How to eliminate the train station flow in your yoga class

Why the train station flow is a problem in yoga class

Alice feels like she has setup her mat beside the lobby entrance to the train station and it is rush hour. People are coming and going all of the time. The rush of bodies past her is showing no sign of letting up any time soon.

Alice is getting more and more frustrated. She is having a hard time focusing on her yoga practice. Every time she gets into a yoga pose and focuses her attention on her breath and the sensation of stretching another person would walk by her mat. This has been going on during the entire class.

Alice is setup right beside the storage area for the props and people are walking by her to get a prop that they need for that particular pose. One person has been here three times. This is very distracting for Alice and the other people setup nearby.

There are three things that you can do to help Alice and reduce the amount of disruption that the class is experiencing.

1 – Before class – Get the props you need before class starts

2 – During class – Keep your props close to hand

3 – After class – Put all your props away after class

Before class – Get your props

Usually the teacher will have the selection of props that they will be using for the class already out and setup by their mat. Take a look and you can go get the same props for yourself.

Before the class starts talk to your teacher about the poses they have planned for this class. You can then get the props that you need for the poses that you are familiar with. If there are some new poses you can ask the teacher which props you will need. You can pick up the props now rather than during the class.

Why get your props before the class starts

Getting the props you need before the class starts will save you time during the class. You will not be getting up and running to the storage area and then returning to your mat. All you have to do is reach for your prop that is waiting for you right beside your mat.

Since you already have the props you are going to need you will not be disturbing the people around you, your teacher and the people next to the prop storage area.

Now that you have all the props you need for the class, there is a new consideration to be aware of. Are you becoming a space hog?

During class – Keep your props close

Are your props near by or are they spread all over the place? Are your props spread so far and wide that they are in your neighbour’s personal space?

A lot of times space can be at premium. Your yoga mat may be right beside your neighbour’s mat on all sides. There may only be inches between you and your neighbour. There will not be much room for your props.

To be a good neighbour you need to keep your props right beside you.

Why keep your props near by

There are several benefits to keeping your props close to you during your yoga practice.

— You will be able to quickly get your prop without a lot of effort.

— Your neighbour will happy that they do not have do their yoga pose while working around your props.

— Your neighbour will appreciate your economical use of space.

— The teacher will be able to get a few more people into the practice room if everyone has their props close to them.

Do not invade your neighbours space by spreading your mess far and wide, keep your props close to hand. Keeping your props near by will help you out when the class is over.

After class – Clean up your mess

Once the class is over it is time to put your props away. You do not leave your props spread all over the place. You can also be a good neighbour and put your neighbour’s props away for them.

Why clean up after class

Cleaning up your mess after class shows respect for your teacher, the other members of the class and the studio.

Your teacher will be glad that you put your props away. They will be spending less time after the class putting all the props away and cleaning up the practice space before the next class.

Even though you did your best to get all the props that you need before the start of class and you are keeping those near by the unexpected does happen.

Oh no, I need another prop

You may discover during the class that if you had another prop you would be able to do this particular pose better and with greater safety. Now what do you do.

There are a couple of things that you can do when this happens.

— Wait for the teacher to finish their instructions and go get the prop that you need. This will minimize the amount of disruption that you will cause.

— You may be in luck. Your neighbour may have the prop that you need and they may not be using it. Ask them if you can borrow their prop. You never know you may be able to return the favour someday.

Summary

Now, Alice does not feel like she is in the lobby of the train station any more.

Alice is happier now that everyone is getting their props before class starts. The traffic to and from the storage area is almost zero. This is great, Alice is able to focus on her practice much better.

To help Alice and everyone else enjoy their yoga practice there are three things to remember about your props.

1 Plan ahead

2 Do not be a space hog

3 Clean up your mess

Next Step

Be a good neighbour and offer to get the props for the person that is setup beside you while you are getting your own props before the start of class.