Prompt: What makes your practice space a "sacred space"? Consider the sounds, decorations, rules, behaviors and other aspects of the practice space that create an opportunity for ritual experience

Response: The space I practice yoga in is set up in a way that resembles a church to me. There is a shrine of sorts in the front of the classroom, with Ganesh and large crystals upon it. Incense is left burning at the shrine to cleanse the space. There are depictions of the seven chakras on the walls. Soothing, rhythmic music is played for the duration of the practice that is often spoken in a language I do not recognize. All of our mats face the shrine at the front, where our instructor also stands to lead the practice. It is understood that the practice is to be judgement free, and that you aren't supposed to speak during it. You must also do the practice barefoot, and place your shoes into cubbies outside the actual practice space before entering. The instructor leads the class by encouraging those taking it to set an intention for the class before beginning that would carry them through the class's duration, and at times during the class reminds them to return to their intention if they are feeling challenged by a pose. At the end of the class, everyone lies still for shavasana, and the instructor comes around to rub each student's temples with essential oil. After shavasana, the students are told to gradually bring awareness back into the body by wiggling their fingers and toes before curling into a fetal position on their right side and then coming into a seated position with their hands at their hearts in a prayer pose. At the end of the class, the instructor says "the light in me honors and respects the light in each of you. Namaste." The students reply with "namaste" and bow, signaling the end of the class. All of this does not change each class, even if the actual flow of the practice changes, which makes it feel ritual to me in addition to the appearance of the classroom itself.