Studio Etiquette

If you are ready to join a group in person you’ll want to head over to the Classes page and check out whats on the menu. Choose a class that fits your level of experience and interest and then purchase a single class, package, or membership through our booking platform, Kenko. Our booking system Kenko has a free app for your mobile device, Apple or Android to make it super fast and easy to sign up and keep track of your classes and payments.

Most classes are pre and post natal friendly, all teachers are well versed in prenatal yoga and can support you to be comfortable throughout each class. Private sessions are also available for those who prefer privacy over a group practice, for those going through big life events or transitions or recovering from an injury or surgery. Sometimes private sessions are really beneficial to gain extra skills and confidence before joining the groups. If you have never done yoga you’ll want to look for beginner friendly/all level classes.

You’ll want to have your own yoga mat and bring it. We have a couple of loaners here but strongly encourage you remember to bring your mat, for lots of reasons: germ theory being number one, your yoga mat is your personal space, arriving with it is showing up ready for practice and the first step in mindfulness. You can’t drive your car without the key, your yoga mat is the same thing! Because we have such few loaners it’s helpful to the community when you bring your own. Reminder not to walk on each others yoga mats, this is where they place their face and hands and is for all intensive purposes, sacred space. 

Stretchy pants or shorts, t-shirts or tank tops, we always encourage wearing layers as body temperature will fluctuate depending on the practice. The athleisure wear options out there are really adaptive, there are lots of great options! It doesn’t matter here how much you paid for your pants, we aren’t focused on that, wearing pants and being comfortable is more important than name brands. The real “status” of how “great a yogi you are” is how kindly you treat others and your own body and heart, the clothes are fun and functional but the real yoga happens on the inside. We typically practice barefoot to encourage strengthening proprioception in the feet and prevent slipping, but not everyone likes their feet bare. Socks with the grips on the bottom can be helpful for those who prefer it.

You can bring water or tea into the studio, we have a water filter here as well. We do not allow coffee in because if it spills, it will smell like Starbucks forever - we are coffee lovers, just not in the classroom! We have had some diabetic participants over the years and if you have a blood sugar/pressure or health concern please let the teacher know and by all means keep your glucose tabs or support nourishment near your mat.

For those who want to try the classes and not ready to be in person or live far or can’t make the drive to Newtown, we do have an online app called Peace on Demand®, you can live stream any of the weekly classes with Aline. In addition to the live streams, you can enjoy the recordings and a host of other offerings on there including nature and visual videos that include binaural beats, solfeggio frequencies, meditations for sleep, resources for mental health support, videos for how to prevent and care for yourself during anxiety or depressive episodes, along with anatomy education and more. The Peace on Demand® app is a separate subscription and not included with the in person classes. iption

After the whole pandemic “experience”, we are all at this point well versed in considering others wellbeing and have a solid sick protocol. If you are sick in any capacity please stay home, or if you have the Peace on Demand® app you can join us online. We are mask optional, sometimes seasonal allergies or the beginning of a cold are difficult to discern, if you aren’t sure wear a mask or stay home, If you have been exposed to Covid-19, the Flu, RSV, Norovirus, Measles, or any other highly contagious virus or pathogen, please stay home, take good care of yourself and let us know. Yoga is here for you when you are healthy to return to classes and are past the sick/acute phase. Your class passes can always have expirations extended and memberships can be put on temporary hold if applicable. Got that cough that won’t go away, please consider joining us online or staying home until you feel better.

As a modern, Western yoga studio, we are as neutral as we can be while at the same time honoring the roots of the practice as best we can. We do not burn incense, however on occasion we might share an Aum at the end of a class. Invitational to join or pass. The heart of yoga is Love. You can be of any religion or no religion, from any background or belief and enjoy these exercises. Yoga helps you be a better human, whatever your beliefs are this practice supports you. A lot of folks come to yoga class and then go to their religious or spiritual affiliation after! For some people yoga practice is part of their connection to some form of private or personal spiritual beliefs, for others it’s just fancy stretching or a workout, we honor where everyone is coming from. The heart of yoga is help you feel more comfortable in your body, and more present in your life. The asana practice itself has been empirically proven to enhance cognitive function, lower blood pressure, lower stress responses and builds strength in the muscular and respiratory system. The physical movements also builds the neural pathways for increased empathy for self and others and sometimes even pours over to compassion which is at the heart of most belief practices. You can have any belief system and enjoy the body focused benefits of yoga. We keep things simple here and our ultimate goal is that all backgrounds are respected, and that everyone feels safe to be who they are.

A few, yes!

1. Classes start exactly on time and doors lock at the start of class - we do enforce this for physical and psychological safety for everyone. Do your best to allow for extra travel time to arrive a few minutes early. If. you know you are going to be late, email the studio as soon as you can so we can look out for you.

2. We don’t walk on each others mats for germ theory and to respect each others personal space.

3. As best you can respect each others privacy and personal levels of engagement.We are a super chatty, bubbly studio! Please know that if someone doesn’t want to talk or engage, it’s not personal and equally you are not obliged to talk if you need some down time .

4. No photos or videos during practice, in general and definitely not of other participants without their permission. Privacy is the last frontier, let’s respect it.

5. No heavy perfumes/colognes or essential oils, we have folks with asthma and respiratory conditions and heavy scents can make it hard to breathe.

6. No soliciting. People are coming here for reprieve from solicitation. Take it outside. Do not ask host essential oil workshops.

7. Cellphones and smart watches on do not disturb, airplane mode or off. If your device goes off, own it and shut it down, everyone is always grateful - no shade. If you are on call or a parent/caregiver that needs to have your phone close by tell the teacher so we can support you if you need to take an emergency call off the mat.

8. Hygiene: we are sharing air and space. Out of personal respect and respect for others, please come to class as clean and scent free as you possibly can, this includes using deodorant when applicable.

Two parts:

1. Please use Common Sense Wisdom on the mat. You are not obligated to participate in any activity you are not comfortable with. The most “ advanced” yoga is knowing when you back off, or when to engage and that is what we practice here. You have a right to let the teacher know if you do not want to be touched. Typically our teachers do not adjust or walk around but you need to know you have a voice, whether it’s here or at another yoga studio. You have a right to honor your body and personal space. Lastly, if any activity doesn't feel good, don't do it! Everyone still gets Savasana and gets all the yoga brownie points. The most important thing is that you feel safe, comfortable and heard, welcome and included.

2. Keeping each other safe. This might look like taking extra care crossing the street, holding doors open for each other, taking turns collecting yoga gear for class, being kind, smiling when if feels authentic too, refraining from saying harsh comments if you are not in a good mood. Equally, respecting each others quiet if someone does not want to engage in conversation. Please refrain from bringing up politics, in a world of division, we strive to cultivate the culture of togetherness and mutual respect for personal belief systems. The studio is neutral turf, we hold space for everyone to find a safe space to practice peace regardless of political affiliation, gender, economic status, skin color, or any other outside world ridiculous discriminatory practice. We are human first and foremost and everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity.

3. Basically said: “ Be groovy or leave man” - Bob Dylan.

4. Studio mantra “ We are all walking each other home.” - Ram Dass