What to expect from a yoga class

Yoga classes last an hour and a half. They consist of yoga poses (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation or relaxation.

- You can expect to be properly guided into the postures, with the correct alignment that will give you the feeling of effort, but not pain.

- The teacher needs to be very present, alert and gentle. It is important that you listen to the guidance, and most of all to listen to the guiding voice inside you - your body tells you when to take a break, when to rest, how far to go in the pose etc. The teacher always reminds the students to "listen" to their body, to take the feelings inside their bodies seriously, and to respect where their body IS, not where their mind possibly suggests that it should be.

There are many different types of yoga and many different styles within each type. In Athens Yoga Studio, at the end of a session there is always enough space for grounding the body and quieting the mind.

- Warming up, sun salutations and various asanas altogether last a bit over an hour.

- Then follow pranayama - breathing techniques that control and direct prana (the life energy) and meditation.

- Finally, there is Yoga Nidra - deep relaxation from the supine position. This relaxation contains also meditation and visualisations.

To choose a class level for yourself you will need to talk to the teacher, and together you will take into account:

- your experience with yoga

- your body condition- strengths and weaknesses

- your history of sports and activities

- your capacity to resist wanting to “push” your body over the limits

If you are new to yoga, then regardless of the last two, you will need to attend the first level for some time. This ensures that you learn:

- inward attention,

- principles of alignment

- breathings skills

in the more simple postures first, and to acquire a firm base that you will carry to your more advanced practice later.

Primary for a yoga class is to remember that - although it may seem like you are "working" with your body - this is not hard work. You come to class to lighten your body and mind, to experience physical and mental openings. Thus, it is essential to enjoy this process, and not take it as an all-too-serious matter of personal accomplishment or failure. See every asana as an opportunity to gain valuable insights about your body, mind and spirit, ie. about your infinite inner world.