"I have practiced yoga for more than 30 years and taught it for nearly half that time. Yet there's still one thing that happens in almost every single class that I take or teach that makes me grit my teeth. This happens despite the fact that I know it's coming-and despite the fact that I know better than to let it bother me."
"Walking on another person's mat seems a sour note to play in a space that's dedicated to inhabiting our own bodies more mindfully and moving with intention and compassion. Actually, it seems an outward example of doing the exact opposite. Given that vinyasa, in Sanskrit, means "to place with consideration," it seems appropriate that we should follow that guidance as we place our feet."
"Most of the time the owner of the mat doesn't even notice or object-or at least pretends not to have seen the trespassing or be offended by it. Although it's not ideal for the bare feet of a stranger to be in contact with the same surface as your face and hands, the issue of hygiene isn't even what bothers me. My issue with it is both more subtle and more profound."
A longtime yoga practitioner and teacher remains regularly irritated by people walking on others' mats during class. The behavior often goes unnoticed or unchallenged by mat owners. The concern is not primarily hygiene; rather, the act represents a lapse in mindful presence, intention, and compassion. Vinyasa, meaning "to place with consideration," calls for deliberate placement of the feet and awareness in movement. Confronting students about the behavior usually feels unnecessary given their broader challenges, yet the recurring pattern signals a persistent lack of awareness that continues to bother the practitioner.
Read at Yoga Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]