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Welcome to yoga!
 What can you expect in my yoga class?
You may find the poses challenging either physically, mentally or both. You may feel discomfort as you extend your body and mind in directions you may not do usually. You may feel exerted by the end of class. You may feel sore for a day or two after class. You may be surprised at how good your body feels. You may want to come back!
Wear clothes that are easy to move in but not baggy.
T-shirts and shorts or leggings are better than sweat suits. Bring layers for warmth at the beginning and end of class. Come with an empty stomach (2-4 hours after a meal; 1 hour after a very light snack). Drink water and use the bathroom before and after class (but preferably not during). No noisy jewelry; no perfumes. Bare feet. If you are ill and are contagious, stay home and take care of yourself!
A word about pain:
If you feel pain during a pose, let me know immediately. There may be a correction I can give that will alleviate the pain. Generally, pain is felt in the joints. If you are feeling intense sensations in your muscles and those sensations cease when you come out of the pose, that's a good thing: you're expanding the range of motion of your body. Think of those sensations as 'discomfort,' after which comes growth.
If you have any physical conditions
(such as-but not limited to-high or low blood pressure, diabetes, hypo or hyperthyroid, arthritis, previous accidents and surgeries) that might affect your participation in class, please let me know. If there are any changes to your physical condition during the course of the series, also let me know. Women, when you are mentruating, tell me: certain poses must be adapted or avoided at that time.
"I don't want to practice at home because I'm afraid I'll do it wrong."
This is a common statement made by many students of yoga, regardless of their level of experience. Mr Iyengar says, "Be cautious; be bold!" Practice at home! Pay attention to how you feel. If you are not feeling pain, you are expanding your knowledge of your body and its range of motion. I suggest you keep a notebook of poses: After each class, write down brief instructions for one or two poses. Draw stick figures, if that helps. Make a note of what you remember my saying during class about that pose. Then, practice that pose several times before the next class. By the end of the series, you'll have several poses that you can draw on when you have a few minutes to devote to your home practice. Consider equipping your home space with a minium of props so you may practice at home with the same advantages has you have in class.
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