FAQs–what to expect in a class

what to expect in boundless classes:

• knowledgeable instructors who deliver clear, precise instructions, appropriate visual demonstrations, and proper hands-on adjustments in addition to their energy, encouragement, and kindness.
• a full spectrum of classes from gentle to rigorous, but all with an emphasis on aligning, strengthening, and bringing into balance both the physical and the energetic body.
• caring and qualified healers to assist you in your quest for mind/body wellness in the yoga classroom and beyond: thai yoga massage, herbalism, cranio-sacral treatment, energy work, and private or semi-private asana sessions.

common questions with boundless answers!

what should i wear to yoga?

wear whatever you feel comfortable doing yoga in. most people wear tank tops or t-shirts, and lycra yoga pants, sweatpants, or shorts. it’s easier for the teacher to observe your poses, especially your knees, if you’re wearing something that’s tighter fitting. we also love to see knees; this helps us see your alignment even better. however, wearing such clothes is absolutely not a requirement. yoga is typically done in bare feet, but wearing socks is also not a problem. some teachers will ask you to take your socks off if you choose to wear them; if you don’t want to, just say no!

should i eat before yoga?

we highly recommend not eating about three hours before class. yoga is a practice most comfortably performed on an empty stomach. more important, yoga works on the body physiologically and biochemically; interfering with this process via an undigested meal can cause discomfort or nausea, and it can compromise many of yoga’s benefits.

what is an “open” class?

what is the difference between “hatha” and “vinyasa?”

“hatha” means the union of “sun” (ha) and “moon” (tha) energies in the body. only several hundred years ago, as documented in the hatha yoga pradipika, yogis invented hatha yoga as a means of using the body to examine this expansive and contractive energy existing in the body at the same time. though vinyasa can arguably be traced back to the ashtanga tradition of yoga, it is more a creation of the free market, and the boom that yoga as an industry has experienced over the past decade.vinyasa yoga is a subset of the umbrella-term hatha yoga, but as yoga morphs through the transactions between students and studios, hatha yoga has become associated with a slower, more meditative approach to yoga, which includes more attention to the breath and the alignment it creates in the body. vinyasa, which literally means breath-based movement, is closely associated with power yoga, and thus is about developing bodily power, heat, and control. the purpose of these classes is to move quickly, with steadiness and ease, typically using a particular breathing pattern called “ujayi breath“.

how often should i do yoga if i’m just getting started with you?

we recommend aiming for a minimum of twice a week, assuming that your schedule will often leave you with just one practice — which is still way better than no practice! as with working out, the impact of yoga’s benefits fade quickly if you don’t integrate them into the body often. different from most gym workouts, yoga poses and breathing practices teach you how to change your posture, particularly as you sit at your desk; breathe more efficiently,; and move more freely in your body. new practitioners also recognize immediate changes in their digestion and sleep. the healthy functioning of these body processes is so important that we suggest you begin to notice that your body will ask for the yoga twice a week, or even more!

ok, so i’m coming twice a week now. and it hurts! yoga is hard!

the changes from yoga happen quickly if you work with your body to undo years of conditioning (sitting in cars, typing, wearing high-heeled shoes, carrying heavy bags or purses), but they can be painful if you introduce them only once in a while. yoga is a process; it has no goals. it’s about seeing your body differently, and learning to inhabit it more comfortably and fluidly. yoga is about learning to “play your edges,” or test your limits - without staying beneath them OR going too far beyond them, and without judgement or ego. much of the joy of yoga is lost if it’s done sporadically.

do i need to bring my own mat?

we recommend that you bring your own mat, however you can always rent onefor $1 if do not have your own.

should i practice yoga at home?

of course! as long as you listen to your body and stay away from poses and confuse or concern you (until you learn how to play your edges appropriately), you will get great benefit from it!

ok so wait: what is the definition of yoga anyway? how is it different from pilates, eg?

yoga means “union,” typically defined as that between the limited self (jiva) and the cosmic self (atman). yoga is also defined as harmony and health - a balance of opposite forces forming a union of mind, body, and spirit. there are numerous schools and teachings of yoga, with exceptions to virtually every “rule.” what all have in common, however, is their concern with a state of consciousness. yoga is not a religion, but rather a scientific system of thought, action, and emotion based on experience.