Yamas

Ahimsa: Non-Violence & Non-Harming

• Be aware of your boundaries and limitations; say "no, thank-you" to any invitations offered by the teacher that could be a source of harm to you; to the best of your ability, don't bully or pressure yourself or others.
• Be aware of the impact of your behavior; refrain from voicing evaluations or judgments onto other people's experience; if you notice a strong reaction to something that arises, sit with it - if there is an immediate and urgent safety concern that has not been noticed by the teacher, take action ASAP to bring it to their attention. 
• Understand the difference between one's cognitive and emotional responses (e.g., irritation, disagreement with or being offended by a different point of view, disgust at another's choices) and actions that are violent and harmful (e.g., personal attacks, expressions of hostility, abusive language, hateful speech, physical assault); take care of yourself & speak with your teacher after class if it can wait, or ASAP if another student has fallen out of Ahimsa and there is an immediate need for it to be addressed.
• We come from different experiences and traditions, please do not disparage other practices or paths, nor the practitioners. 
• There are differences of perspective as to what it means to cause harm, remember that defining and working with this is an ongoing practice.
• COVID & Keeping Our Community Safe - Please check your confirmation email when you register for important information about COVID protocols.

Satya: Truthfulness

• Be responsible and mindful about the power of your speech, strive to be clear and accurate. 
• There are personal subjective truths (e.g., oranges are the most awful fruit that exists) and objective truths ( generally agreed-upon, based in evidence, help us move within a shared reality - e.g,. the start time and duration of a class). Be aware of this difference as you explore the practice of Satya. 
• Practice self-candor to the best of your ability; don't collude with unskillful patterns (e.g., performative practice,  buying into harsh inner criticism, pretending to know or understand something)

Asteya: Non-Stealing

• Most of us find it easy to not take physical objects from others that do not belong to us, be aware there are many layers to the practice of Asteya. 
•  To the best of your ability, expand the practice to be mindful to not take for yourself anything that is not freely given - space (e.g., moving another person's things without asking), time (being late, leaving early), attention (creating distractions, seeking to meet needs that are not related to the practice), energy, etc.  
• To the best of your ability, acknowledge the source of knowledge or any ideas you share by naming where the information is inspired from. 
• Do not steal attention and energy from the space by engaging with your phone or other devices during class.

Brahmacharya: Restraint of Sexualized Energy and Moderation in Sensory Engagements

• Sexualized energy is a powerful part of human experience; because our lineages include teachers who have engaged in behaviors that caused serious harm to students, it is our duty to not repeat this mistake.
• Refrain from introducing any form of sexual energy into the practice space - this includes behavior that is appropriate or welcomed in other contexts; if it is directed toward you or you see it directed toward someone else, please let the teacher know ASAP. 
• Food is not permitted in the shala without a specific invitation from the teacher; if a pressing need to nourish your hunger arises, quietly leave the classroom (much in the same way you would excuse yourself to go to the restroom); Tea, water, coffee, and other beverages that can be sipped without creating distraction are welcome.
• If you have a biological need, tend to it; if a sensory or mental compulsion or want arises, be with it to the best of your ability.

Aparigraha: Non-Possessiveness, Non-Greed

• Release any notions or ideas about how your practice should be or what it should look like, let it be what it is.
• Be mindful about clinging to pre-occupations and worries during teaching and practice time, unless it is related to the work the class is engaged in.
• Practice giving others the benefit of the doubt if you feel disappointed or slighted; practice releasing expectations in a way that allows for expansion, growth, and grace.
• Release your grip on any narrative you might rely upon to excuse yourself from class agreements; be mindful that greed takes many forms -  absent an emergency or urgent unexpected need, your time, obstacles, and responsibilities are not more important than the people you practice with. 

Niyamas

Saucha: Clarity & Purity of Mind, Speech & Body

• Practice good body hygiene; if you do not use deodorant, make a special effort to freshen your body before practice.
• Keep your mat, props, and practice space tidy. 
• Wear clothes that are clean, fresh, comfortable, breathable, do not bind or constrict you, and do not risk exposing parts of your body that are private. Different spaces have different traditions - at Ease, the genitals, buttocks, regions where pubic hair grows, nipples, bosom (irrespective of male or female anatomy), and stomach are generally considered "private," with the understanding that this can shift due to conditions in the room and the nature of the practice. 
• Practice clear & right speech; play with refraining from conversations about others that you would hesitate to have if they were present. 
• Don't come into the practice space under the influence of substances that cloud the mind; if you are under the influence of imagery, ideas, narratives, and beliefs that conflict deeply with the values and principles of our practice (especially Ahimsa), make arrangements to speak with the lead teacher to discern whether this is the right space for you to study yoga. ​

Santosha: Contentment 

• You are doing the best you can in any given moment; practice contentment with how far you have come; don't be unkind to yourself about the past, impatient with yourself about the future, or unrealistic about the present. 
• The content and unfolding of class may change or shift depending on what is arising in the moment and questions from students; to the best of your ability, accept and digest what is offered in good faith.
• The practice of contentment does not require you to accept violations of your boundaries (see Ahimsa)

Tapas: Austerity, Self-Discipline

• Strings on a musical instrument that are too tight will break, but if they are too loose they will not produce music; balancing grace and contentment with engagement and self-discipline to create conditions for growth is a life-long practice.
• Remove your shoes before entering the space, practice placing them down mindfully and gently - this is a moment we transition from the outside world to our inner work; honor your feet and the steps that brought you to the practice.
• Treat all of the objects in the practice space with respect - including yourself, your mat, and anything you touch or move; cultivate a practice of handling the objects of our practice mindfully and gently.  Don't push, kick, throw, or otherwise abuse objects in the space, play with staying mindful when you move things. 
• Challenge yourself to not rush so much that you loose the thread of your breath.

Svadhyaya: Study of Self & Self-Reflection

•  The practice space is designed to give you room to slow down, reflect, and integrate your experiences into your wholeness, hold this opportunity as precious, rare, and dear.
• Self-consciousness and self-centering are not the same as self-awareness; stay curious about what your needs are and how you can meet them in ways that challenge & transform any maladaptive or unskillful patterns.
• Be compassionate with yourself, be kind to yourself, maintain solid internal boundaries; don't bully yourself, don't use the practice to beat yourself up.

Ishvara Pranidhana: Falling into the Arms of Your True Self

• The practice of yoga has diverse benefits and aims; one is to fall into a strong alliance with a profoundly special, steadfast, expansive, boundless, and liberated Self - I use a capital "S" to indicate that it beyond our egoic self-identity; it is a sense of connection with an abiding, integrated, and resilient consciousness that persists despite the obstacles and hardships.
• Sometimes framed as "surrender," it in no way suggests that you accept or refrain from questioning teaching that violates your own wisdom and discernment; it in no way negates the importance of freely expressing our personal identities and standing against systems that harm, subjugate, mistreat, and exploit people based on our human differences. 
• Practice at Ease does not require any spiritual belief and is open to all faiths, including people who identify as agnostic or atheist.
• This is a deeply personal aspect of practice, so the only actionable guideline is to be aware that we hold this ineffable aspect of practice dear, and we endeavor to honor it in our offerings.