Frequently Asked Questions
General
Yoga is for everyone! Whatever your body type or health history, yoga provides tremendous benefits. Yoga develops mental, spiritual and physical health by creating balance in the body, breath and mind. If you are more flexible, yoga can help you develop strength and stability. If you are less flexible, yoga can help increase your range of movement and open constricted areas of the body. Through the practice towards balance, we create a state of equilibrium which allows the mind to penetrate inward and reconnect us with our own inner source.
It can! A commitment to a weekly practice will help you manage your stress, build confidence, strengthen your body, and deepen your awareness. The more you practice, the more results you are likely to see. Some experts say the practice begins to do its greatest work around the 3rd year and your practice gets better with age since the effects of yoga are cumulative. We recommend at least 2 classes a week and our 10 and 20 class packages is designed to support you in your commitment to practice.
The majority of our classes are drop-in, where advanced registration is NOT required. Just drop in the studio about 10 minutes before the scheduled class! Note: we only take cash at the studio. If you want to pay by credit card, please register online in advance.
We recommend trying a few classes (3-4 classes) to find which style and instructor best suits your body and your intention for your yoga practice. There are several styles of yoga. Some styles are fast paced, others vigorous, and others gentle and slow moving. View our class descriptions. If you’re new to yoga, returning to practice after some time away, or wanting to reconnect with the basics of practice, we recommend our Fundamentals of Yoga course. This series will provide a solid foundation for the breath exercises and the asanas and prepare you for Level 1 classes. Check out our class schedule to find out how to register. If you are returning to yoga, or interested in honing your yoga basics, Level 1 is the place for you.
If you are injured or working with a specific issue, private classes will teach you how to work with your specific condition. Privates also allow the opportunity to get one-on-one attention from a highly qualified yoga teacher.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely: t-shirts, leggings, shorts, yoga pants, or athletic apparel. Come hydrated and bring closed-lid water bottle to drink water during and after class. Since yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach, eat lightly and cleanly 2 to 3 hours before class begins. You may also want to bring a small towel. Tell your instructor about any injuries that may require modified poses. Please arrive 15 minutes early for your first class.
Yes, we provide studio mats and mat cleaner. However, if you have or intend to have a regular practice, we recommend you purchase your own mat for health, hygiene, and the good, grounded feeling of rolling out your own mat.
Each yoga style and teacher offers a unique experience. However, every Yoga Among Friends class will relax, challenge, and inspire you. While every teacher has her or his own method, classes begin with the recitation of OM, poses to stretch and warm the body, and create an awareness of the breath (pranayama). Teachers lead the class through a series of postures (asanas), according to the class level. Asanas are usually presented with both more- and less-challenging options that you can choose freely. Some classes use props like straps and blocks to help establish the pose. Class ends with several minutes of final relaxation: savasana. In some cases, teachers invite you to chant OM and participate in a guided meditation.
All Yoga Among Friends “Level 1” classes are designed for people in the first several months of their practice, including those returning to yoga after some time, or those desiring a slower-paced class with the most specific instruction. We choose experienced teachers to teach these classes, as teaching Level 1 requires great skill. All our teachers are friendly, knowledgeable and ready to help. Levels 2 and up are for more experienced practitioners. Learn more about our teachers’ teaching styles and philosophies.
Don’t panic if you’re late! And don’t judge if you came early— lateness happens! It’s a part of life. Please don’t panic and enter the room as quietly as you can. Center yourself and begin when you are ready (maybe a few stretches to open yourself up and prevent injury). If you see someone coming in late, no stink eyes. How would you feel if you really needed a good yoga class and you were late? We want everyone to enjoy his or her yoga, no matter what! Make room for them so they feel welcome and stagger your mats when class is busy.
All modern yoga shares the foundation of the classical Hatha yoga tradition. Each yoga style generally relies on the same basic poses. The variation among styles depends upon how the poses are sequenced, how long they are held, and the vigor of the practice. Give yourself a few weeks and several classes to find the teaching and yoga style that best suits you. Your preferences may evolve over time. View our class descriptions which will describe the various styles.
Our teachers may offer verbal and hands-on adjustments. Adjustments are offered to ensure your safety. An adjustment often makes a pose feel better. Some adjustments help you go deeper into the pose and to connect new neuro -muscular pathways. We respect and understand you may not wish to be physically adjusted or personally addressed in class. If this is your preference, please let your teacher know before class begins.
Many! Yoga is a wonderful counter balance to all forms of athletics and exercise. Many athletes have tight legs, shoulders and backs from repetitive motions. Yoga helps open tight muscles and increase range of movement. Often, athletes will say the greatest benefit they learn in their yoga classes is how to breathe more efficiently. By increasing the capacity of the lungs, you will have more energy for your chosen sport.
More and more professional athletic teams are including yoga in their conditioning training. Just ask the Bears or Tiger Woods!
Studies have shown that people who practice yoga regularly maintain a healthier weight. This is due to the self-awareness that yoga develops. You will become more aware of habits that do not serve you and you will become more aware of your body’s own internal cues. You will be more attuned to when you feel full or hungry. Yogis also tend to make healthier food choices as they are more sensitive to the energetic effects of the foods that they eat.
No, Yoga Among Friends is dedicated to creating a friendly and welcoming space for the practice of yoga. Our teachers are knowledgeable about the history, tradition and philosophy of yoga, but you do not have to be interested in these aspects of yoga to benefit from the practice. We respect that all students practice yoga for their own personal reasons and recognize many practitioners begin yoga for the physical benefits. Should your interest in yogic philosophy grow, we offer many ways to deepen your understanding, including class themes, workshops, intensives, and trainings.
No, but you will want to adapt your practice. We strongly recommend our Prenatal yoga classes for the safest and most beneficial practice for this transformative time in a woman’s life. It is a studio policy that expecting mothers do not attend general classes. Talk with your teacher for guidance. View upcoming including Prenatal yoga series classes.
Note: If you’ve been practicing consistently at Yoga Among Friends and are interested in continuing with your regular class, we strongly advise you to schedule a private yoga session with your teacher to determine whether the class can be adapted to accommodate pregnancy.
Yoga is a healing practice. Deeper breath and mindful movement helps the body recover. Talk with your teacher at the beginning of class about your injury and share any restrictions from your medical care provider. An injury is a learning experience. Take responsibility for your body. Listen and respond when it tells you to take it easy or stop.
Pricing/Subscription Policies
For New Student Special Purchasers
Terms & Conditions
- Includes Unlimited in studio or live Zoom classes for 14-days.
- Series classes and most workshops are excluded from package
- Register in advance for EACH in person studio or live Zoom class & provide an accurate email address for Zoom links
- 14-days begins on date of purchase and expires 14 days after purchase.
- All Sales are final. No extensions, no refunds, no transfers and not shareable.
For Monthly Subscription Purchasers
Terms & Conditions- Subscription includes 5*, 9* or Unlimited* classes at Live Zoom or in person studio classes for 30-days (*number of classes depends on subscription chosen)
- Prenatal yoga, series classes and most workshops are excluded from subscriptions
- Register in advance for each in studio or live Zoom class and provide an accurate email address for Zoom links
- 30-days begins on date of purchase
- Automated payments are made every 30 days and will charge the credit card on file
- Change subscription or cancel anytime BEFORE your next payment. Prorated refunds will not be honored.
- No extensions, no refunds or no transfers. All sales are final.
- No rollover on classes. Any unused classes will expire at the end of your billing cycle.
For Gift Certificate Purchasers
Terms & Conditions
- Includes 1*, 5*, 9* in studio or Zoom classes (*number of classes depends on gift certificate chosen)
- Series classes and most workshops are excluded from package
- Register in advance for each in studio or live Zoom class and provide an accurate email address for Zoom links
- 30-days begin on date of purchase and expires 30 days after purchase (unless stated otherwise)
- All Sales are final. No extensions, no refunds or no transfers.
- Any unused classes will be forfeited upon the expiration date.
Reserving Classes after Purchase (For All Purchases)
- After purchase, you will receive a Purchase Receipt email confirming your purchase. On the Purchase Receipt, there is an 8-character Certificate Code. HANG ON TO THIS CODE! You will need to enter the Certificate Code EACH time you go to register for Studio or Zoom classes.
- Please add scheduling@squarespacescheduling.com and scheduling@acuityscheduling.com to your contacts/address book to help avoid emails going to a spam or junk folder.