect. As yogis we should always be careful that what we are doing is not altering anyone else’s experience in a negative way. You would think that most of us yogi’s understand this but I don’t think it is talked about enough in the beginning stages and some fall into bad habits.
The studio is a quite zone. This means you need to leave your conversations outside. If you are joining friends for a class, plan to meet up before or after class to spend time getting caught up.
Respect the space of those around you. Don’t bring anything into a class that you are not going to use. Leave your cell phone, extra clothes, purse, etc outside of the classroom. If you brought your keys in, don’t throw them carelessly on the floor, making noise. There should be no distractions or clutter.
Personal hygiene is important to those around you. Smelly feet, bad breath, heavy perfumes or colognes or any other body odors can really be offensive in a hot sweaty yoga room. Take a moment before you step into your class to do a self check. You’ll find you will appreciate it too when those around you do.
When class ends, some yogis prefer to spend a little extra time resting in savasanna. Please respect this and gather your belongings quietly! Carefully roll up your mat, don’t drag it or plop it around. Exit with your best zen-walking and see if you can leave so quietly that you can’t even hear yourself.