It is a known fact of the gods since the dawn of man that January is the month that we are all suddenly fitness freaks.  We start the year off with such lovely intentions. We actually sweat. We faithfully do our reps. We go for early morning runs. And some of us start piling into yoga classes at alarming rates. 20-10, very zen — that’s a good little motto, right?

Well, some of you aren’t very zen at all!  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali date back to the second century BCE, and yet this beautiful discipline sometimes comes crashing into the reality of modern America, cell phones and all. I myself have been a happy yogini for about five years now, picking it up when I realized there wasn’t a big enough bag to pull over my head and entire body to shield me from the obnoxiousness of my local gym. Sometimes I’m left wide-eyed at the behavior of some chicas. Here’s a short and informal guide to getting the most out of the yoga environment.

1) Hopefully get to class on time.

I know traffic can sometimes interfere with that 7 p.m. yoga class, but you’re not doing yourself or anyone else a favor when you come clattering into class eight minutes late to dump your keys in the cubby and stomp into the room. Giving yourself a little pillow of time will help you center yourself and get your yoga breath going.  And most importantly, you will have time to let your instructor where you’re having any tightness or suffering from an injury so he or she can modify your practice so you do not worsen your pain. Although we do know sometimes being late is simply what happens to us on weekdays.

2) You don’t have to be the loudest person on the planet should you be late!

Huffing, puffing, stomping, dropping and unrolling that yoga mat, crikey!  How can anybody concentrate. Yoga is about looking inward, and you can’t look inward when someone has just goose-stepped across the studio.  You’ve snuck back into your parents house at least once in your life before, right?  Cultivate that same quietness in a yoga studio and you’ve already begun your journey toward awareness.

3) Nobody cares that you love Shalimar.

As you fully explore a yoga practice, you will certainly hear about Ujjayi breath, an audible breath you maintain to help you concentrate and get your oxygen flowing.  Step one – breath in through the nose!  Nothing is more distracting than the heavy scent of the person on the next mat.  It simply won’t make for the best experience for your neighbors.  No need to dose yourself in perfume before yoga class anyway. You’re here to hopefully get a bit of a sweat-on!

4) Don’t stare, don’t compete!

You didn’t come to yoga just to show everyone all your crazy arm balance poses.  You’re not here to compare perky yoga butts or stare at your neighbor’s love handles as she stretches into Reverse Warrior 2.  Another lesson one learns on the eternal yoga path is acceptance, as well as recognizing and finding some contentment.  Having trouble feeling strong and confident in yoga class? Simply close your eyes! Focus on your experience, and not someone else’s, and contentment will be right around the corner.

5) Don’t worry!

I’ve heard from so many yoga newbies that they almost worry when it comes to coming to class.  Oh, it’s too crowded, I just hit the lady’s arm next to me.  I’ve never done this before, am I going to be okay?  I don’t know Sanskrit!  Oh, just let it go. Yoga isn’t something you ever really master.  Poses can go on forever, they can be infinite, did you know that?  You can always go deeper, and even your own yoga teacher is still exploring new places to go with her practice. Yoga is a journey, not a destination, so don’t worry that you’ll miss your flight.