Here are three things I hear A LOT as a yoga instructor.
- “I have to be limber or have a certain physique.” I hear this ALL the time and it really irks me! I suffered from terrible sciatica in my early 20s. I wasn’t an active person and my body already felt “old”. I couldn’t touch my toes… I could barely even touch my shins. But through a regular yoga practice I healed my body and gained flexibility. I am able to do things now that I never thought were possible. Yoga is for ALL bodies, ages, and abilities! In summary, you do yoga to gain flexibility… it’s not a requirement to start!
- “It doesn’t align with my religion, and I’ve heard it’s a way to take me away from my faith.” True that yoga has a spiritual element to it. But any yogic text I’ve ever read that was written by elder yogis, never specifies a religion. There is mention of “God” in the texts and yoga is a way to become closer to “God”. But that can mean whatever you want it to mean – your version of “God” from your religion or just the divine self. I, personally, don’t add much of a spiritual element to my classes. Yoga can certainly be used as just a form of exercise if that’s all you wish to gain from it.
- “Yoga is just for women.” Actually, it wasn’t until about the 1940s that women were even allowed to practice yoga. In fact, anyone who visits the local studio in Ellensburg will see quite a few male students and teachers! Yoga can be a really intense workout when you are taking Power Classes, Ashtanga, and learning arm balances. It’s not just stretching, meditation, and singing Kumbayah… although that sounds pretty nice! I think a lot of men would be surprised that their idea of yoga is totally wrong if they actually took a class. Yoga is a great supplement to other sports which is why many sports teams and athletes are jumping on board. Professional athletes in football, baseball, basketball, and golf are crediting yoga for increased flexibility and agility, improving the way they play their game and feeling better in the process!
Is there a myth about yoga you need me to sort out? What have you heard about yoga and always wondered if it’s true?
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