How to Get the Most Out of Your Yoga Class: 7 Expert Tips
After more than 15 years of attending yoga classes, I’ve found a few game-changing habits that make the experience more fulfilling. Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or deep in your practice, these simple tweaks can help you feel more connected, balanced, and fully present.
1. Hydrate & Nourish Yourself Well—Before and After Class
The way you fuel your body can make a huge difference in how you feel during your practice. Don’t believe me? Try flowing through a class after a heavy stack of pancakes, then compare it to practicing after a lighter, nourishing meal like oatmeal with fruit. Your body will tell you everything you need to know! Meal-specifics aside, here’s a few general tips:
Avoid big meals within two hours of class—snacks are fine. A full stomach can make deep twists and forward folds uncomfortable.
Hydrate throughout the day instead of chugging water right before class. Too much water close to practice can make inversions (like downward dog or headstand) feel heavy and uncomfortable.
After class, replenish with water and a cooked, nutrient-dense meal like a quinoa bowl with roasted veggies and avocado. But if you’re craving something heartier, don’t hesitate to have something like grilled chicken or salmon. Contrary to popular belief, not all yogis are vegans—your body, your fuel, your choice!
2. Arrive Early—15 Minutes Before Would Be Incredible!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rushed to class, only to feel scattered and disconnected. That’s the most un-yoga thing you can do! It’s like sprinting to take a nap—you end up more wired than relaxed, completely defeating the purpose. Instead, if you plan on arriving well before class starts, you do the opposite—you ease into the experience, like letting a cup of tea steep to full strength rather than gulping it down lukewarm. Remember:
The yoga experience begins before you even enter the space. Arriving early gives you time to slow down and transition.
Arriving early gives you the gift of time—to leisurely set up your mat, gather props, and ease into deep breathing or gentle stretching, setting a calm and intentional tone for your practice. The result? A sense of grounding and spaciousness in your body and mind before class even begins.
3. Create a Personal Ritual Around Your Practice
Beyond simply rolling out your mat at the start and packing it up at the end, consider adding small rituals that make your practice feel more intentional and meaningful. Rituals mark a transition, signaling to your mind and body that this moment is different—it’s purposeful. Whether it’s lighting a candle in your home practice, pausing for a deep breath, or playing your favorite song, these small acts anchor you in presence.
You could try:
Taking a few moments to meditate before class
Writing down an intention or affirmation
Using essential oils or practicing a calming breath technique
Journaling for a few minutes after class to reflect on how you feel
In my home practice, I never leave my yoga mat out. Rolling it out and putting it away is part of the ritual—a reminder that this time is sacred. Because no matter what happens between, how we begin and end creates a mindful container for the experience.
4. Silence Your Phone & Let Go of Distractions
I once had a teacher who nearly kicked a student out of class for having her phone out by her mat. While YogaHub pros wouldn’t do that to you, we do want to make sure you get the best experience possible.
For the duration of your yoga class, convince yourself that nothing exists before or after it. Ditching your phone, watch, and any wearable device will help you unlock the true value of the practice—something intangible and unmeasurable.
Here’s how to fully disconnect and be present:
Turn your phone off or put it on silent mode, then leave it in your bag—out of sight, out of mind.
Mentally “end” your to-do list. Treat your yoga class as a departure from work, obligations, and even your identity outside of it. Work never really ends—the only way to feel fulfilled is to create intentional pauses that invite a sense of completion.
Actively let go of distractions with this simple practice: Before class, take a deep inhale, visualize your responsibilities drifting away like leaves on a river, and exhale, grounding yourself like roots settling deep into the earth—fully present, right here, right now.
Your practice is a rare chance to step away from the noise and into stillness. Take it.
5. Set a Clear Intention for Your Practice
In yoga, intention is everything. It’s what sets yoga apart from any other form of movement. It’s not about what you do, but how you do it. Your practice will feel completely different if your intention is strength versus surrender, effort versus ease.
Your teacher may offer an intention at the start of class, but if you’ve thought about yours beforehand, it will carry even more power. Before stepping onto your mat, ask yourself:
What would bring me into balance today? Relaxation, strength, clarity?
Once you have your answer, turn it into an affirmation—something simple you can return to throughout class:
✨ "I am strong."
✨ "I am at peace."
✨ "I move with ease."
Breathe it in. Let it guide your movements. Let it shape your experience.
6. Communicate with Your Teacher & Listen to Your Body
I vividly remember a practice session shortly after I transitioned into full-time yoga teaching. Ignoring everything I had learned in my training and fueled by the belief that my practice needed to look a certain way, I forced my body into the shape of a pose rather than feeling my way into what was possible. Seconds later, I was on the floor—in pain.
This was my reminder: yoga isn’t about achieving a shape. It’s about deepening awareness.
Yoga is invisible. It’s not about what you see—it’s about what you experience. The physical practice was originally designed to prepare the body for long periods of seated meditation, not to perform postures for aesthetic appeal. Don’t let the external overshadow the true purpose of yoga: quieting the mind.
"Yoga is the control of the fluctuations of the mind." — Yoga Sutra 1.2 (Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah)
So instead of chasing a pose, focus on what truly matters:
If you have injuries or tension, let your instructor know—they can suggest modifications.
If there’s a posture you’re curious about, ask! Maybe you saw something intriguing and want to explore it—having a vested interest makes class even more engaging.
No idea what you need? Simply say, “I’d love to focus on my hips today.” Teachers love feedback and are happy to accommodate.
Above all, listen to your body. Forget about “achieving” headstand or full lotus—forcing yourself into a pose can lead to injury. Instead, let your breath guide you, stay present with your sensations, and trust that how you practice matters far more than what you practice.
7. Embrace Savasana & Post-Class Integration
Ah, savasana—the ultimate reward. But if you’re a power yoga lover like me, you might be tempted to rush through it or let your mind wander. I’ve spent years trying to reverse chronic pain, and only recently did I start to truly understand and appreciate the power of stillness. The more I commit to savasana, the more at ease I feel—not just in class, but throughout my day.
If you, like me, are naturally drawn to the work of yoga—the heat, the strength, the challenge—remember that yoga is about balance. Strength and surrender. Movement and stillness.
The benefits of stillness are beyond words and beyond comprehension. Challenge yourself to do it well.
Final relaxation isn’t just lying down—it’s where your nervous system integrates all the benefits of your practice.
If you experience chronic pain, stress, or inflammation, this is where deep healing can happen.
The more you slow down after practice, the more you’ll feel the benefits off the mat as well.
So don’t rush out the door and straight into your to-do list. Savor the stillness. Let it settle. Because the ultimate promise of yoga isn’t just to help you feel good while you’re practicing—it’s to teach you how to carry that presence and relaxation into the rest of your life.
Conclusion
Yoga isn’t just what happens in class—it’s everything around it. When you approach your practice with care, intention, and presence, it becomes more than a workout—it becomes a way of being.
Try incorporating even one or two of these tips into your routine and see how your practice transforms.
💬 "Do you have a pre-class routine or post-class ritual that makes your yoga practice feel more special? Share it below!"