We recommend that you begin with a 5 ($70) or 10 ($125) class card.  This allows you to try a few classes to make sure you are ready to make a longer commitment to your practice. After you use up your class card, you can then decide if you're ready for a 3 month intensive introduction to yoga via our Intro Membership ($165) which gives you unlimited classes for three months.  

All of our cards can be used for all yoga and Pilates classes at all locations. It's important to find classes you enjoy and that work well with your schedule. Then you'll be more likely to stick with your yoga program.  Like any other form of exercise, you should attend regularly - a minimum of 3 days a week for best results.

After your three month intro is up, you are ready to make a decision about the kind of membership that will help you to work toward your goals for your practice. If you attend more than once a week, the best option is our regular monthly membership by auto debit from your checking account.  If you only attend once a week, the 10 class card will probably make more sense.

Talk to any of our teachers if you have questions about yoga or your practice. We are here to help you get the most from your classes!  You can also phone me if you have questions. I look forward to having you in class!

--Laura Spaulding
President
(502) 585-9642

Information for New Students

To Register for Classes: 
Don't phone ahead to register. We don't take reservations or advance registrations. We expect you to register in person at the studio when you attend your first class.  Arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out the registration form and pay. Classes start promptly at the time indicated on the class schedule so please come early to register. The teacher will not stop class to register you, and you cannot participate in our classes unless you register.

Information on this page is intended to be helpful information about yoga and not medical advice or a substitute for medical advice. If you have questions about whether yoga practice is appropriate for you or your specific condition, you should consult a qualified medical practitioner. 

If you've never done yoga, or never done yoga at Yoga East, we recommend you start with a Beginning Class Level G, 1 or 1-2.  If you have injuries or physical restrictions, you should limit yourself to Gentle Yoga classes.  

Newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga are welcome at all Mysore-Style Ashtanga classes (Monday-Thursday at Kentucky Street).  We recommend you have a well-established practice before trying an Ashtanga 2-3 class. See our Ashtanga page for more information.  

Intermediate (Level 2- 3) classes and Ashtanga (Level 2-3) classes are for more experienced students.

What class is best if I’m mostly looking for relaxation and stress reduction?

Do you offer "hot yoga" classes?

We teach no classes in high heat, and the use of high heat in yoga and other exercise classes is controversial.  An appropriate yoga program will create a gradual warm-up before stretching.  A well-trained, well-conditioned yogi or athlete learns how to move and stretch without relying on an external heat source.  Using heat can prevent students from learning how to stretch correctly and cause dependence on heat. One of the main purposes of yoga practice is to learn how to overcome the resistance of the nervous system and relax muscles using awareness, not heat.  Some hot studios say high heat duplicates the hot conditions of India, but in our experience, yoga classes in India are done in the cool of the morning.  There is no proven medical benefit from doing yoga or any other exercise in high heat, and high heat can be dangerous for some individuals. The claim that high heat or sweating "detoxes" the body has no medical foundation.

What class is best for my back injury?

What happens in a private lesson?

Private lessons give individual instruction. Some lessons focus on toning and conditioning and others are for students with conditions or injuries.  Not all students should attend a group yoga class. Students with a serious illness or injury such as  paralysis, stroke, active pain, unhealed rotator cuff tear, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, or swollen joints should not attend a regular group yoga class. Private instruction with a trained yoga teacher may be more appropriate.  Our teachers are trained to modify yoga postures for many different conditions.

Private lessons for conditioning and toning are a great way to learn and practice yoga if your schedule does not permit you to attend regular classes or if you want the benefits and privacy of one-on-one instruction. 

In a private lesson, a certified teacher can:

-  Assess your abilities
-  Prescribe a safe and precise yoga program to regain and increase strength and flexibility
-  Observe and monitor your progress and make corrections and adjustments.

Please contact the teacher of your choice for private lessons. 

What is yoga teacher certification?

There are no uniform standards in the U.S. for yoga teacher certification although various organizations such as the  Yoga Alliance^® (www.yogaalliance.org) are seeking to create more uniformity in yoga teacher training standards. Yoga Alliance^® registers both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs (schools) who have complied with minimum educational standards established by the organization.  The Yoga Alliance does not "certify" yoga teachers or "approve" yoga teacher training programs. It simply provides a registry of schools that have established programs that meet their hourly standards. The Yoga Alliance website contains helpful information including some guidelines for selecting a teacher training that is right for you. 

Some yoga teachers are in favor of uniform standards, and other teachers are skeptical about the standards being proposed.  The Washington Post, in an article last year, suggested that students ask their teacher how long he or she has been teaching, ask how the teacher was trained, and make sure the yoga teacher actually has a personal yoga practice.

Currently, certifications are given by teachers or schools according to their own standards.  Some programs claiming to provide yoga certification are as short as one weekend.  Established teachers often refer to these programs as "drive-by" certifications.   Reputable yoga studios, including us, will not hire teachers with inadequate training.  Yoga East intern teachers have 200 hours of training including CPR and first aid. "Yoga East Certified" teachers must do additional study and pass written, teaching and performance exams.  Not all students who complete our training program receive certification.  Teachers who are not certified are encouraged to continue to study and take the exams again.

I'm interested in becoming a yoga teacher. What do you recommend?

If you have at least two years of Ashtanga, Anusara or Iyengar yoga experience and a desire to share your love of yoga with others, you may be eligible to join our teacher training program. We recommend that you take classes with us and establish a mentor relationship with a Yoga East teacher before you consider our teacher training program. 

Go to our Teacher Training Page for more information.

Does Yoga East offer classes at corporate locations?

Yoga can benefit you, your company, and employees. We can provide a qualified, certified yoga instructor or yoga program for your fitness facility, hospital, physician, physical therapy or chiropractic office, church or school. Click here for more information.

Recently my shoulders have been getting sore. Am I doing something wrong?

Improper form in Caturanga Dandasana (a plank pose similar to a push-up pose), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), poor posture or repetitive stress can cause bursitis or tendonitis of the shoulder. It's very important to ask your teacher about any soreness that doesn't go away after a few days. The teacher will probably want to watch you do some postures and check your alignment and form. If you're working on lifting up and jumping back in Ashtanga, you might consider cutting back for a few days or until your condition improves.

In Caturanga Dandasana, the elbows should be at the level of the ribs, not above your back, the chest should be lifted and eyes looking forward. Tuck the tailbone and lift the waist. Make sure the buttocks are even with the line of the back, not sticking up.

In Downward Facing Dog, make sure the hands are shoulder width apart (or slightly wider), fingers spread, palms flat and index or middle fingers point forward. Shoulder blades should be spread and drawn toward the waist.

As always, if your condition does not improve or gets worse, you should consult your medical practitioner.

My hamstring muscles are persistently sore. What's should I do?

This may be tendonitis at the origin of the hamstring muscles.  It usually occurs in intermediate level students who are flexible. It means you are doing forward bends or Downward Facing Dog with the pelvis excessively tilted forward and the sit bones pulled up. To correct it and get a stronger forward bend, tuck the tailbone slightly, and soften the backs of the knees. Activate the bandhas by toning the lower abdominals and strongly contract the flexor muscles (quads and psoas) at the front of the thigh. To activate the flexor muscles, do a forward bend. Make fists, flex the biceps and growl at your feet.  I call this "Incredible Hulk Yoga", for lack of a better term, and it helps to deepen your forward bend by activating the hip flexors. The hamstrings will release if the opposing muscles are activated.  

In Downward Facing Dog, tuck the tailbone slightly, soften the backs of the knees, and lift the navel up one inch to slightly round your back.  Once you begin doing postures correctly, the soreness should disappear in about two weeks and your forward bends will improve. As always, if your condition does not improve or gets worse, you should consult your medical practitioner.

My doctor or podiatrist has instructed me to wear shoes to exercise classes. What should I do?

You should consult with your doctor and ask if you can remove your shoes for the short period of time you are doing yoga. Our experience with students has shown that yoga in bare feet has important benefits for the feet and will improve conditions such as plantar fasciitis. However, if you must wear shoes, you must bring a clean pair of shoes that has not been worn out of doors and you must limit your practice to hatha or gentle classes. You will not be permitted to attend any Ashtanga yoga classes in shoes.