Bob and Alice are battling for first place in the golf tournment.
Bob an Alice are on the third play off hole of the golf tournament. Alice has a chance to pull ahead and win the match. If she can sink this putt she will be one stroke ahead of Bob.
Alice approaches the ball, lines up her putter and begins her stroke when several cell phones start to ring.
Everyone turns in disgust towards the owners of the cell phones. Several large tournament security personnel take the cell phone users away.
While there are no putters involved the same thing can happen in your yoga class.
Why is a cell phone ringing a problem
A yoga class is a quiet place where you focus on your yoga practice. You are working to become more in tune with your body. Listening to and respect the feedback from your body requires your undivided attention.
When a cell phone starts ringing at the mat next door, you loose your focus. That calm that you have been developing during your yoga practice is gone with the playing of one ring tone.
The situation can become a lot worse if no one admits that it is there phone that is ringing and turns it off.
What to do when your cell phone goes off
If it is your cell phone that is playing that ring tone over and over again there is only one course of action to take. Do not ignore it. Retrieve your cell phone immediately from wherever you have put it and end the call.
This is a good first step to restore quiet and focus to the yoga practice space. There are more steps you can do to prevent this from happening in the future.
How to avoid your cell phone ringing
The absolute best thing you can do with your cell phone is leave it at home. A cell phone that rings at home will disturb no one at yoga and you will avoid the embarrassment of it ringing during class.
Finally and least desirable, you can put your cell phone on vibrate. A vibrating cell phone is just as disruptive as a ring cell phone. A vibrating cell phone in your pocket or purse at a golf tournament won’t be noticed by anyone. It is a different matter during a yoga practice.
Sometimes you can not avoid having your cell phone with your because you are on call.
What to do if you are on call
If you must leave your cell phone turned on because you are on call there are several steps you can take. First let your teacher known, next put your phone on vibrate, finally set it on a foam block next to your mat to dampen the noise.
If your phone should start to vibrate, grab it immediately and leave the practice space before you answer it.
Summary
Your yoga practice time is an opportunity to reduce stress, develop a focus on the feedback from your body and relax.
A cell phone going off during yoga practice like Alice discovered during her golf match with Bob is disruptive.
Leave your cell phone at home or turn it off before your yoga class starts.
Next Step
Before you enter your yoga class check your cell phone and make sure it is off.
Additional Reading
For more detail about being on call check out the article How to be on call and go to yoga class: follow the good vibrations process
How to get off the grid and relax with yoga shows you how to get more benefit from your yoga practice.
