Frequently Asked Questions: Classes

Who can join yogasana classes? I am not flexible!

Absolutely anyone can join the classes, irrespective of any social attributes of colour creed persuation or beliefs. You do not need to have any prior experience in Yogasana. Students who have learnt yogasana from other schools of teaching methods are also welcome!

A flexible body is NOT necessary for yogasana. Nor is yogasana only for the young. Any age, and any body type can join, and get the benefits of yogasana with sincerity and dedication. One of the unique aspects of the Iyengar way of teaching is to use props to support and help the students perform and learn the asana the correct way.

Is yoga a "Hindu" subject?

Yoga was born in ancient India. The domain is called Yogashastra, which means science of yoga.
Yogasana - a subset of this science, has no ritualistic practices in them. Sanskrit was the language of ancient India, so, one does encounter many Sanskrit words.
All Iyengar teachers are missioned to ensure that there is no preaching of any kind in the class.
Please feel free to contact Anjani if you have specific concerns about this topic. 

What benefits will I get from yogasana?

Yogasana learnt and practiced consistently, will bring good health, and greater awareness in your body - thus influencing your general posture and body language - and most importantly a calmness of mind, and skills to relax both body and brain.
Caution! Yogasana is not about building muscle mass, or loosing weight. It is primarily about tuning your physical, sensory, nervine, emotional and psychological systems.
Many health issues are addressed through Iyengar methods - but only some teachers have been missioned by Guruji or through the RIMYI, to conduct Restorative classes. Anjani is one of them.

I have never done yogasana, can I join your classes?

Yes you can!
The classes are on going sessions, and students with varying levels of  yogasana practice attend the classes. The Iyengar way of teaching emphasises learning more than teaching. The students are continuously learning to refine their asana, and they learn about their own bodies, awareness within, and the subtler aspects of the effects of the asana on their minds and body.

All levels of students learn together, according to their own readiness to progress their learning.

How do I join a class?

If you are a healthy person joining the class to learn yogasana and gain the benefits to your health, you simply need to register on this site (click here). Please let Anjani know through e-mail, when you wish to come for the first class, so that she may chat with you a bit before the class.

If you want to address a specific health problem, contact Anjani by e-mail, giving your phone number, and she will discuss your situation, and decide whether yogasana can help, and at what point you should start the class, and whether it will be the Restorative one or the Regular one. Once this is decided, you would need to register at this site before the first class.

What type of yoga do you teach? Is Iyengar Yoga a different type of yoga?

I teach Iyengar Yoga.

It is not really a type of yoga, but a method of teaching and learning yoga, developed by our Guruji - the late Yogacharya Shri B K S Iyengar.

To know more, click here.  

What happens in a class?

The class begins on the dot with invocations to Sage Patanjali and to the guru.
Normally, all students join the recitation, however, you are free to stay silent.
The class continues with whichever set or sequence or group of asana the teacher has planned. The treatment would vary from a deep dive of just a few asana or movements, to a broader coverage.
Each student must follow the instructions closely, and keep pace with the class, as best as they can.
Props are used extensively to help students understand the asana fully, or to enable specific movements.
The class is of 1.5 hours duration.

At the end, students perform their own administrative tasks, and mark their sessions attended or pay the dues as relevant.

What do we need to do Before a class?

There is no physical exercise or warmup that is needed before a class.
However, you should not eat or drink at least 2 hours before a class. A sip or two of water is OK. And of course flush your buffers before the class.
You do need to bring your own equipment kit to class, consisting of a yoga mat, 2 blankets, 2 wooden bricks/blocks and 2 belts.

what are the guidelines during a class?

You should not be drinking anything during the class.
Please wear comfortable exercise worthy clothes. Not too loose, not too tight. Clothes should be of a sober nature and maintain the dignity and modesty of the class.
Avoid wearing jewellery, hair ornaments etc., no socks as well.
Students must inform the teacher of any health situation like injury, or illness, including menstruation before the class starts.
All phones and beeping devices have to be turned off before the class begins.

Can I come for a trial class before deciding to start?

I do not offer “trial” class.

I believe that one needs to experience yogasana to get even a glimmer of the subject, and that a single class may well create an incorrect impression. I follow a weekly sequence that Guruji defined and followed: standing asan’s, forward bends and twistings, inversions and back bends, and pranayam. I strongly recommend that one should go through at least one such cycle, to get a feel of Iyengar yoga, though a longer exposure - about 3 months - would be a more balanced input to assessing if Iyengar Yoga is for you.

Yogasana must be experienced to understand the subject, hence, one can not come to "watch" a class, one must attend!