Yes, I Let My Yoga Students Be Loud Before Class. Here's Why.

"Every Sunday morning for the last seven years, I have walked into a noisy room filled with students to teach a heated vinyasa class. Noisy as in locker room, celebratory night out, restaurant level noisy. It's a far cry from the quiet shalas I spent years practicing in, spaces where so much as a whisper was frowned upon. I am a rule follower by nature. I respect a "shhh quiet" policy that some studios and teachers enforce."

"The sounds before class are that of excitement, joy, and connection. Friends and strangers chatting, catching up, making plans. When I hear that noise, I think about all the other places where strangers come together and see familiar faces over and over, including working out at gyms and standing in line at the coffee shop. Yet as humans, how often do we strike up a quick conversation with someone we don't know?"

"I think it's nice to be able to use that time to connect. I have even started some classes with the encouragement, "If you find yourself next to someone new, introduce yourself." I figure people are more likely to come back if they know someone, if they feel part of the group, if they share in the buzz. Noise takes away the intimidation that silence can carry."

A vinyasa teacher describes arriving each Sunday to a noisy room and contrasts that with quiet shalas where whispers were frowned upon. The teacher respects quiet policies but has learned to welcome and even love pre-class noise as expression of excitement, joy, and connection. Conversations among friends and strangers make introductions easier, reduce intimidation, and increase likelihood of return attendance. The teacher sometimes invites newcomers to introduce themselves, then intentionally transitions the group into silence to center breath and practice. The studio becomes a safe space where practitioners feel more than strangers to one another.

Read at Yoga Journal