Though there are most likely at least half a dozen yoga studios
and gyms that offer yoga classes in your neighborhood, finding
the one class and the right teacher to suit your needs is not
always easy. Start at the beginning with these steps and when
you have completed all of them you are sure to have located the
best yoga class and teacher combination for your schedule,
location, interest, and temperament.
* What are your choices? The telephone book, the internet,
community newspapers, ad boards at your local health food store
or organic grocery store - all of these are great ways to find
out what is available to you. Spread the word that you're
looking for a good class. Your dental hygienist may turn you
onto a class you've never heard of or your librarian may
moonlight as an instructor on the weekends. You never know until
you start looking.
* When would you like to take your yoga class? Some people
prefer to start their day very early with an energizing yoga
class. Others like to wind down after work with a long, relaxing
class and still others prefer to pop in a 20 minute yoga class
every day during lunch or once a week on Saturday mornings.
Determining when a class will best fit into your schedule will
help you narrow down your choices.
* Which yoga classes are most convenient to you? After you have
chosen the best time for you to take your class, consider where
you will be just before then. Are you coming from home or work?
Do you need something to fill the time while your youngest takes
his gymnastics class and therefore need a class near there?
Finding one that is close to where you are at the time that you
want to take the class will help you maintain an effective,
consistent practice.
* What type of yoga is taught at the schools that are close to
where you want to be when you want to take your class? If you're
a beginner, you may not want to jump into a dynamic Ashtanga
yoga class. If you're more advanced, then a mild Kripalu yoga
course may not be what you're looking for to push your limits.
Call the schools and centers that are left on your list and ask
them to send you a list of classes they have available. From
these, you will be able to see what is available during the time
slots you have open.
* Try them out! Most yoga schools and centers allow you to take
one class without signing up for 10 weeks worth of practice.
Experiment and try out all the classes that interest you. If you
find more than one that appeals to you, maybe you can switch
back and forth. If none are what you're looking for, then go
back to your original list and expand your parameters or see if
there are any yoga schools that you've overlooked. Soon you'll
find the perfect class and the perfect teacher for your yoga
practice.
About the author:
Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino,
California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines
and provides yoga tips on
www.justyoga.info.
