By Faye Martins
Students who are new to yogic practices sometimes ask why there are so many yoga studio safety guidelines. One of the most attractive aspects of running a yoga studio is the relaxed atmosphere that they are expected to have. Yoga studios have one of the best working environments imaginable. For this reason some studio owners shy away from the idea of complicating things by coming up with a set of yoga studio guidelines. In truth a well-written set of yoga studio guidelines will help a studio maintain a constantly pleasant atmosphere for teachers and students alike.
The number one reason to have a set of yoga studio safety guidelines is for the safety of the students themselves, though they tend to save a lot of time for teachers as well. For most yoga teachers, the well being of their students is their number one priority and adhering to a set of well thought out safety guidelines makes students safer automatically. For example, all yoga studio safety guidelines should include a rule stating that all students must report new or pre-existing medical conditions to their teacher. Many individuals tend to be private about their health but this information is extremely important for a teacher to have in order to keep the student from performing any contraindicated poses, which could cause serious problems.
Students tend to be happier and more confident when they know exactly what’s expected of them. Having a set of guidelines to follow will assure students that they have done everything necessary in order to properly prepare themselves for a class. In addition, studios that take themselves and their work seriously are perceived as being professional and of high quality. A set of studio guidelines will actually serve to attract more students rather than deter them from joining.
Another reason to have your own set of yoga studio guidelines is the fact that no two studios are exactly the same. The way studios are run can vary wildly, so a set of predetermined guidelines can be quite helpful for students transitioning from one studio to another. If these students don’t like what they see in your guidelines, perhaps your studio is not a good fit for them. Better for these individuals to realize this beforehand to save everyone valuable time. For example, some studios are quite lax with requirements for attire while others view proper attire as essential to safely performing even a beginning yoga class. By having guidelines, everyone knows where they stand. Clarity is always a good thing.
Having a generic set of guidelines that everyone must follow is a great way to passively provide guidance without singling anyone out individually. This prevents students from personalizing and taking offense to friendly advice given to them by their yoga instructor for their safety. From the teacher’s standpoint it’s also a lot easier to hand out a pamphlet than it is to address issues in the middle of a class. For these reasons, yoga studio safety guidelines are an essential part of running an efficient studio.
Taking the time to write out a set of yoga studio safety guidelines is very worthwhile and serves to address problems before they even start. When writing out the safety guidelines don’t worry about thinking of every potential issue; the guidelines may be constantly updated as teachers see fit in response to issues and needs that come up later on down the road.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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