The beginning of my yoga classes begin with a centering. For some classes I have the students gather in a semi-circle, other classes students stay on their yoga mats. During the centering I welcome students, instruct them to sit properly, and talk for about 3-5 minutes to set the the theme and context for the class. This week, my theme was centered around the winter solstice and I talked about the meaning of the solstice and about yoga helps us be present and open to the full spectrum of our lives: lighter more joyful times as well as darker and more challenging times. Following the little talk, I ask students to close their eyes and take a few minutes to feel their breath and I lead a bit of meditation on the theme. This takes 2 or 3 minutes. Then, I invite students to join their palms together over their heart. I’ll say something like this: take a deep breath and soften your skin, soften to those around you in the room, welcoming each other into this space where we can all learn and grow together. Then we breath together and sing the sound of Om three times, in some classes a sanskrit chant is sung after the Oms.
The centering is intended to help students soften and become aware of themselves. My instruction is very intentional during this time, and the instruction to “welcome each other” in particular is intended to help students feel that they are practicing in community, even though most of the time they are alone on their individual mats, and not speaking to others.
Some classes I will have students work with a partner on certain poses. I’ll teach them how to work together and assist one another. For example a simple partner stretch we might do in the warm up would be facing a partner, holding each other’s wrists and then steeping away to get a stretch through the spine and legs. I instructing partners to be sensitive and supportive each other. I find that students seem to enjoy these exercises and they may learn or feel things that are more difficult to experience on their own. Also it will often help to loosen up a uptight group and bring more lightness to the class.
At the end of class, we finish by singing Om again together. After class students sometimes chat in the lobby area or change room. Often students come to classes with friends, and they’ll come and go together. I notice that students that come to classes with friends attend pretty regularly, they have more incentive to show up if a friend is going to wonder why they’re not there.
