Q: Where are you located?   What times are your classes?  What are the rates?

A: YogaOne’s studio is conveniently located in Midtown Houston, 3030 Travis Street, Suite E, Houston, Texas 77006, very near downtown with easy access to and from 59, 288, I-45 and I-10.  YogaOne has ample parking and has a brand new, custom designed generous studio space with locker rooms and showers.  Class schedules were designed with the working person in mind, with classes before work, at lunch and after work, to suit your needs.  We also have several classes for those student who can only get away for a class during the workday.   For a map, click here.  For a class schedule, click here.  For rates, click here.

 Q: What is yoga?

A:  We get asked this a lot. We can give you a simple answer which could be used as a starting point.  Yoga classically is an ancient discipline made up of several branches, three of which we actively practice at YogaOne: asana (postures), pranayama (yogic breathing) and meditation.  You probably think of postures (asanas) when you think of yoga.  Yoga literally means union, as in the union of the mind, the body and the spirit.  The name YogaOne is derived from the concept of mind, body and spirit as one.  To learn more about yoga as a discipline, a good place to start is Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.

 Q:  What are the benefits of yoga?  Why do yoga as opposed to something else?

A: The benefits of yoga have been well studied and are numerous.  The most immediate and obvious benefits of continuous practice in YogaOne’s yoga classes are weight loss, increased metabolism, increased flexibility, detoxification/cleansing of the body and the mind, increased stamina and cardiovascular fitness, improved balance, improved posture, increased focus and deeper relaxation.  For centuries yogis have also reported experiencing relief from chronic pain, an enhanced immune and nervous system response, and overall improvement of the general health of the mind and body.  Yoga is a complete discipline, so that if you only practiced yoga, you would still get a complete and comprehensive workout of all parts of the body.   

 Yoga is unique because it provides all of these benefits while remaining a “low to no impact” form of exercise.  That is, yoga does not cause repetitive stress injuries like many other forms of exercise like running, aerobics, cycling, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, weight-lifting, etc.).  In fact, many yogis have experienced that yoga helps them avoid or overcome such injuries through regular practice, strengthening the joints and connective tissue in preparation for, and also speeding the recovery from, such activities.  For that reason, it is a perfect complement to these and other activities, and many of YogaOne’s students use yoga as a complement to their other activities and sports while others practice yoga exclusively.

 Q:  Why is it hot?

A: We find that a heated room warms the body and allows for deeper relaxation, greater flexibility, and increased detoxification/cleansing.  In general, it also provides a better workout and burns additional calories.  Our students also like it hot.  We rely on humidity as well as direct heat so that we do not have to have extremely high temperatures to achieve the benefits of a heated room.  We have created a custom heating and humidification system (HVAC) for these purposes.

 Q:  What should I bring?  Is there any special etiquette for yoga?

A: First and foremost, water, at least 1 liter in a portable, spill-proof container.    You will need this to replace fluids during your class.  Ideally, you will come well hydrated to class.  YogaOne also sells water and electrolyte enhanced fluids.  Please also bring a sticky mat and towel.  This is the personal space where you will perform your yoga.  If you are a first time student, we will supply you with a sticky mat and a yoga carpet/towel for free during your introductory period, but you will eventually want to have your own.  YogaOne sells sticky mats and yoga towels/carpets.  Standard sticky mats are also available in sporting goods stores and online.  For etiquette for taking classes at YogaOne Studios, please click here.

 Q: I am not very flexible and/or I have poor balance. Can I do yoga?

A: Of course!  Increased flexibility and greater balance is a benefit of yoga, not a pre-requisite for starting.

 Q: I am injured/physically challenged/ill/out of shape, can I still do yoga?

A: Our Hot Hatha Core Series yoga classes (almost all of our classes) are intended to allow everyone to practice, with some modifications, and yoga is known to heal injuries and aid in weight loss and condition.  The benefits of yoga are too numerous to list here.  Generally, your body will tell you where your limits are.  You should listen to your body.  You still derive benefit no matter how deeply you get into a posture, so you should not feel as though you have to do the posture as well as the next person, because every person’s body is different.  There is no perfect posture, and even the best yogis can still benefit from some adjustment.  Yoga is a discipline, not a competition.  However, before beginning any exercise regimen, including yoga, you should consult with and obtain the approval of your physician.

 Q:  I am a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/Sufi/Etc.  Is yoga contrary to my religion?  Is yoga a religion?

A:  Absolutely not.  First, yoga is not a religion, it is a discipline, not unlike martial arts in a way.  Yoga is essentially a form of active meditation (you might call it exercise) and many people find that it helps them to relax and quiet their minds and actually deepens their understanding of whatever religious philosophy they espouse, because a quiet mind is ready to receive knowledge.  It is up to you to set your own intention before each class.  Some people come to yoga for the physical fitness aspect, some seek balance, some seek flexibility, some seek to lose weight and some come for the calming benefits and are more drawn to the meditative aspects of yoga.  Our yoga classes do all of this, and all of these reasons are great reasons for coming.  YogaOne’s classes allow you to decide what you want to get out of the class.  The wonderful thing about yoga is that you do not have to believe in its benefits to receive them; they happen anyway.

 Q: I tried X kind of yoga and they do this or that posture differently.  Who is right?

A:  Yoga is an ancient tradition.  There are as many variations of it (and indeed as many variations of a single asana (posture)) as there are limbs on a very old tree.  There is no right way or wrong way, just different ways, to do postures.   Some teachers try to stick very close to the classic ways of practicing yoga and recently there have been a number of updated variations on these classic branches of yoga.  However, they are all yoga.  At YogaOne, we try to combine the classical with the modern to get the benefits of both.  Generally, each of our postures has roots in the ancient tradition and perhaps in some cases, haven’t changed much at all.  Remember, thousands of years ago,  yoga was traditionally practiced by holy men in caves and, so, some of the ancient practices need modification for the world we live in today. 

 Q:  Will I ever be able to do that pose that so-and-so does?

A: Eventually, yes, but it all depends upon how long, how consistenly, and how hard you practice.  Maybe it is 5 weeks or 5 months or 5 years away.  Moreover, it isn’t beneficial to compare yourself to others in the class.  Every person’s body is different and yoga isn’t about competition, it is about being disciplined in your practice, listening to the dialogue and doing the best you can do for that day.  If you’ve done that, you will receive 100% of the benefits of yoga.

 Q:  Do you hire teachers?

A: Yes, YogaOne actively seeks qualified teachers who excel in their field on a case-by-case basis as our needs dictate.  Please contact us to discuss your background and experience.