Many myths about yoga unfortunately can make people a bit hesitant to get on a mat and start flowing. While trying something new can be intimidating, it’s worth it to at least try it anyway, especially if you have nothing to lose and potentially something to gain.
One of the main reasons why I started yoga was because I loved how peaceful the yogis looked every time I’d walk past the yoga studio, and at the time, I was experiencing quite a bit of stress managing school, work, and life. Although I was slightly hesitant because I wasn’t familiar with yoga at all, I wanted to do something that could potentially help ease my stress, so I finally signed up for the class. And thankfully, I haven’t looked back since.
If you’re curious about yoga and want to develop a deeper and more mindful practice, here are a few common yoga myths to stop believing right now.
1. You have to be flexible
This is probably the main reason I hear people say why they can’t practice yoga, however, yoga is how you become flexible. I know you’ve likely come across so many beautiful images of yoga enthusiasts who appear to be contortionists or acrobats on Instagram, but yoga is so much more than asanas (also referred to as poses). It’s more important to focus on breathing through where you are in the asana, rather than “mastering” it. When you learn to breathe through the poses, you’re focusing more on where you are in that moment and allowing yourself to approach the pose with ease, which eventually helps you get deeper into the poses as you begin to expand your practice. To put it simply, it’s a process — the more you practice, the more flexible you become — and that’s just one of the beautiful, yet, small pieces of practicing yoga.
2. Yoga is only for a certain type of people
As I mentioned before, there are so many beautiful things about yoga – one of the main things is how diverse it is. Yoga isn’t just for the petite, Lululemon-wearing, “Let’s grab a latte after practice” type of girl.
NAH.
There are so many shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and men who practice yoga, too. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that type of yogi I previously described but, there are thicker, rap music-loving yogis, as well as so many other lovers of yoga. We’re all connected more than we think we are.
3. Yoga isn’t for Christians or other types of religions
Okay, so this is something I have received questions about and have responded with the same response every single time – yoga is for EVERY BODY. Yoga translates to “union” and is a mindful movement that helps bridge the connection between the body and mind. While yoga has been associated with Hinduism or Buddhism, yoga doesn’t emphasize following a certain religion or worshiping a certain type of God. The core of yoga is the practice of introspection and self-awareness, which is essentially what makes this practice beneficial to everyone.
If you’re curious bout yoga and ready to start your journey on your mat, check out this 10-minute yoga sequence to get your day started!