12 myths about Yoga
Saying that you have to be flexible to do yoga is like saying that you have to be fit to go to the gym, or that you have to be clean to take a shower. There may be a connection between yoga and flexibility, but flexibility is not a prerequisite for practicing yoga.
"To do yoga, you don't need to touch your toes. If you want to touch your toes, bend your knees, " says Kelly DiNardo, a 200-hour registered yoga teacher. "The flexibility you do not have to depend on whether you are engaged in practice. Over time, yoga can help you become more flexible - that's why we call it practice."
2. Yoga for the thin, young and beautiful
The image of yoga is of thin, lithe, beautiful young women who gather in the studio and on the beach to perfect their body curves, which they then post on social media. the image is certainly attractive, and it has definitely helped to generate interest in yoga practice, but this is a misrepresentation of the true image of yoga.
"It pains me to think that people are afraid to do yoga because of what they see on the internet," says the online fitness trainer. "Yoga is for you, me, our sisters, brothers, nephews, grandparents. Yoga for everyone. In fact, yoga means union."
according to a 2016 survey, only 19 percent of practitioners fell into the 18-29 age group, with the vast majority of practitioners over the age of 30, and 38 percent of them fell into the "50+"category.
As for the "subtle" misconception, this is simply not true. you don't have to be thin (or beautiful) to do yoga - yoga is for everyone.
3. Yoga is a religion
to the uninitiated westerner, much of yoga may seem "religious" and, of course, there is a spiritual element to the practice, but it is important to understand that yoga itself is not a religion.
"I often hear this myth among Christians," says the author of a blog about yoga and meditation. "it comes from the indian roots of yoga, where mantras and chants have been used for many years. They are designed to focus your attention and help you wake up inwardly, but they are not necessary for the practice of yoga."
"There is a spiritual element that encourages you to connect with a higher power, but it is not confessional, so you can practice yoga as a practice of any religion."
4. Only vegetarian hippies do yoga
It is true that yoga is a practice that encourages self-awareness, love and connection with the world. As practitioners become more attentive and conscious in their actions, many make choices that seem "hippie-like"to the outside world.
Many who practice yoga have really given up meat in favor of peace, they are life-loving and friendly. But this does not mean that all people who practice yoga must be the same. This is a purely personal choice of everyone.
5. Yoga is just stretching
You won't believe it, but yoga is not stretching. Yes, when you go to a typical yoga class, you perform a series of asanas (poses) that are very similar to stretching, but the physical element of yoga is only part of the larger picture.
"Yoga is about breathing," says Rose. "The true purpose of yoga is to move your body, connect with your breath, and be in the present moment. The actual only 'goal' is to release excess energy so that you can sit and meditate, in classical terms."
This is why yoga is considered a practice, not a workout. Being a practitioner is not only what happens for sixty minutes on a yoga mat, but also what you take with you from that 60-minute session to carry with you for the rest of the day.
6. Yoga is too simple
To be honest, there are several "easy" poses in yoga, that is, if you define "easy" as "not physically difficult". Shavasana and baby pose come to mind as poses that won't necessarily make you sweat.
if you're the type of person who likes to run a lot, lift weights, do intense workouts, and just break a sweat from the activity, you might look at yoga and think, " oh, that's too slow and not enough..." you might even think, " my workout time is precious, why would i waste it on something less efficient than my normal daily routine?»
Yoga is not necessarily traditionally "difficult", but it is much more difficult than many people think. Postures involve muscles that are not often used or usually not held in static or isometric contraction. Not to mention the fact that yoga postures place your body in a less familiar position. The result? newcomers are likely to come out of the classroom with a thought: "Wow, this was harder than I expected."
For those of you who are still skeptical about "wasting" precious time on yoga classes, pay attention to the following:
1. Yoga is not meant to be a traditional exercise, but you can make it as difficult or easy as you want. For athletes who don't appreciate basic dog-down poses and baby poses, there are plenty of yoga poses like crow or scorpion that present an incredible challenge.
2. Yoga offers many health benefits beyond burning calories, which many athletes will benefit from. Balance, coordination, static strength, flexibility, and mindfulness are all benefits of practicing yoga, and they are also considered fitness components associated with skills that can improve overall performance in your chosen sport or activity.
3. do not draw conclusions until you try. yoga is often a challenge for athletes because it forces them to work out in ways they don't normally train. Just because something seems simple doesn't mean it's really that simple.
7. Yoga is too difficult
Yoga may seem unfamiliar to someone who has not practiced it, and many people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone to try something new. They may fear that they will not be able to perform poses, that they will not be able to follow them, or, in the case of athletes, that they will feel inept when they usually feel confident taking on physical challenges.
If you are held back by fear, this is an indicator that you can still try yoga. There are many positions and modifications of poses that take into account individual differences and ability levels.
8. Do not do yoga during pregnancy
While it may seem difficult at times, exercise is good for a healthy pregnancy, and yoga is considered a safe and good option for expectant mothers if you exercise in a safe way.
Yes, you should practice yoga during pregnancy, but with caution. During pregnancy and, to a lesser extent, during menstruation, the female body produces the hormone relaxin. The function of relaxin is to prepare the body for the upcoming birth by relaxing or making your muscles, connective tissue and joints more flexible and malleable to a greater range of movements, it also allows pregnant women to overdo it during yoga practice, which can lead to injuries."
If you are currently pregnant, you should practice with a qualified yoga specialist.
9. You need expensive tools and clothes to practice yoga
sure, you can go to a sports store and stock up on clothing, gear, and accessories from well-known yoga brands for hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, but there's absolutely no reason to go broke to start practicing.
To practice yoga, it is not necessary to have the right appearance or clothing. This is absurd. Yoga is not a gaze, but the movement of the breath through the body and the search for a deeper connection with yourself.
To be clear, you can do this by wearing whatever you want, whether it's comfortable pajamas or sports gear that you already have on hand. Not to mention that most yoga studios have mats that you can rent and props that you can borrow, so you really don't have anything to spend money on before your first lesson.
10. To perform yoga postures - it's embarrassing
If you feel a little uncomfortable in a classroom filled with other students, lifting your buttocks high up, you're not alone. Students often say they are afraid of the classroom environment because they don't want to be looked at. I would like them to know that most practitioners are so focused that they hardly notice what the people around them are doing.
While you may feel a little shy doing certain poses, if you pay attention to your breathing and try to improve your balance, you won't have time to think about the people around you. And that should tell you something - if you are too focused to test others, then they are also too focused to test you.
11. Real men don't do yoga
there has never been a sign on the door of a yoga class that says "no entry for men". In fact, yoga was started by men. historically, some of the greatest yoga teachers have been men. and today, more and more men, including lebron james, evan longoria and tom brady, are practicing yoga.
12. Yoga takes too much time
many formal yoga classes last 30, 60, or 90 minutes, but the idea that you need to devote an hour to yoga to benefit from it is far from reality. These days, anyone can go online and find a yoga class lasting 5, 10 or 15 minutes. In fact, the effectiveness of yoga is not entirely dependent on the duration of the session. The more effective and intense the activity, the more useful it is, and it will not necessarily last more than an hour. If you have 10 or 20 minutes free, spend them on yoga and it will be much more useful than lying on the couch.
