FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

At yogaRIOT we make it easy to explore all of the amazing benefits of yoga. Our staff and teachers are trained to make your first yoga experience relaxing and enjoyable.

I’m worried I’m not flexible/fit/thin enough for yoga.

Vinyasa yoga is for everybody, and for every body. Yoga isn’t only for people who are already flexible. Yoga is a practice that improves flexibility. The best way to get “flexible enough” to do yoga is to begin your yoga practice.

Yoga is an amazing way to get fit and will help your body find your optimal weight. Yoga builds muscle, dynamic tissue, and burns fat. Yoga improves fitness quickly and helps the body get in shape for all the activities you enjoy.

Do I need to know the postures before I can practice?

We know it can seem intimidating to do something unfamiliar and we take all the uncertainty away by making sure you have the very best instruction and the equipment and information you need to have a great experience in your first yoga class. Our teachers communicate the yoga postures in clear concise language that you can easily follow and understand. Our teachers are trained to understand the postures and to teach them in English.

I’m worried I’ll look silly if I don’t know what to do.

The yogaRIOT community is very welcoming and every one of us remembers our first yoga class. Each staffer, teacher and student at yogaRIOT will help you feel comfortable, capable and welcome.

How should I prepare for my first class?

Yoga is best experienced on a nearly empty stomach. If you come first thing in the morning it is OK to eat a little something before class so that your blood sugar is not low for your practice. If you’ve eaten a full meal you should allow 1-3 hours to pass before practicing. You should be well hydrated so drink plenty of water before class.

What should I wear to yoga?

Wear clothes that allow you to move with ease, nothing binding or tight, but fitted rather than loose, so that your clothes don’t get in the way of your movement. The room is kept warm so if you wear sweatshirts or outer layers make sure you have something underneath so you can remove layers if necessary. If you sweat liberally you may wish to bring dry clothes to change into after class. Err on the side of “less is more” and choose clothes you’ll feel comfortable wearing.

What equipment do I need for yoga?

Students are responsible for providing their own equipment. We suggest a mat, towel, and non-glass water bottle. Blocks are provided at the studio and sanitized after each class.

When you arrive, we will help you find a spot in the room, explain the basics of the practice, and make sure you’re prepared for your first yoga class. You will have an opportunity to tell your yoga teacher about any injuries or concerns you have before class begins. Your teacher will help you understand each posture and practice at the highest level you can reach each day.

 

How hot is the studio?

We heat the studio just enough to help warm your joints and muscles for practice, 95 – 100 degrees, or about your body temperature. Our far infrared heat system is designed to make your practice more comfortable and beneficial. A heated practice is safe and healthy, just come hydrated and drink as much as you need during and after class. If you feel overwhelmed by the heat at any time, just take a seat on your mat, breathe, have a drink, and come back into the practice when you’re ready.

How often should I practice?

Yoga yields the best results with daily practice. And, any yoga is better than no yoga. So come, as often as you can, and do your best every time. If your schedule feels too busy for regular practice in the studio, you can practice daily at home. Even 15 minutes a day will make a difference. This 15-minute daily tune-up will keep you feeling balanced and flexible until you can get back to the studio again.

We enjoy the yogaRIOT podcast and YouTube channel when we can’t get to practice in the studio. These are live recorded studio classes and it feels just like taking studio classes without the heat!

What is the best class for a beginner to start with?

Come to any class on the POWER yoga schedule to get started except Masters Practice–POWER Skills- on Sunday mornings. You must take a class with Annie before attending Masters’s practice and know how to do a Sun Salutation A and B on your own.

All of our teachers are trained to work work with beginners. Our classes are challenging, but we love to instruct beginners. Class may feel hard at first and maybe for a little while. There are some things to learn, so you have to give yourself permission to be new and find enjoyment with where you’re at.

We don’t have any specific newcomer classes, but if you think you would benefit from a private lesson, email us. One hour will cover a lot of basics that will help you launch into your first class. A one-hour private lesson for up to 5 people is $125. If you have a friend/s you want to bring along, you can split the cost. Most importantly, we encourage new people to keep coming back. Give yourself at least 6 classes to see if you like it. We have a newcomer special that is $49 for one month so you can come as many times as you like. Let us know how we can support you to get started.

Where should I park when coming to your studio?

Street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. yogaRIOT does not have any designated parking. Please, allow for extra time to park upon arriving.

What if I'm running late for class?

At yogaRIOT, all classes begin and end on time. We lock the doors at the beginning of class and do not permit late entrance.  Unattended classes are marked as used and are not refundable. Please, come at least 5- 15 minutes before the start of class. Download the Mindbody app and sign-up before you come. Pre-registration is required for all classes. 

What if I need to leave early from a class?

If you can’t stay for Savasana, please leave before it begins. We do not allow folks to get up and leave during savasana. Savasana is the final resting pose meditation and lasts for about 5 minutes. This time has been built into the practice. The class will end exactly at the time indicated on the schedule.

How do I use my Groupon pass?

Thanks for buying a pass to try out our studio! Pre-registration is required. Sign up through Groupon to activate your pass.

Classes unattended are marked as used. You have up to one hour before class begins to remove yourself without a penalty. A valid credit card must be on file in your student account before attending your first in-studio class.

How do I cancel my membership?

Just email us at [email protected]
 
Remember! We have a non-negotiable 30 day notice policy so you may be billed again.  Your membership must be paid in full to cancel. Please allow 3-5 days for us to respond and process your request.
 
Thank you for being a member of our Community.

Does yogaRIOT have a phone number I can call?

At yogaRIOT, we do not conduct business by phone. All questions, comments, concerns, and cancellations are processed through email and messenger chat. We are prompt in our email responses and will get back to you as soon as possible.

What is your Refund Policy?

Returns on retail purchases in exchange for studio credit may be made up to 48 hours after purchase.

We do not offer refunds or transfers on membership, intro offers, single classes, class packs, or late cancel fees. Classes purchased through the MINDBODY app using Dynamic Pricing are limited-time offers and are non-refundable or transferable.

What are hands-on assists?

*During COVID-19 teachers will not be offering hands-on assists.

At yogaRIOT, all of our yoga teachers are trained to give hands-on assists. This means the teacher will touch the students in a typewriter fashion as they move through the room.

Hands-on assists are never forced and any student is free to opt-out at any time, and for any reason, even after class has started, by kindly saying “no hands-on assists, please.” It is a way to help students go deeper into their postures and give a tactical understanding of possibilities as you practice.

Hands-on assists are always given over the clothing and do not include vulnerable areas of the body like the spine.

Please let your teacher know whenever you would like to opt-out of hands-on assistance.

I've injured myself. Should I stay away from yoga?

If you are feeling unwell due to a cold or flu, please, do not come to “sweat it out.” This is NOT encouraged. Please, cancel your reservations and come back when you are feeling better and not contagious.

Yoga helps most of life’s physical ailments. Many joint and soft tissue injuries can be aided in healing through the practice, with appropriate modifications.

Come to yoga when you are healthy, come to yoga when you are hurting. But don’t come to yoga when you have a fever. The heat is hard on your heart muscle and you need to rest.

The simple act of intentional breathing in an infra-red heated room can create a tremendous amount of healing in the body.

If you are injured, or physically/emotionally unwell, come early, set your mat up in the back of the room, and breath. Be open to what happens, and you may even surprise yourself.

Late Cancel Fee

Drop-in and class pack holders have until thirty minutes before class begins to cancel a class reservation. If you are registered for an in-studio class and do not attend, arrive late, or remove yourself within 30 minutes of class start, your pass will be marked as used.

Members and Newcomer specials:
For all full and waitlisted classes, you have until thirty minutes before the start of class to cancel your appointment without a late cancellation fee of $10. Fee are not refundable and are non-negotiable. If you have any questions, email [email protected]

What are the COVID-19 protocols for the studio?

Updated: March 2022

We require proof of full vaccination according to current CDC guidelines for in-studio classes. Please, bring your vax card or photo to your first visit. As per state mandate (3/12/22), masks are optional but not required.

Please, do not come to the studio if you are sick with any communicable disease symptoms like COVID, cold, or flu.  During allergy season, it is our policy that students not attend in-studio class when experiencing symptoms of cold or flu like sneezing, runny nose, or coughing. It is not appropriate to come and “sweat it out.” We have HEPA filter air purifiers and we sanitize the space and blocks after each class.

We ask both students and teachers to:

  • Leave the practice space and the studio clean and dry from personal bodily fluids.
  • Bring your own mat, towels, and water bottle (no-glass).
  • Keep a closed mouth breath and contain the breath and respiratory droplets during practice. If you lose your breath, take a rest until you can regain it.

Students and teachers may not attend live classes when experiencing cold, flu-like, or coronavirus symptoms which may include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

 

UNLIMITED POWER YOGA FOR $109 A MONTH*

*just sign up for monthly auto-renew