Yoga Myths Debunked

Yoga is an ancient practice that has developed over thousands of years. As the practice continues to become more popular and yoga inspired workouts and influencers flood social media accounts, it’s easy to get the wrong impression of what yoga is truly all about. Here are some myths debunked to set the record straight. 

Myth #1: You need to be flexible to do yoga.

Fact: It’s a little “chicken and egg”. You will certainly find flexible people in yoga, though many of them did not start this way. Most people find their flexibility increased because they started yoga. Like many things, it makes sense to practice things you would like to get better at. There are also many styles of yoga where the objective is to open and release tension in the muscles of the body. This will look different on different people but how it feels is the primary focus.

Myth #2: Yoga is mostly stretching.

Fact: Stretching can be large part of yoga but it equally includes breath work, meditation, and potentially lots of strength building. Yoga is not always a “rest and recovery” day activity for super active people, and it can certainly serve as a complete workout on its own. Before signing up for a class it helps to understand the style of the class and instructor as classes range from restorative and gentle to intense power/core classes, or themed classes that focus on a certain skill or area of the body (arms, shoulders, hips, etc). If you have only tried yoga a handful of times and didn’t like it, it’s worth testing out different types of classes and instructors to find one that suits your style!

Myth #3: Yoga is for people who are “in shape”.

Fact: Yoga is truly for every shape, size, and ability. Yoga is there to meet you where you are in that moment. A good instructor will offer proper modifications that are appropriate for your body/level so you can get the most out of your practice. Yoga also encourages non-judgment of yourself and others, so if you feel self-conscious or critical, yoga is a great way to alleviate these unpleasant feelings. Many people have used yoga to rehabilitate injuries and address other health concerns such as weight gain/loss, sleep difficulties, digestive issues, and heart problems. It is always good to inform your instructors of any health concerns/injuries you may have so they may pay special attention to these concerns.

Myth #4: Doing modifications or using props in yoga is cheating.

Fact: When it comes to deciding when to use props or modifications, we may notice our ego preoccupied with what it thinks a pose should look like, or with what the person next to us is doing. We must try to balance this with an understanding that it may be beneficial and wise to modify or use props to help with form and alignment. This gives us a deeper and more honest understanding of our own bodies based on feeling and sensation from which we can grow. As you settle into a pose or have practiced it for a while, you may find there is no longer a need for props or you are ready for a more advanced expression of the pose. This is part of the exploration and self-discovery that makes yoga so effective. So by all means use the props and modifications as part of the journey. When you get to the destination, the view is so much more beautiful! 

Myth 5: Yoga forces your body into crazy poses.

Fact: There is sometimes a perception that yoga requires contorting your body or forcing it into unnatural positions. It is true that after an intelligent and consistent practice you might surprise yourself with what your body is capable of, but it is not as a result of some expectation or pressure you or an instructor puts on you. Images you see of very advanced poses happen over time through a thoughtful and sometimes very slow progression of exercises that continue to build upon each other like building blocks. Most importantly, there is no deadline. You might think of it as putting money in the bank. If you were to add a seemingly small amount every day, it will eventually add up and you will find yourself further along than when you started.

Interested in introducing yoga to your organization for the first time? Reach out to info@vohanwellness.com for our beginner friendly sessions!