Millions of people around the world are doing yoga. And at the same time, there are millions of those who want to start, yet something is keeping them from going to their first class. Let’s take a look at the most popular yoga myths and find out why they are not true.
You have to be flexible to do yoga
Not being flexible is the reason why you should do yoga. And in case you don’t have enough flexibility to do some asanas, there are always yoga blocks and other yoga props to help you master any pose.
Yoga is for young people
Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s impossible to be too old to start yoga. In fact, we recently wrote about a 100-year old yogi who went to her first yoga class at the age of 67. At 97 she was still doing headstands, and she didn’t skip her weekly yoga class on her 100th birthday.
Yoga is boring
So many people, so many minds. But you should know that even if yoga seems boring to you at your first class, this may change over time. Many people give up yoga after a few classes, but then rediscover it again and can no longer live without it. Yoga is not only about standing in the same pose for long seconds, it’s also about doing challenging poses that can be practised anywhere: from sandy beaches to city streets. Remember when we wrote about Sara Ticha who has an Instagram account showing photos of her doing incredible poses in urban surroundings. Do you still think yoga is boring?
Yoga is for women
They say that in America only about 20% of all people doing yoga are men. And with all the advertising for women’s yoga clothing, it doesn’t come as a surprise that people think of yoga as some activity similar to pilates and stretching that women normally prefer. But yoga is equally beneficial for both men and women.
In India where yoga was born, men are involved in yoga as much as women are (if not more). And the most noted yoga practitioners are men.
Many sportsmen do yoga as it helps them greatly to relieve the sore muscles after exhausting games, and many men are prescribed yoga as a second to none cure against the lower back pain. And if you are concerned about not being able to do some poses, you can always do yoga at home.
Yoga is for every age and every body. It can be practised anywhere without any equipment. And the time spent on yoga will pay off with improved health and peaceful mind. There is really no reason why you shouldn’t do yoga.
