Yoga Etiquette & Rules

  • Although you can enroll at any time up until the class start time, classes are subject to cancellation for low pre-reservations. To help this not happen, please reserve 24hrs or more in advance when possible. Best practice is to book your classes one week in advance.

  • Please arrive 5-10 mins before class start time. If you are late, please do not enter during meditation or OMs. After these few  minutes of awareness setting has taken place, please take your space as quickly and quietly as possible. Please prepare yourself outside of the yoga room, so you don’t need to un-zipper or un-velcro your mat bag creating unnecessary noise. 

  • Remove your shoes and put on the shelf in the entry/reception area. Please bring your purse/bag into the respective yoga room and use the square cubby hole shelves or wooden shelf for your belongings.  This keeps the floor space tidy for the teacher to move around the room and adjust poses. 

  • There are marks on the floor indicating where to place the top right corner of your mat. Please note that depending on class size, we might not abide by this rule. If you see blocks laid out, then you can take your mat evenly behind a block.

  • Practice ‘saucha’, which means “cleanliness” or “purity”. Arrive clean and free of scents that might distract or offend others. Do bring a towel or your own mat if you sweat a lot. It is best to shower before a class when possible or at least that morning, as body odour can be very distracting for some noses :-) and for good energy flow it is best to allow the sweat to stay on your skin for many hours afterwards.

  • Respect the Space. Practicing yoga in a group setting creates a sacred, safe zone. Observe silence before, during, and after practice. Allow room for other students to come in. Refrain from unnecessary talking, grunts and moans. Do not chew gum during class — it’s distracting and unsafe. Mobile phones should be turned off or put on SILENT, not on vibrate. 

  • Please put away any props that you use. There are labels on the shelves indicated the proper cubble hole/shelf. If borrowing a YB mat, please use the spray water bottle & washcloth to wipe down after each use. Roll the mat up tightly and put away. The mats get ruined if not rolled properly. Please respect our space, it is YOUR space too. 

  • DON’T eat for two or three hours before class. If you practice yoga on a full stomach, you might experience cramps or nausea especially in twists, deep forward bends and inversions. Digesting food also takes energy that can make you lethargic.

  • Practice ‘Pratyahara’, which means “control of the ahara” or “gaining mastery over external influences” or “withdrawal from the senses”. If you are easily disturbed by the noise and turmoil of the environment around you, you need to practice pratyahara. Without it, you will not be able to meditate. Know that it is a ‘practice’, each time we improve, but we never master. 

  • DO let your teacher know about injuries or conditions that might affect your practice. If you are injured or tired, skip poses you can’t or shouldn’t do, or try a modified version. Please notify your teacher when you are more than 8-weeks pregnant as you should avoid strong abdominal exercises and twists.

  • Practice Ahimsa, non-violence, with your words and actions to yourself or others. Instead of trying to go as deeply or completely into a pose as others might be able to do, do what you can without straining or injuring yourself – HONOR YOUR LIMITS. You’ll go farther faster if you take a loving attitude toward yourself and work from where you are, not from where you think you should be.

  • Create an intention before the start of class. To help you focus, you might find it helpful to dedicate your practice to a certain intention. This might be to become more aware, mindful, release stress and negative emotions, more loving and compassionate, or healthier, stronger, and more skilful. Or it might be for the benefit of a friend, a cause—or even yourself.

  • Don’t skip Savasana – The final relaxation pose, called Corpse Pose — “Savasana” (shah-VAHS-ah-nah) in Sanskrit — is vital to your practice. It’s a time for stillness and deep rest that lets your body fully receive the benefits of yoga. If you absolutely must leave early, let your teacher know prior to class and leave quietly before Savasana starts. Be sure to allow sufficient time to collect your mat and belongings, and arrange yourself outside the yoga room, so not to disturb other student’s relaxation time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where are you located?  Find address & parking suggestions here.

2. How do I signup for a class?
Please find a step-by-step guide here. For new students, the system will prompt you to buy the INTRO PASS or Drop-in. We want to encourage you to sign up for the INTRO PASS and experience our studio, teachers and styles. This offer is no longer available after you have made your first purchase. Enrolment in classes are required in advance. Please respect our cancellation and no-show policy even if you are on the Intro Pass. 

3. Do I need to create an account first? Can I come to try once before creating an account?
We prefer it :-), see above. If you are really unsure, feel free to come try a class first and decide at the end of the class if you will pay the 26,50€ drop-in fee or buy the Intro Pass: 3 classes for 49€. You will not be able to register in advance if don’t pay online, so please email or SMS us to hold you a space.

4. How do I pay? 
We don’t have a credit card machine, so you can pay CASH at the studios or make a bank transfer LU08 0141 4597 4640 0000
BIC: CELLLULL  YogaBalance SARL-S. Classes must be prepaid online with Visa/Mastercard or paid by cash at the time of service.

5. Are there showers available?
Yes we have one shower for use. It is actually very good for your skin and energy flow if you don’t shower after yoga. We understand that this is not ideal if you need to go back to work, so most students use a baby wipe (lingette) for sweaty parts. Know that not everyone sweats in yoga, it depends on the person and the style. Please see note above in Yoga Etiquette about ‘saucha’.

6. Where do I change my clothes?
In the big room on your left are two changing cabins. Or use the Shower room. Please don’t change in the toilet. We only have one toilet, so please be mindful that others need to use it before class too.

7. I don’t own a mat. Do you have them for rent?
We want to discourage you from buying a mat from a sports store or online. Most are not true yoga mats and are very slippery, shorter, too thin or too thick. Wait and save your money! A yoga mat is a personal preference and you must try them out first to find the one that works best for your hands and knees. We have mats available for use, free of charge for the first months. Please feel free to try all the mat styles and retry to find the one that you like the best before buying. We sell mats at the studio that are cheaper than what you find online for the same mat. Owning a professional yoga mat will make a BIG difference in your practice!

8. I’m nervous to come to my first class, I don’t want to be the only one not knowing what to do.
We have an open system, so there are new students starting all the time, every day. The person next to you in most classes might have just started too. We don’t teach too fast, so you will be able to follow along just fine. And after a couple of classes you will know the basics and feel very comfortable. You may start at any time in the year!

9. Which classes are recommended for beginners?
Recommended first yoga classes for beginners are: Hatha, Gentle Flow, Yin&Yang, Yin and Deep Stretch. Also try Pilates & Barre; always a great place to start as it builds your core strength.

*Please wait until you have attended 15+ classes before coming to Vinyasa Flow – it is quite sporty and requires a basic foundation and knowledge of the ‘names’ of the poses in order to stay safe.

10. I have a lot of back pain. I hear from my doctor and friends that Yoga and Pilates will help. I’m scared I will make it worse, what do you suggest?
It is our experience as teachers that yoga can prevent and relieve back pain, or any pain in the body as long as the student goes slowly and doesn’t push it in the beginning. If you feel any sharp pain, back out of the posture. Keep all your backbends very small/low as a beginner or anyone that has back issues. Make your focus about building strength, not flexibility, that will come in time. Overtime you will see how a regular yoga practice will change your life for the good and you will wonder how you ever lived without yoga! Pilates is a great supplement or alternative to yoga.

11. I’m not flexible so yoga is not for me!
Hey, we all have to start somewhere ;-). When you don’t stretch you become more stiff over time. As you age, this stiffness creates lower back problems and you are at a higher risk of getting injury while playing sports or picking up something heavy. Likely you sit in a chair most of the day, your core strength is lacking, your muscles are tight, your posture is poor, so you have back and neck pain. It is important to spend time stretching and strengthening to counterbalance this western lifestyle. Running/walking, playing sports might keep your cardio health in good shape, but you are likely neglecting your core, small stabiliser muscles in your joints and likely not mobilising your spine enough. Give yoga a try for 2 months and see how it can help you!

12. My mind is racing all the time, even in yoga class! What do I do?
Be patient with yourself, it takes time to train the monkey mind ;-). Make your focus about aligning the postures, then pay attention to your breathing. Counting your breaths, noticing every inhale and exhale. When your mind wonders away, thinking about what you will have for dinner that night or the list of to-dos, don’t get angry, just redirect your mind back to the present moment and breath awareness. With lots of practice you will be able to have a calmer mind and feel more relaxed. There are many good books and podcasts on Mindfulness, ask one of the teachers for recommendations.

13. Do you offer any Discounts?
We have discounts already built into our Membership packages for those that are practicing with us consistently. For newcomers, please get the discounted Intro Pass. For the Kids/Teens & Trauma Yoga we work on Trimesters that are already discounted. For Uni & Lycée students, after your Intro Pass, please email info @ yogabalance.lu your Student card and ask about the options based on your individual situation.

14. Where can I find your bank details? 
At the bottom of our pricing page and here:

LU08 0141 4597 4640 0000
BIC: CELLLULL    YogaBalance SARL-S