Practising yoga in the Coimbatore heat
Timing, water and how to adjust your practice from March to May.
Your first class: what to expect
What to wear, when to arrive and what happens in the room.
If you have never been to a yoga studio, the first class can feel like the hardest. Here is exactly what happens at Udal, so nothing is a surprise.
Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. You will fill in a short form about any injuries or health conditions, and meet your teacher. This is the moment to mention a sore back or a recent surgery, and to ask anything you are unsure about. There are showers and lockers if you are coming from or going to work.
Wear something you can move in: a T-shirt and track pants or leggings are fine. You practise barefoot. Eat lightly, and leave at least two hours after a full meal. Bring a water bottle; we provide mats, blocks, straps and towels.
The class starts with a few minutes of sitting and breathing, then gentle warm-ups, standing poses, some floor work and a rest at the end called savasana. Your teacher will show each pose and offer easier versions. Rest whenever you need to; there is no prize for keeping up. Afterwards, you may feel some stiffness the next day. That is normal. Most people find it settles after the second or third class.
