Hey Yogis: Stop Apologizing for Your Sweat!

Last night, I taught a sweaty practice in a room heated to 88 degrees (with very low ceilings). As I approached a student to give him an assist in savasana, he opened his eyes and whispered, "I'm really sweaty."  "I know," I said, "we all are." And then I proceeded to give him a little neck and head massage.

On Monday, after class, a woman I had assisted a few times near the end of class approached me, "I'm sorry I was so sweaty," she said. "Is that normal? Was I the only one?" I assured her that she wasn't. 

I get these questions, comments, and/or apologies from students at least once per week. Often, it's people who haven't been to my class before--or in a while--who aren't used to my assisting or being touched when sweaty. I get it. In fact, before I was a teacher, I remember cringing inside when someone massaged my sweaty back and shoulders in child's pose.

In light of these comments and my own memories surrounding this subject, I want to set the record straight; I can't speak for all teachers, but I can speak for myself:

I know you're sweaty. I can see the beads of sweat and the wet clothing and hair, and I still make the informed decision to touch you. I know what I'm getting into and it doesn't phase me.

I currently teach 8 classes per week, and in most of them, people get pretty sweaty--especially the heated ones (of which I teach 3). If I avoided sweaty people when teaching, I would give very few assists and I wouldn't enjoy teaching half as much. 

Most people sweat in my classes. Yes, some people sweat more than others, but there's a lot of moisture in the room and I've spent so much time with sweaty people that sweat hardly registers anymore. If my hands get covered in your sweat, I dry them off, use a little [natural] hand sanitizer* between students, and then go along my merry way. 

If I didn't want to touch your sweat, I wouldn't touch you. I know what I'm doing, and I so appreciate your looking out for me, but please, stop apologizing for your sweat. 

Deal? Deal. 

Oh, and for future reference, you may want to bring a towel to class with you so that you can dry off every once in a while. Not for me, of course, but for yourself. I think you'll be more comfortable if you're a little less slippery and drippy ;)  

*Are you still using regular hand sanitizer? Stop! A friend recently informed me that not only is it bad for the environment, it may be dangerous for YOU {learn more here}. Switch over to an all natural version and you'll be safer! Thanks for the info, Amanda ;)