By our guest blogger Erica Rodefer, the Spoiled Yogi

1. Dogs. What is with yoga people and their dogs? We tend to become obsessed with their wisdom, loyalty, and general warm fuzziness.

2. Tofu, Goji Berries, Kombucha, and lots of other weird miracle foods and drinks that sound so exotic grandmothers everywhere are bewildered by their very mention.

3. Hiking (and so-ugly-they’re-cute “outdoors” shoes).. I have two pair.

4. The beach and sometimes surfing.

5. Showing off their bods in expensive, stretchy yoga clothes. I know it’s a little shocking, but I really do love yoga clothes..

6. Incense and Essential Oils (Lavender or Eucalyptus..MmmmHmmmm!)

7. Protests and Boycotts. We yogis like to vote with our dollars—and boy do we hold a grudge! BP? Never again!

8. Making sure everyone knows what chemicals could cause cancer. You aren’t going to eat that are you!? Don’t you know that burnt marshmallow could give you cancer?

9. Michael Franti, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, MC Yogi, and Snatam Kaur.

10. Babies. There’s a reason every yoga studio offers prenatal yoga… Yoga people LOVE babies.

11. Indian Culture. Hindu goddess statues, Om T-shirts, Henna tattoos… When I spot any of these things, I know I’ve probably met another member of the club. (Actually, it’s not much different from gang colors, come to think of it.)

12. Naps. If we didn’t like resting, most of us probably would’ve signed up for Zumba instead of our first yoga class. (What is Zumba, anyway?)

13. Running. Bicycling. Swimming. Rock Climbing. Dancing. Hula Hooping. Yoga people like other kinds of movement, too.

14. Giving to charity.

15. Sharing yoga with anyone who will listen. It’s no coincidence that yoga has grown so rapidly in the last decade. Everyone who gets really into yoga eventually enrolls in a teacher training—and then, we pass it on.

It won’t be long before we take over the world.

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By our guest blogger Erica Rodefer, the Spoiled Yogi

I’m always amazed at the rampant misconceptions about yoga. Even here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where yoga studios are as common as Starbucks, people think yoga is all about stretching and being healthy. I guess it can be that, but it can also be much more. Here are the things I wish everyone understood about yoga.

1. It doesn’t matter how flexible or inflexible you are. Really. There’s no prize. It doesn’t make you happier. Stop suffering and learn to love the body you have! It doesn’t matter how flexible or inflexible you are. Really. Being flexible won’t make you happier. There’s no prize.  Stop suffering and learn to love the body you have!

2. Don’t get hung up on how you look in a pose. Everyone else in class is focusing on their own pose. They don’t care about your yoga clothes (unless you’re wearing a thong). Let this be your first lesson in ego management.

3. It’s OK if you don’t know what the Sanskrit words mean. The only people in the room who do are teachers or big yoga dorks.

4. It’s not religious—unless you want it to be. Your practice should be unique to you. You’re allowed to make it as spiritual, religious, fitness oriented (or not) as you want. (If someone tells you otherwise, please have them call me.)

5. Yoga is an art form, a science, a lifestyle, and a philosophy. But more than anything, it’s a way to get to know yourself better. And that’s something that benefits us all.

For more from the Spoiled Yogi Yoga Blog click here

By our guest blogger Erica Rodefer, the Spoiled Yogi

1. When your teacher sees you struggling, she remembers what it was like when she first struggled with that pose, too. You might not get permission to come out of the pose early, but your teacher is oozing with compassion for you and hoping you will learn the same lessons from it that she did.

2. Though yoga teachers do get a crash course in anatomy, injuries are probably not your teacher’s forte unless he has experienced that injury at some point himself. It’s your responsibility to take care of your body and make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard.

3. By trade your yoga teacher is probably not a comedian. She tries her best to entertain you during class and tells all her best jokes. She really wishes you’d at least give her a courtesy chuckle—even when she’s not funny.

4. Unless your teacher is a special case, he’s probably not making much money teaching. Instead, he’s sharing his knowledge with you because he loves yoga and he wants to share it. He deserves your respect and appreciation.

5. Your teacher may appear nearly perfect to you—perfect poses, perfect body, cute yoga clothes or dazzling personality & mdah,- but she’s struggling with her own issues, trust me! We all find yoga because we need it. We’re all human. And we all have faults—many faults. 

So, how about it, teachers? What else do you wish your students knew?

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