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Cultural Differences in Yoga Classes Up & Down the East Coast

4/8/2014

 
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We've all been there and we all know the feeling: You arrive to a yoga class just a few minutes before it starts (or even late), walk into the room, mat in hand, and see that there's no spot for you. There could be, if people moved over a bit, but there's no mat-sized space available, just waiting for you to claim it. 

Sometimes there may be a space way up in the front, next to the teacher, but unless you're a regular front-of-the-room-yogi, you would never go there. 

So, you pick a space that's almost wide enough for a mat, and then politely ask the person next to you to scoot over a bit so that you can fit. Depending on their mood, you may get a very kind "of course!," or you may get a dirty look and a very small shift, with a sigh and lots of dramatic movements. You just never know what to expect.

The other day, this happened to me at a studio here on the Cape. I asked my neighbor to move, not expecting a super smiley, warm reception (I'm in New England now, and have adjusted to the more reserved way of communicating here), but was surprised by a very talkative, very open, very southern-ish response from my neighbor. We began chatting it up, and our conversation ended up covering mat spacing, New England personalities, and the difference between social interactions in the South vs. the North.

After our interaction, I spent a bit of the first part of the class (I know, I know...) thinking about all of the various places that I've lived, and how the cultural differences in these places can become apparent in yoga classes. 

As someone who spends most of my time in yoga studios, I think it's only natural that I pick up on the differences in this setting, and sometimes, I think that the yoga studio can be a microcosm of the place that surrounds it. So, I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of the differences that I've noticed in the four main places that I've lived and practiced, as shallow and silly as they might be...

Thus, here are some of the cultural differences (that I've noticed) in yoga classes up & down the east coast:

Mat placement...
  • NYC: Mats are all over each other because the studio is small, it's packed with too many people, and there's just no damn space in New York. People are used to cramming into tiny spaces so don't think much of it (Think: on the subway). 
  • Washington, DC: Everyone knows his or her spot, people place their mats in grids and straight lines, and everyone notices if someone's mat is in the "wrong" place. [Type-A central.] 
  • Atlanta: It doesn't matter where the mats are, and wherever they are, students will make conversation with the yogis around them. If they have to scoot closer together, no problem, they can make small talk more easily! 
  • New England: Personal space capitol of the world. Everyone likes about a foot of floor space around their mat on every side, but students are much more relaxed about where in the room their mat is spaced, what direction it's facing, and whether or not it is in a grid. 

Community chit chat...
  • NYC: Latest restaurant, film, or show opening. 
  • Washington, DC: Government happenings. 
  • Atlanta: Why not get personal with a stranger? 
  • New England: Weather (because it's crazy). 

Yoga clothing...
  • NYC: Outfits worn to yoga--especially by teachers--are often more fashionable and avant-garde than the clothing that I would wear on a big night out. 
  • Washington, DC: Lululemon all the way.
  • Atlanta: Whatever is coolest (temperature-wise). 
  • New England: Whatever is warmest--often this mean layers for days.  

The way teachers talk/teach...
  • NYC: It's not rare to have a teacher with a fabulously exotic accent, or whose OM sounds like the lead vocals in a Broadway musical.  
  • Washington, DC: Lots of type-A teachers who are clear, follow directions, may talk more quickly, or do more planning, or give all options possible to ensure that they're covering all of the bases. 
  • Atlanta: Hearing a "y'all" in class is totally normal.
  • New England: Hearing a "wicked" in class is totally normal. 

Reaction to touch/hands-on assists...
  • NYC: Yes, please. Your thoughtful assist is way more therapeutic than the weirdly-placed hand of the person who I was smushed against in the elevator this morning. 
  • Washington, DC: Sure, you can assist me, but only if you know what you're doing and it helps me to better align my pose. 
  • Atlanta: Why not? We touch when we tell a story, make a joke, see a friend, or meet a stranger!
  • New England: Um, okay...I do like my personal space, but I have to admit that once I received the assist, I was very grateful and it helped me to relax. 

What do you think? Have anything to add? How does yoga differ on the West Coast? In the Midwest? Obviously these are gross generalizations, and there are many people who don't fit into these molds in every place, but I do find differences like these interesting and fun.

Now, um, could you scoot over a bit so that I can fit my mat, my bolster, my blanket, my two blocks, my purse, and my gigantic water bottle into this tiny space between you and your neighbor? Kthankx. ;) 
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Andrea link
4/7/2014 10:49:17 pm

this is hilarious and all so true! DC is so Type-A. I notice this in TT, in class, on the street, in the metro, in myself. ahhh! But dammit, nobody better ever take my spot by the Wilson door!! xo :)

Tara B.
4/8/2014 12:10:48 am

omg I love this! So true!
I admit that I can be a little OCD about my mat placement in class haha. And I'm not even joking when I say that one of my good friends/recent yoga buddy and I both have nightmares on at least a weekly basis on being late for class at TSA and not being able to put our mat behind a star. lmao.

I've also only ever done Pilates in upstate NY when I was in college and of course here in the DC area at the studio where I work, but I always hear from our clients who have lived on or traveled to the west coast that west coast Pilates is very different from east coast Pilates. West coast Pilate is apparently more relaxed and they take it at a bit of a slower pace than on the east coast. How funny!

Caroline link
4/8/2014 02:34:07 am

haha this is so true! When I moved to NYC, I went to the same studio that I go to here in MA and I expected it to be the same but it was totally different! I definitely like my space in the room, but in NY no one cared about that.. so I had to adjust. By the end of my time in NYC I didn't care where my mat was or where anyone else was, which I think actually really strengthened my practice :)

Whitney
4/9/2014 10:50:17 am

I get so annoyed when mats aren't lined up in class and I notice that I always end up spreading my props out around me taking up extra space. Having lived my entire life in either DC or New England this totally makes sense!

anita
4/10/2014 03:38:34 pm

Love this! you should submit this to yoganonomous! I totally get the DC and NYC connection having practiced in both places. Gotta think of something to send you about Egypt!
much love, Anita


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    HELLO!

    I'm Mary Catherine, a Cape Cod-based yoga teacher, painter, designer, writer, mom, and list-maker extraordinaire. My goal is to inspire you to start living a more creative, simple, joyful, + purposeful life. 
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  • HOME
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