Commonly asked questions

Here are places in all my classes, feel free to drop into any class, you do not need to block-book, just turn up

Beginners Welcome to all classes
Mats are availale to borrow at no additional cost or buy for £10 each.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I've just looked at your website, Is your class on today/tomorrow/tonight? And how much does a class cost?
A: Check the Class Timetable page for dates and prices. If you click on a cell on the timetable page you will see the class dates displayed below. I keep the website up-to date!

Q: Can I just turn up to a class or workshop, or do I have to book in advance?
A: Yes, you can just turn up to a class or workshop, and pay on the day. You can drop into any of my classes, you don't need to book in advance. But try to arrive on time or early if possible.

Q: What do I wear?
A: Loose, light or lycra clothing. Something that you can move freely in. For the end of a yoga session you may want an extra top layer, e.g. fleece or jumper if we do a relaxation. In a Pilates or Yin Yoga class socks or bare feet are both OK. Skirts are not suitable.

Q: Is there anything else I need to bring?
A: No

UK PILATES
Towel:A small hand towel can also be useful rolled up under the forehead or face when doing some prone exercises (lying face-down).
Mat: Mats are available to borrow. You can bring a yoga mat if you have one. Lots of spare mats are available for free loan.
After trying out my classes you may wish to purchase your own yoga mat for hygienic reasons. (I wash my mats regularly on a rota system)
I provide all other equipment for Pilates classes.

UK YOGA
Towel:In Ashtanga Yoga or Flow Yoga classes a small towel can also be useful.
Mat: You can bring a yoga mat if you have one. Spare mats are available for loan.
After trying out my classes you may wish to purchase your own yoga mat for hygienic reasons. (I wash my mats regularly on a rota system)
I provide towels and all other equipment for Pilates classes.

Yin Yoga: For the Yin classes it is worth bringing extra props if you have them, e.g. blankets, pillows, yoga blocks, cushions etc. I provide various props but would strongly recommend you bring along extra props if it's your first experience of Yin Yoga. In the Yin Yoga class it's ok to wear socks and/or an extra layer or clothing.

Q: Are there changing facilities?
A: There are toilet/changing facilities at all venues and showers.

Q: Will I be OK doing the Ashtanga Yoga or Flow Yoga class?
A: The Ashtanga Yoga or Flow Yoga classes are strong challenging Hatha yoga classes.
I advise taking it easy on your first session and not try to compete with anyone else or with yourself.  Then you'll know the kind of physical work that you may be doing during the course of the whole session (although it does vary week to week).
After you've tried out the first class then you can work a little harder on your second or third class if you want to.
Just listen to your body and don't do anything it's not happy about.
Try and take it easy on your first session. It occasionally can take a couple of goes before you appreciate what you're doing in the class.
When you finish the first session, maybe have a hot bath afterwards.

Q: I’m enquiring about Ashtanga Yoga.  I would be a beginner so I was wondering which class would be suitable?  I was planning to come to the Ashtanga Yoga class, but if it’s too intermediate I might get overwhelmed with it.
A: You’re very welcome to come along to any of my classes.
I get plenty of beginners in my classes and I just say take it easy and don’t try to compete with anyone else.
You can do the easier versions of the postures and movements that I offer (I give options and choices all the time).  You can rest at any time and you don’t need to do every sun salutation or every vinyasa (you’ll get what I’m referring to there when you come to the class!).
Another option is the Hatha Yoga class. The Hatha Yoga class is slower, a bit easier than Ashtanga Yoga and a little different in the types of work that we do.  But you can just try the Ashtanga Yoga class and tae it easy on your first session.

Q: Who teaches the classes?
A: Classes will be taught by Mathew Godebski. In the unlikely event of illness, classes will be covered by another instructor.

Q: What is a block booking?
A: Block Bookings are a way to save money and to encourage you to attend classes regularly.
You can use a block booking for any class on any evening, yoga or pilates. The block bookings are very flexible.
You can come to any class any evening over 6 or 9 months depending on how many sessions you block-book.
You can miss as many classes or weeks as you like but your block booking finishes 6 or 9 months from the date you buy the block.
However, having a block-booking does not guarantee entry if a class is full. Full classes happen only very, very rarely, but if they do then it's first-come first-serve. So please try to arrive early or on time for classes.
Block bookings last for 6 or 9 months from the date of payment.
Block bookings are for a named person and are not transferable to another person.

Pregnancy
Q: I'm pregnant, you don't know me, I've never done yoga before, I want to start yoga now. Can I come to your classes?

A:
Pilates:
To my Pilates classes... maybe, it depends, we need to discuss it further. Pilates can be very beneficial during your pregnancy.
Also check with your medical professional what exercise they're happy for you to do.
Yoga:
However... to my current open Yoga classes... sorry, no. We could arrange private yoga classes, depending on circumstances.
If you've done a fair amount of a similar style of yoga recently then it MAY be OK to practice yoga gently after that, so long as all's going OK in your pregnancy and your medical professional agrees with you doing it.

If you’re less than 10 weeks pregnant and you have a medical OK then you can come to my Monday Yoga class or my Pilates classes or my Pregnancy class.
After 15 weeks: If you have a medical OK then my Pilates classes or my Pregnancy Yoga class.
Speak to me before the class and remind me how many weeks you're pregnant.

 

Q: Which yoga class would be best suited to beginners? Do you run any beginners only classes?

A: All my yoga classes are suitable for beginners and more experienced practitioners. It depends on the physical and mental make-up of the person. Neither you or I know until you try.
You're welcome to join any of my classes.  I have a mixture of complete beginners and more experienced people in all my classes.  I offer a variety of practices, starting with basics and moving on from there, you can do as much as you want.  So you can work at one level, then move on from there, or drop back again to the previous level.
If you're new then try not to compete and do everything, but just take it easy and do as much as you like.

We don't run beginners only classes, as it's good for more advanced practitioners to do more "basic" practices too, also people who've been coming to classes for years don't necessarily want to do a more "advanced" class.

Q: Over time I have put on a lot of weight/done no exercise. I want to try and get back to healthy eating, to get slimmer, exercise more and generally feel better. Would Pilates be the right sort of thing for me?

A; Pilates is an excellent way of getting back into exercise, it's non-impact, gentle in nature (the way I teach it) and you can work at your own level. I do include more advanced and traditional Pilates exercises when appropriate which you can try if you want to. Pilates also transfers certain skills into other forms of exercise in terms of learning to move and work efficiently and more safely.

Pilates doesn't burn much in the way of calories, not much exercise does!  But exercise is good for creating strength, fitness, to look better (various mechanisms) and to feel good about oneself. 
Eating less calories is about the only way to lose weight, but it's difficult to do. The nice thing about exercise is that you're not eating when you're exercising!
Just be patient, stick with it and give it time.

Q: I've done yoga before but not Pilates, can I do Pilates as well?
A: Of course you can. Yogaandhealthmag.co.uk find that Pilates and Yoga complete each other very well.
If you've done a lot of certain styles of yoga before you may find some of the breathing patterns in Pilates a little alien, but don't worry about them, just do the movements of the exercises and breathe normally. You'll get used to the breathing patterns after a while as you would with anything else. Just thing of Pilates breathing patterns as another type of Yoga (yogic) breathing and you'll be on the right track.

Q: Which is the best session for a complete beginner?
A: It depends on the beginner!  I have beginners and experienced people in all my classes.
Pilates is subjectively/physically easiest.  Yin Yoga is (in a way) all about stretching, but you keep still for while and some people struggle with that but most are OK with it.
Sivananda Yoga is physically harder and Ashtanga Yoga is physically the most challenging.  All the practices/classes are quite different to each other.  Just try out what’s convenient for you and see which class/es you like.
If you go for Ashtanga Yoga straight away you can take lots of rests and not try to compete with anyone and don't try to do everything!

Q: I am very keen to start some Yoga classes. I am feeling very anxious and stress and I want to get control back. Could you advise on which type you feel would suit me with regards to relaxation.
A: Different people find different types of yoga beneficial depending on their physical makeup and temperament.
The Ashtanga Yoga classes are quite fast and physically challenging and will take your mind off other things during the class. At the end of the class you may feel be tired but invigorated.
Sivananda Yoga is slower and not as physically challenging as Ashtanga Yoga but it does have its challenges, we have short moments of relaxation between postures or sets of postures. There is a longer relaxation session at the end of hte class.
Flow Yoga is a flowing style of yoga which will change from week to week, but again, you’ll be kept busy during the class and should feel relaxed at the end of the class.
You may also find my Pilates classes beneficial as they are less physically challenging but beneficial for posture and abdominal and back muscles.  A lot of people find Pilates relaxing.
Yin Yoga classes are also good for relaxation as you are allowing the whole body to relax during the entire length of the class.

Q: Can you give me a brief rundown of the different types of classes available?
A: Very briefly and very generally...

• Ashtanga Yoga: Fast, sweaty, hard work. But you can rest as much as you like.  Good for flexibility, fitness, strength, core stability.
  
• Flow Yoga: Easier than Ashtanga, varies more each week. Good for flexibility, fitness, strength.
  
• Sivananda Yoga: Good for flexibility and strength. I'm not currently running a public or open Sivananda Yoga class although I can be booked to teach Sivananda Yoga privately. I incorporate Sivananda style work into my Hatha Yoga classes. If you are a Sivananda
• Yogi/Yogini and want a greater proportion of Sivananda Yoga in a class you attend just let me know before-hand.
  
• Yin Yoga: Chilled out and mellow, don’t work hard at all, just relax but very good for flexibility. Monthly class.
  
• Pilates: Physically easiest but lots of instructions, but you’ll get used to that over a couple of weeks.  Good for posture, core stability.

Q: I hurt my back andI have been informed that Pilates can be good for bad backs and I was wondering what you could suggest.
A: You could come along to any of my Pilates classes and give it a go.  Don’t try to do everything and stick with the easier version of each exercise on your first session.
Alternatively, you can book to see me privately, I can then give you a programme or you can continue to see me as regularly as you wish and maybe join classes as well or instead at that stage.

But be prepared to be patient, give it time and you'll have to work on it!

Yogaandhealthmag.co.uk 2015