Yoga students of the world . . . thank you so much for your devotion to your practice and for showing up to class consistently and with receptive hearts. The world is a better place because of it. I know that it takes a lot to get to class. We are busy people--jobs, families, obligations--the fact that we make it to class at all shows effort and dedication.
And yet . . .
It’s time we had a little chat about getting to class on time. It’s gotten to be more than an annoyance. It’s a problem. And since I don’t believe in locking the doors at class start time because you did make the effort (although it’s getting tempting!) Last week, in one of the classes I teach, there were 6 students present and ready to practice at the scheduled start time. The class ended up with 20 people in it. There was a full 25 minute difference between the time the first student arrived and the last student arrived. This is just not cool no matter what angle you look at it.
A class is a co-creation between teacher-student, as well as student-student within a boundary of time and space. We work as an organism. Yoga is an individual practice that happens in community, and so respect and etiquette come into play. Yoga isn’t a free for all, do-as-you-please recreational activity. Yoga is a practice, and practices have perimeters, which is also what gives them meaning.
Here’s a little refresher contemplation on Arriving On-Time for Class.
What does “on time” mean?
The scheduled class start time isn't a suggestion.
The class start time isn't the time you arrive at the registration desk.
The class start time isn't the time you cross the threshold to the studio and start putting your stuff away and getting your props.
The class start time isn't the moment you start to move.
"On time" for class means that you are on your mat and completely prepared to begin at the scheduled class start time if not at least 5 minutes before. Belongings stored, phones off, props gathered, sitting on your blanket, ready to start.
Why be on-time?
The hour or 90 minutes that you carved out is your sacred time. Arriving right at the bell or late usually means you arrive anxious and flustered which spills over into your entire practice and is disruptive to the sacred time that others have carved out for themselves.
If your teacher practices grounding, chanting, or contextually setting a theme for the class, you miss or disprupt these practices as they are in process. If you come late specifically to miss these practices, perhaps you've chosen the wrong teacher.
Your body won't get the proper warm-up prior to more rigorous poses.
Being on time respects the yoga tradition, the other students, your teacher, and yourself.
What if I did everything I could (really) to be on your mat and ready to practice at the start time, and I got stuck in traffic, couldn’t find a parking place, etc?
This happens to everyone—teacher’s too. But first, ask yourself the question? Does this happen to me regularly? If so, it is more likely that you haven’t taken into account those probabilities and possibilities in your travel time. Remember, you have to account not just for travel time, but check-in time, changing clothes, preparing your space, etc. You probably want to be at the registration desk no later than 15 minutes before class in order to accomplish that and be ready. Yes. Seriously, I said that.
If you do arrive late and the teacher and students are in grounding practices, sit down in the back of the room quietly and join in the practices. The teacher will help you find a space for your mat at the appropriate time.
If you arrive late and the practice has already begun, first, ask the teacher if it is ok to join. It is possible, if you have arrived too late, that it’s simply not in your best interest to jump right in.
What if I'm just late because I know my teacher always starts late? She doesn't mind?
Honestly, find a new teacher. Teachers who start and end late perpetuate the problem of students arriving late and leaving early. They aren’t setting a clear and affirming boundary that your time matters.
