Yoga Student Guidelines

In Accordance with the Yoga Sutras

1. Amihsa: non-harming/non-violence

Practice: Compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love and respect, respect all sentient beings.

2. Satya: truthfulness

Practice: honesty, owning your feelings, loving communication, assertiveness when needed, giving and receive constructive feedback, forgiveness, non-judging, letting go of masks, false posturing.

3. Asteya: non-stealing of time or property

Practice: arriving to class with ample time to set up and settle in, use & care for mats & props correctly. Cultivate sense of completeness, self-sufficiency, let go of cravings.

4. Brahmacharya: energy moderation

Practice: listening to your body & doing what it needs. Know your limits & set energetic boundaries for yourself. From this space, create vitality & productive energy.

5. Aparigraha: non-attachment/non-greed

Practice: practicing yoga in your own body without comparing yourself to others, allowing your movements & breathing to let prana (life force) move through you. As the prana circulates through your body, it will burn through stored emotions, false-beliefs and fears.

6. Saucha: purity/cleanliness

Practice: evenness of mind, thoughts, speech & critical discernment. Purity of body, cleanliness, good health habits, a clear and orderly environment. Refrain from wearing perfume or scent as some people have allergies.

7. Santosha: contentment

Practice: gratitude and joyfulness; remain calm with success or failure. This state of mind does not depend on any external status.

8. Tapas: right effort

Practice: determination to pursue daily practices, making sacrifices as necessary, enthusiasm for the spiritual path. Joyfulness with outer discipline will lead to inner discipline.

9. Svadhyaya: self-study

Practice: self-observation & reflection, meditation, wanting to know the Truth.

10. Ishvara Pranidhana: dedication to the Highest

Practice: faith, dedication, sincerity, and patience to transcend the ego, which is so resistant to surrender.