Rubber Soul has a Clown Club that you can read all about here...

1. We're pretty easy-going, but we do request that you arrive 10 minutes early, take off your shoes when entering the studio, turn off the ringer on your phone, and avoid wearing strong perfumes or deodorants. 

2. When you enter the practice space, settle in and possibly sit in stillness.

3. Wear exercise clothing. Form-fitting shirts are best so that during forward bends or inversions your top won't fall around your face. We practice barefoot (in general--that is--you can wear socks if you like).

4. Bring your yoga mat. If you forget or don't have one, you can rent one for a dollar.  (Note: Having you own mat is most hygenic and therefore recommended. What kind to get? Jade Rubber Mat.)

5. When returning the blankets, stack them neatly--the fringe side to the wall. This is very important. Otherwise the wall becomes unstable.

Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution is located in the Leathers Building at 675 Pulaski Street (in Athens, Georgia). Pulaski runs alongside Phoenix Health Foods, the 40 Watt Club, Snow Tire, and Athens Blueprint. Then it crosses Prince Avenue and ducks into a neighborhood. The Leathers Building is about three blocks into this neighborhood, just before the railroad tracks. We are about halfway down the building, in suite number 1400. Come in through the back door (near the railroad tracks). here's a MAP.

The building looks like this:

Walk around the right side of the building, along the railroad tracks, and look for a sign that says, "Y o G a" (in funny letters).

We lock the doors once class begins so plan to come early.

All students must sign a waiver. We have these at the desk. If you are under 18, you need to have a guardian sign it. If your guardian isn't coming to the first class, then print the waiver out and bring it along.

I'm new to yoga; what level class should I take?
Try any of the classes listed as "Yoga." You are welcome to join in. The first few classes may feel a bit awkward, but soon you'll have a good sense of how it is done. Why not give it a try and see how you like it? At any time you can modify poses or rest. Also the Gentle Yoga class is an excellent choice.

How does the library work?
Our library is entirely straight-forward. You deposit $20 (there is a cute little envelope to put it in) and check out one book at a time. You can keep it for 30 days. If it is still not back in 90 days, you lose your deposit. Otherwise, you may have your deposit back whenever you are ready to stop reading, move towns, or pay rent. We keep the check-out cards in a rather odd glass case with a strange fabric animal housed at the base.

Is Yoga a religion?
Not exactly--you can practice it alongside your religion (or imaginative atheism) without conflict. You don't need to "believe in" anything. And yet there are certain concepts and practices in yoga that are... spiritual.... with metaphysical implications... Yoga Journal has an interesting article on this topic.

Does Yoga have ethical imperatives?
Um... basically, yes. The first and most important of these is Ahimsa or non-violence. For thoughts on this see the non-violence guide. Also there is Satya, which means seeking and then speaking truth, Asteya, which means interrogating one's behavior to be sure that one isn't unconsciously stealing from others (maybe beings who live in the future, in a world filled with the consequences of our present behaviors), Brahmcharya, which means being responsible in sexual relations, and Aparigraha, which involves shifting from a materialist focus to values based on community and connection. If you pay attention to all these imperatives, then your yoga and life will progress more smoothly.

How is Rubber Soul 100% carbon-neutral?
Our power usage is provided by wind sources, some of which are in India. Therefore, when you notice the air conditioner blowing, that is breeze coming from the birthplace of yoga, not a coal-burning power plant. You can offset your personal carbon footprint too.

What music do you recommend for deep relaxation?
Snatam Kaur's music is absolutely soothing. The recording called Prem is really wonderful.

Is it safe to use community mats?
It would be wiser to use your own yoga mat.

I think I'm ready to get a mat... what sort of mat ought I to buy?
I'm most in favor of the Jade/Harmony Rubber Mat because the grip is excellent, the materials are natural, and the price isn't too steep. This is the kind we have at the studio. I myself (this is Cal talking here) use the Manduka BlackMat which we also have in the studio. It is quite sturdy, doesn't absorb moisture, and ought to last *forever* but it is really heavy so if you are on a bike or walking I wouldn't buy that one.

Can I bring my kids?
Well, quite possibly, yes. We have a front room (the Library) which has some couches and a lot of books. Kids could hang out there while you do yoga. We can lock the door so no one comes in. The question is: Would your child enjoy being unsupervised for 1.5 hours?

The classes are full. What do I do?
Sorry about that. At the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters, the place gets crowded.  Here are some suggestions: 1) Come at any time other than 5:30 in the evening, 2) Come 15 minutes early, 3) Consider going to another yoga studio during peak times. Athens has many, including
the Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens Five Points Yoga, Sangha Yoga Studio, Bikram of Athens.