Learning about yoga etiquette is a wonderful way to begin familiarizing yourself with a yoga setting before you’ve even signed up for your first class. Even though you will experience many things you cannot Know before you do it, getting to know a little about the typical Dos and Don’ts of yoga classes and studios can really help you warm up to a group yoga setting.

It’s not that these are hard and fast rules so much as a system of courtesy and common sense geared toward making group yoga classes enjoyable for everyone. The following yoga etiquette guidelines deal with some common issues related to yoga studios and classes.

Remove Shoes

Most yoga studios have a special spot where you can leave your shoes when you enter. In larger yoga studios this may be inside the individual classrooms. Naturally the removal of shoes is for comfort and ease of movement during yoga practice, but the yoga etiquette part has more to do with keeping the floors clean since it will be shared and trodden by many people.

Be Punctual

Try to arrive at least 15 minutes early for a yoga class. This ensures that you have time to prepare and get in place, and helps others stay focused on their own yoga session. If you show up more than 10 minutes into a yoga class, it’s better to wait for the next one than risk disrupting the session for others.

Turn Off Your Cell Phone

I don’t know how many times I’ve been deep into yoga practice only to suddenly hear a neglected cell phone burst into song (er noise). Many of us are so used to having phones on us at all times that we try to be understanding when this happens –and many yoga instructors prefer such outbursts are ignored, but it’s important that we all try to remember to turn off our cell phones before yoga class.

This has happened to me and let me tell you, it can be very embarrassing. For this reason I’ve gotten in the habit of turning of my cell phone as I’m entering the yoga studio.

What if I Have to Use the Bathroom?

This is a natural function and as we all know the need can suddenly strike even though we visited the lavatory before class. It’s perfectly acceptable to leave yoga class when nature calls. Doing your best to leave during a slower resting pose will be less distracting for others, but if you gotta go you gotta go!

For a while when I first started attending yoga classes it seems like every other session I was the person who had to get up and leave to use the bathroom. What I realized was that I was drinking too much water about 30 minutes before class in an attempt to be properly hydrated for yoga class.

While it is a good idea to drink a nice big glass of water shortly before yoga class, as well as after, if you find yourself often having to interrupt class to visit the bathroom, chances are you’re not drinking enough water througout the day.

The body gets accustomed to our usual levels of water intake. If you usually drink only two glasses of water a day and then suddenly camel-up on two or three times as much, a lot of this will pass along a seemingly direct route to your bladder.

Don’t Chew Gum

Chewing gum can be distracting to others, most notably You! Keep your mind free of distraction by not chewing gum during yoga class.

Arrive Clean and Free of Cologne or Perfume

If you have a tendency toward strong body odor (hey, it can get hot in there!) you may wish to apply a deodorant before yoga class. In my personal experience though, I’m not bothered by natural body odor nearly as much as the invasive smell of strong perfume.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the warm and mysterious patchouli aroma of my Black Cashmere perfume, but I also know how distracting and even downright intrusive these synthetic fragrances can be to those with sensitive senses of smell or respiratory issues. Even if you think ‘it’s just a teeny spritz’ there’s a good chance you’ve become used to it and just don’t notice. Better to leave perfumes for after your post yoga class shower.

Peacefully Approach

Many people arrive early to yoga class specifically to unwind and clear their minds before class begins. Even if you arrive very early try not to bustle about making noise. It’s considered good yoga etiquette to speak in a calm and slightly quiet voice as soon as you pass through the front door.