Here I am it is my first time in New York City. I step out of the front door of the hotel and I am blown away.
There are people every where! People are rushing towards me and they are rushing past me! The sidewalks are so wide and so full of people.
Fear of the unknown can slow you down.
The sounds! The cars are honking. People are shouting! There are taxis coming and going. There are trucks loading and unloading.
The smells! The hot dog stand is just a couple of feet away. The exhaust from the cars and trucks fill the air.
It is all so very overwhelming. I am intimidated. I come from a large city. I am comfortable with the crowds, the sounds and the rush. But here in New York everything is new. Everything is different. I have never been here before and I am not sure how to behave or how to be safe.
Going to your first yoga class in a place that you have not been to before can be very much like my trip to New York. There are all kinds of questions. There are all kinds of unknowns. You do not know how to behave. You do not know where to go. You do not know the teachers. You do not know the procedures. You are afraind that you will stick out like a sore thumb. You are afraid that others will think you are stupid. You want to stay home where you feel safe! You need a place where you can feel safe and still learn yoga. What you need is a safe zone.
What is a Safe Zone
A safe zone is a place where you can feel safe. Well isn’t that obvious. Let me explain.
A safe zone is a place where you will feel comfortable and not afraid to ask questions. There are no stupid or dumb questions. When you ask a question, the teacher will be so happy. This means that there is something that needs explaining and that someone is interested in knowing the answer. One of the problems teachers have when they lead a class is what material to cover and what will the people be interested in learning today. A question from one of the students means that there is an interest in that topic and the teacher is ready to roll with an explanation. If you ask a question there will be other people in the class that will be so glad that you have asked the question, because they wanted to ask it as well, but they were still a little bit afraid.
A safe zone is a place where you will not be intimidated by others. Everyone in the class is at the same level of ability, and knowledge. You will not be a class with a person that has 10 years of experience and can do extremely challenging poses. You will be in a class with people that are at the same level as you. In most cases that means that touching your toes is something that you would like to be able to do again. The class size is small, usually about 6 people. This small number is less intimidating than being in a group of 20 or 30.
A safe zone is a place where you will know how to behave because you have read the Yoga Ettiuqete report. This report explains how to prepare for a yoga class, how to behave during a yoga class, what to do with your yoga mat and what to do after yoga class. With all of this information you will be confident that you will behave correctly at the yoga studio.
A safe zone is a place where you know what to do when you arrive at the studio. You will know how to process your pass card, and sign in for your class. You will know where to put your shoes and coat. And you will know where the bathroom is.
At our yoga studio our safe zone is our Introduction to Yoga classes and the series of emails you will be receiving over the next days and weeks. We have created a safe zone for you at the yoga studo.
Our Introduction to Yoga class is a safe zone
A safe zone will help you to feel at home and comfortable.
All of the people are new to yoga and new to the studio.
There is a small number of people in the class.
The teacher is friendly and approachable.
We provide information to you before you come to the studio:
- How to prepare for a yoga class
- How to find the studio
- How to sign in to class
- What to do with a yoga mat
- How to behave in class
- How to behave after class
- How to keep up to date with the events and changes at the studio
You will feel safe
With all of this knowledge you will feel more comfortable and less intimidated during your first yoga class.
