The idea of attending a Yoga class – even if it is designed for beginners – may seem daunting, and for very understandable reasons. Unlike most gym classes, Yoga can almost seem pretentious and therefore intimidating – but these are common fears and should not stop you beginning practice. One of the best ways to allay these fears is to learn a little about Yoga etiquette before your first class, so you won’t feel out of place and like the new kid at school.

One of the most important aspects of Yoga etiquette is to be on time. If you are anything over 10 minutes late, most would consider it rude to enter the class and interrupt. It is much better to chalk it up to experience and wait for the next class, rather than disturbing the tranquillity of the class in progress.

Once inside the studio, begin by removing your shoes and turning your cell phone off. If you forget and it does ring, try and own up immediately and turn it off as quickly as possible. This is apparently one of the biggest pet hates for Yoga followers during a class, though, so wherever possible do remember to turn it off before you even enter the room.

Outside of common courtesy, there is etiquette specific to Yoga. During the final relaxation, known as Savasana, it is immensely frustrating for others and even viewed as rude if you leave. Although by this point you may consider the class finished, it isn’t, and you should always observe Savasana and leave only when directed to by your teacher. If you do need to learn early, inform your teacher and take an earlier Savasana, but keep these occasions to a minimum.

At all times, try to respect the tranquillity of the studio and other followers. If you need to use the bathroom, do it only where there are specific rest periods during the class. These are frequent, so you should be able to wait.

Keep these in mind when attending your first Yoga class, and nothing can go wrong.

Yoga is a physical discipline involving body movement and manipulation, with both mental and physical effects. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ and has many different meanings; some of which include of “union”, “control”, “unite”. Yoga is all about building and maintaining physical fitness, but also focuses heavily on improving and cleansing the mind.

Yoga itself has roots in ancient Indian culture but is also one of the most popular in Western culture. It is available at most gyms, with all levels – from complete beginner to extreme advanced – generally available. The beauty of yoga is in the variation, and with over 20 different branches of yoga currently being used, the choices are endless.

The use of yoga can be for many different reasons, and depending on your desired result. There are specialist branches of yoga, each designed to achieve a different goal. This include yoga for mind and body purification (known as Hatha yoga), action yoga (Karma) and energy (Kundalini). Whatever you want to get from yoga, there is a branch specialising in providing just that.

Although it is the more advanced types of yoga that grab media attention, yoga is available to anyone of virtually any physical age or fitness. When you begin practising yoga, you will begin “your practice”. This is used as a description of your own personal experience of yoga and will be tailored to suit your exact needs and requirements. You will go through this with a yoga teacher, known as a Yogi (masculine) or a Yogini (feminine). With your teacher’s help and an open mind, yoga is hugely beneficial for mind, body and soul.