You don’t need a yoga mat to start yoga. There’s a whole heap of mats for you to use at Bad Hand Studio each time you come. Over time, you might find that having your own mat is preferable, and means you can practice at home more comfortably too. There’s a wide range of mats available, but that’s for another time.

Absolutely not. If you’re feeling stiff and inflexible, that’s a reason to step on the mat, not shy away from it. However, some classes might have a different pace and could include more dynamic and stronger physical postures. Beginners are welcome at all of my classes.

I know how you feel. I’ve been there. Yoga is a very personal practice, and when people roll their mat out in class and begin practicing, they are going to be paying attention to their alignment, how the posture feels, their breath, and maybe some instruction.

What I’m trying to say, is that in all honesty, people are too focussed on themselves, to notice what the person next to or behind them are doing. You could be sat next to someone with an injury that limits their movement, or a beginner that happens to be be hypermobile.

There are mixed abilities in all my classes, but just because you can’t make a certain shape, doesn’t mean you aren’t getting something from it.

No. I remember chanting, om-ing, and all the heavier spiritual stuff being quite a barrier for me. It made me feel uncomfortable to begin with. So I don’t bring them into my open classes.

If you come to Mysore classes, you’re welcome to chant, do the opening mantra and om. And in my monthly led Primary classes we do the opening mantra together - but even in those situations, you don’t have to do any of it - it can feel weird, right? - and I don’t want it to be a barrier for entry for anyone.