Yoga at OHM Newsletter Vicyasa™ 6/15 - 6/21/2026: Etiquette; phones, "doing my thang" & leaving early

"Etiquette requires us to admire the human race." — Mark Twain

Yoga etiquette focuses on fostering a peaceful, respectful, and focused environment for everyone. Even as a teacher, I still get annoyed and cannot understand why some people show up to group yoga classes, say they love the instructor, but consistently freestyle, want to do poses nowhere near what the teacher is guiding, disregard the journey, or step into the room late, leave early, or exhibit the terminal behavior of demanding, "I need the phone next to my mat."

Because yoga centers on mindfulness and disengaging from the outside world, unrestricted phone use directly disrupts the physical and mental space for both students and the teacher.
 
I greatly appreciate being unreachable at times. As an introverted type, I need alone time, without the distractions of phone calls and emails, to function at my full potential. The idea of setting my phone next to my mat in my home yoga practice—let alone in a class—so that I can keep up with my emails, phone messages or Facebook feed is unthinkable. When I’m practicing yoga and meditation, my practice works better and feels better if I focus on what’s happening in my body/mind in the present moment.

Regarding early departures, a universal piece of advice from instructors is to let them know before class if you plan to leave early. Unless you are the person who always wants to leave early... in which case, honestly, don't show up to my class. Truly. At that point, it's asshole behavior and chances are, the practitioners that truly want to enjoy my offerings don't want you or your disrupting attention-seeking behavior.

Studios and teachers know exactly who is there and for what. To the students who show up to a specific teacher's class yet feel compelled to sidecrow 5 minutes in, jump into the walls during every vinyasa attempt or freestyle... the students next to you do not appreciate or like your actions.

Every movement, question, and energy shift interacts with the group dynamic, requiring real-time adaptability from both the instructor and the participants. Your participation in a group class "does not happen in a vacuum"; if you want extra attention, take private lessons. If you want to do your own thing but just need the fire of a hot room, then isolate yourself in a room, turn up the thermostat and be that asshole alone, wearing as many layers as you want as well.

It's not that difficult... right? Like my teacher Marko used to lovingly say, "Don't be an asshole."


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NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
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