New students

Congratulations! You are about to embark on a journey that will change your life. As with anything new, please be compassionate with yourself. Let go of the expectation that you’ll “get” everything on day one—even the most experienced students are always learning. There is no “right” way to practice yoga, so come with an open mind, expect to have fun, and focus on breathing, sweating, and moving. You did the hard work of just showing up, and all of us at SLPY are here to support your growth!

You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga! You only need to be open to new possibilities. Focus on breath and movement, and honor where you are today. Every individual body is different, so come learn about and develop yours.

If you’re new to practicing yoga (and/or to HOT Power Vinyasa Yoga), there is great benefit to completing 10-15 classes in 30 days. This will give you a solid physical and intellectual base from which to grow. Consistency is key when it comes to increasing energy, decreasing stress, and building a strong, pain-free body. Practicing 2-3 days per week—every week—will transform the way you think and feel about yourself and others.

Our studio is HOT. Expect classes to be held at a reasonable 85-95 degrees, and wear clothes that you feel comfortable sweating in. Dress lightly in synthetic materials, as 100% cotton will soak up sweat and become heavy. We always like to have a dry change of clothes for after class.

If you are new, set your mat up in the back of the studio so you can follow the people in front of and around you. Seeing what’s possible in other bodies in the room is a great way to find inspiration to grow your own practice! If you get lost or need to take a break, just drop into child’s pose until you feel ready to proceed.

You will need a yoga mat, towel, and a bottle of water. If you do not have these, no worries, we rent mats and towels.

It is best to practice on a mostly empty stomach. Avoid heavy meals two hours before class, and stick to light snacks like fruit, yogurt, and/or energy bars.

Good options for rehydrating include coconut water, Gatorade, or other fluids containing added electrolytes in addition to plain water.

Try bending glass and it will shatter. Add different amounts of heat and you can mold it into any desired shape. The human body responds to moderate heat in much the same way. The heat is a natural way to help  your muscles relax and it also may help prevent injury. Not sure about the whole sweat thing? The act of sweating is incredibly detoxifying! You’ll grow to love it!

HOT Power Vinyasa Yoga has the capacity to transform your whole body, mind, and spirit. If you combine a regular SLPY practice with healthy eating habits and other self-care practices, you may lose weight and/or build muscle—it just depends on what shift needs to take place in your body to bring it back to its most natural state.

As with any exercise program, good rules of thumb are to 1) check with your physician and 2) listen to your own body for signs of injury or overwork.

OM is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of some yoga practices. Some say it is the sound made by the universe. If that seems a little overwhelming, try chanting “a-um” and let the power of sound and vibration start to warm your body from the inside out. It may feel strange at first, but over time you may find yourself looking forward to those meditative moments of harmonizing voices—not just because it honors the end of your yoga practice but also because it can leave you with a sense of connection with other students in the class.