Some helpful things to know when attending yoga with Sylvia.

Updated January 2023.

Hi, I’m Sylvia, your yoga teacher. I have been teaching yoga close to 20 years and I am also a Mindfulness Teacher teaching MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). I have a Masters of Science and enjoy sharing snippets of science with you, interesting things about the body mind connection that might help us gain a more understanding and therefore a fresh view of things.

The yoga instructions I give you are invitational, I make suggestions and you move your body in a way that feels right for you. I will never call you out on anything, I will never ask you to do anything you don’t want to. I will always be supportive if you need to make modifications to how you move. My classes are for everyone. Thank you for considering my yoga classes, it is a huge honor for me to teach what I love.

All of the yoga classes are mixed ability. Typically at one of my classes you will find someone new to yoga, someone who is doing yoga a little while and ‘getting it’, someone who is doing yoga a long time and still learning, someone who is just back to yoga after a break. Old and young, with injury and without injury, a cross-section of humanity. Yoga is for everyone. With yoga we show up as we are, it’s not competitive.

As newcomers to yoga we often compare ourselves to others. We can feel inadequate and feel that we are somehow not ‘doing it right’ or ‘not good enough’. Don’t worry, that’s normal, many of us feel that. So step one is nice and easy, there is no judge. You are just fine the way you are and nobody’s looking at you anyway. Don’t criticise yourself (or others), do your best, and don’t worry about how you look. Wear warm, comfortable clothing you can layer.

There are many options available to newcomers to yoga. Some do a specific ‘Yoga for Beginners’ course or a beginner’s workshop. Google search your nearest studio for further information. As a former Yoga Hub teacher-trainer I have trained hundreds of yoga teachers over the years and can happily recommend the Yoga Hub teachers. However, Dublin is full of amazing teachers so I highly recommend finding a teacher that suits you timewise and location-wise. Keep it as easy as possible on yourself.

Many, if not most, newcomers to yoga just come along to a class to give it a go. If you have no injuries or limitations (e.g. high blood pressure, a recovering injury, a pregnancy currently or in the recent past) this is fine. Accept that you won’t do it perfectly straight away; go with an open mind. If you have a limitation or an injury get your doctor’s approval first and then chat to your teacher about whether or not the class would be suitable for you. Often, with a little bit of common sense, it will be. If you’d prefer to try your first yoga class from home you can sign up for live online yoga or try a pre-recorded yoga class suitable for beginners.

Yoga is union. Union of breath and moment, union of mind and body, union of effort and surrender. Your first class might be different to what you expect. It will possibly be harder (I teach people to be strong) and more relaxing (we meditate from the moment you take your first breath) than you had expected. Learning more about ourselves and what makes us tick is one of the many benefits of a yoga practice. It’s slow, it’s subtle but it’s profound.

Wear loose comfortable clothing. Yoga is typically done barefoot. Don’t worry if you don’t have perfect feet, nobody will care … it’s also fine to keep socks on if you prefer. It’s nice to put the effort into being well prepared with fresh, comfortable clothing you feel at home in. I like to think of going to yoga a bit like going on a date with myself, I make a bit of effort to show up clean and fresh in clothes I like.

Please bring a yoga mat (let me know in advance if you need to borrow one) and a small blanket you can sit on, or use as padding under your knee or your head, or throw over you for final relaxation. Yoga mats can be purchased in any sports shop, luxury mats such as Manduka can be purchased online, the cheaper ones tend to be a bit slippy. Buy your throw / blanket in Pennys! Bring warm layers for relaxation, a sweatshirt or hoodie, cosy socks, maybe an eye pillow to block out the light.

Take is easy and listen to your body. The teacher is like the waiter at a huge buffet, showing you the table full of choices. You are the discerning customer, choosing what suits you. Listen to your body. Listen to your breath. If it feels wrong or too hard, don’t push it. If you are gasping for breath, slow down. Staying in touch with the breath is what we, as yogis, do. But don’t worry if you don’t ‘get’ the breath straight away, just move and follow the class and the breath will come. Simply listen without trying too hard. It will just happen. And when it does, it feels great. Above all else, as you move through your yoga practice, it should feel good. With practice and consistent effort your entire yoga practice might become a moving meditation.

Typically we will move slowly to start, combining breath and movement. Then we might flow through some sun salutations and standing poses and you may find your transitions between poses are slow and awkward the first time, that’s normal. With time you will flow with ease and grace and fluidity, even if you aren’t doing everything perfectly. Towards the latter end of the class we might explore a peak pose, an advanced yoga pose. You can try it, you can watch, you can go a few stages into it; you will be given instructions and guidance on what to do at any given moment. Have fun, be adventurous and playful if you feel like it, but above all else use common sense and keep yourself safe.

Finally we relax; usually for about 5 minutes. Often the relief that the class is over is enough to enable you to take a deep sigh and lie down and just rest! If not I might guide you on where to take your thoughts as your body relaxes more and more with each exhale. Sometimes during the relaxation phase I might talk you through a longer guided relaxation practice. Sometimes there might be music, sometimes silence.

If you have any questions. observations or feedback please do chat to me after class or get in touch by email. I love feedback, requests and questions.

My weekend and evening workshops have the same ethos, everyone is welcome, beginners are always welcome. MBSR courses run in Mutton Lane, suitable for everyone.

Please feel free to drop me an email here. Some of my courses are full and have a waiting list so if you’re not sure please check first. Classes, workshops and yoga retreats in beautiful locations are detailed on my website and announced on my Facebook page, Sylvia’s yoga. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you soon on the mat. Imperfect and simply showing up. Just like me!

Namaste.
“When I am in the place in me where I am truly me, and you are in the place in you where you are truly you, there is only one of us.”