Not at all! Yoga is for every body! There are styles that are gentler or stronger and more dynamic but a good teacher should be able to give modifications and build up through layers and options so that differing abilities can find their own level to work at in the same class.

Yoga is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago. It is a system or science of self-enquiry, spiritual growth (if you choose to lean into this part), and mastery over the mental and physical body.  It is not necessary to surrender one’s personal religious beliefs to practice yoga.

Wear stretchy, comfortable clothes you can move in. Try not to eat at least 2 hours before class as it can feel uncomfortable to have food in belly and energy going to digestion when practicing.

Yes! Owning your own yoga mat in is a must. Not only does it give you a comfy surface to practice on, it also gives you peace of mind about the hygiene of the mat. We do lend yoga mats for in person classes, however, owning your own is best! We recommend the Bmat yoga mat. The Loft Community members get 10% of Bmat and Halfmoon products. Order through us!

Ideally, have a pair of blocks and one yoga strap ready. If you are really into yoga having one blanket and even one bolster is absolutely fabulous! Otherwise a thick dictionary and a blanket may do the trick. We recommend Halfmoon props, The Loft Community members get 10% of Bmat and Halfmoon products. Order through us!

 Unless instructed otherwise by your doctor, a smartly taught yoga class may help you alleviate back problems (and many other issues too). Backpain is often caused by stress, the lack of adapted exercise and weakening of the dorsal muscles.

Backpain may also be caused by tight hips from long holds in a sedentary position, also known as office work. The more stress you suffer from, the more tensions and the stiffer the back.

If practiced regularly, yoga helps you reinforcing the back muscles, stretches the spinal column and may even help in severe cases of back problems like sciatica and herniated disks.

Conclusion: attending a yoga class regularly keeping you healthy!

For thousands of years, yoga was reserved to men. Yoga has seen a massive transformation over the past 70 years as today the majority of yoga students are women.

Yoga teaches us to be non-judgmental of others and of ourself. Show your partner a class that he will love. Your teacher will make sure to give your partner a strong workout while practicing mindfully.

All classes offer an intelligently arranged sequencing that keeps your body moving. You need to focus on the moment, on the movement and the proper alignment of the poses.

By doing so, your mind enjoy a meditation in motion.

. If practiced regularly, yoga has proven effective to improve your overall health, as well as offering a heightened state of well-being. Yoga may help you with:

• – eliminate back pain
• – increase flexibility
• – balance mind and body
• – tone muscles
• – improve digestion
• – reduce stress
• – control anxiety and insomnia
• – improve respiratory efficiency
• – improve memory and mental focus

No. The Sanskrit language is old as humanity and mostly used for philosophical texts and liturgical chants (mantras). You will hear sanskrit terms during class, however it will be translated to English.

We begin each class by setting aside all mental distractions and reconnecting with our bodies and breath. This may involve breathing exercises, chanting or meditation, but its key element is focusing and connecting the mind to body via the breath.

Next we begin to gather momentum by warming up and moving into a more vigorous, workout-based portion of the class. Once we’re warmed up we continue through a wide variety of strengthening, stretching and balancing poses for close to an hour, and finish by winding down to about ten minutes of deep relaxation at the end.

A typical class is 60 to 75 minutes long. Vinyasa classes are faster-paced with more strength-based and energetic poses, and Yin Yoga classes slow things down to focus on relaxation and flexibility. Hatha and Sivananda style classes choose a healthy balance. Students are given personal attention and care. Verbal instruction is the primary method of teaching, and it’s supplemented by pose demonstrations and hands-on adjustments. If you’re not comfortable being touched in order to correct or to deepen a pose, please let your teacher know.

A selection of carefully crafted music playlists – from hip-hop and ambient to classical and indie folk – are used to support rather than distract from the yogic flow. The space is beautifully decorated to add to the relaxed and contented feeling. Along with an energizing and relaxing workout, you can expect to meet some wonderful people and have a chance to chat before and after class.

There is some. Please arrive on time for class, and if you must be late, please move quietly and smoothly into place and be still during OM. Mute your mic if you are arriving online. Also, due to limited space and Covid 19 you should reserve your space in class ahead of time.

Some students may be sensitive to strong scents, so please don’t wear perfume or cologne, and try to avoid any more natural bodily odors. Passing gas is not unusual and is understood as part of the improved digestion that yoga brings. 

Please turn your mobile phone off or set it on silent mode during class.

Questions about the practice are welcome – if they’re brief or urgent, feel free to ask during class. We also welcome more in-depth questions that are of general interest at the end of each class. For more specific questions about your personal practice, your yoga teacher will be happy to answer once the class has dispersed, or outside of class times via phone or email.

Finally, always treat your body with respect: do not force yourself into a pose or overstretch. Gradually grow to reach new limits, and listen to your body as it is in this moment, keeping in mind that your abilities may vary from class to class. Try not to compete with others, as yoga is highly individual and the only person worth exceeding is your past self. Some bodies are naturally more suited to yoga, but the people who gain the most are the ones who practice consistently and sincerely

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The best and safest way to establish a sturdy foundation – including the physical fitness and mental knowledge of yoga – is with a good teacher. You can practice online by logging into a live streaming class.  As a beginner or advanced student, your home practice will become an absolutely wonderful way to spend your time; you can let your  teacher guide you from one pose to the next, giving your body what it needs most and enjoying the flow as it happens.

As with any workout program, you’ll be much more consistent when you enjoy the process and see positive results. So take time to appreciate how good it feels, and pay attention to all the benefits you experience. If you can dedicate a small space in your home to practicing yoga, it’ll be easier to set aside your other responsibilities and concerns when you want to focus on your practice. You should also be wary of teachers who encourage you to depend on them for yoga – by not explaining poses fully, or by adjusting you so quickly and forcefully that they’re really doing the poses for you.

More advanced practitioners will have a solid home practice without a teacher, but they’ll come to class to be part of the community, to be guided through a practice rather than having to navigate themselves, to do poses they tend to avoid or forget about, and to learn new ideas and techniques from a more experienced teacher

.This is OK and it happens to others too. Crying on your mat is seen by many as a gift! The body and mind are more closely linked than we realize, so old mental or emotional traumas will have physical reflections – areas of chronic tension in the physical and energetic body. Asanas, especially hip or heart openers, tend to soften or unravel those knots. It’s a very healthy process and a deep detox, that will feel great afterward. But it can be a bit alarming.

So when it happens, stay with your breath. The full yogic “wave” breath is a great tool here. Let yourself relax and soften, and know that it’s a healthy, positive process. The mind can calmly watch, allowing and accepting what’s happening until it’s done. Now if you’re concerned about disturbing others, which is legitimate, you can promise your body to let it out later, you can stay very relaxed so the tears flow out without sobbing, or you can leave to a safer space and let it come on out. We just ask that if you are going to leave that you let us know that you are going to be ok on your way out. Otherwise we will follow you to the bathroom to ensure you are ok and well…… that will just be awkward for both of us

Namaste means “Hello”, or more deeply “My prana (life force) sees your prana”, or “I respect you”, or more deeply “Within you and within me, there is a pure awareness that witnesses our lives with perfect peace and love. When we are both present in that awareness, we are truly alive, truly connected, and truly ourselves.” OM is a universal sound, which might be described as the universe breathing or as the proverbial ‘one hand clapping’. Shanti simply means “peace” and can be spoken with a wish toward happiness and peace for all sentient beings.

Yoga literally means “union.” The practice is designed to unite your mind and body, as well as your spirit, through deep breathing, peaceful meditation, and physical poses that stretch and strengthen the body.

Because both Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are slower-paced practices, they’re often confused and used interchangeably. But they are distinctly different practices that each have different goals.

Yin Yoga is designed to gently affect tissues in the body through compression and stretch. You are meant to feel sensation in a Yin practice. Contrarily, Restorative Yoga targets your nervous system, and specifically, your parasympathetic nervous system (or your “rest-and-digest response”).