online yoga forum

I went with a friend of mine to try out ashtanga yoga for the first time. I noticed on the wall in the changing rooms a list of 'yoga school rules' and while I was waiting for them to change I had a read of them.

Firstly I don't know about you, but I don't really react well to the words 'rules' particularly in the yoga context. Aren't we supposed to relax and tune in to ourselves, rather than do what someone tells us to do? Somehow it seems to me a bit hard/strong?

The rules were things like 'do not wear shoes in the studio (ok fair enough), but then things like 'you are not allowed to eat before taking a class', if you know you are going to be late, then you won't be allowed in'. All the things they spoke about where valid, but it was the way they were written. The tone was very blunt, not very friendly and a bit accusatory! It really set the tone of the studio for me, and to be honest I didn't have a very good experience at all.

I'm always a fan of asking people nicely... what ever it is. only if they don't respond to niceness do I get blunt.

I also think yoga etiquette would be better than yoga 'rules.

but maybe, like me, they didn't know how to spell etiquette... only they didn't have google there to tell them.

just seems to me the tone of that posting wasn't very friendly or open.

heck, don't call them etiquette or rules. just hang up a sign that says " we suggest no eating before class" and another that says "no shoes in the studio please" would be better.

Yeh it sounds to me like the person who wrote this didn't have english as their first language. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt...maybe they were just doing their best but it came out wrong???