The many benefits of yoga are spoken around the world. Most everyone has heard the term yoga, but many are unclear on what a yoga class entails. They may think they know, but what they think they know is often based on one of the many common myths about the practice. For anyone who has considered taking a yoga class, but still have not done so, they are probably basing their knowledge on a myth this article is about to defy.
Myth #1:
Yoga exceeds my fitness level; I cannot twist like a pretzel.
Twisting into a pretzel just sounds uncomfortable. One of the first things a yoga instructor will tell his or her class at the beginning of practice is “Your mat is your space, and what you do on your mat is your business”. This could not be truer. Yoga is non-competitive. In nearly every yoga class offered, regardless of the level (beginners, advanced, intermediate) or style (Hatha, Bikram, Ashtanga etc.), the instructor should offer alternatives for more advanced moves and poses.
If the yoga pose tends to be more challenging, an option on how to reduce the challenge should be demonstrated. If there is not another option for the pose, the instructor will encourage participants to sit back into “child’s pose” if they need an alternative to the pose. Child’s pose is where the feet are folded under the rear and the head is facing down to the mat with arms relaxed down by the bodies’ sides. This is a very relaxed, non-invasive pose which allows for breath concentration.
One should not avoid yoga because they are intimidated, or believe the practice is too advanced. Yoga is an individual practice; one in which the participant is able to determine what their own body is capable of that given day. Once yoga practice begins, the mind should shift focus to the body. The participant should let anything outside of their own bodies release from the mind until practice concludes. A large benefit of yoga practice is once practice concludes; the mind often seems care-free.
Myth #2:
Yoga is for women only.
This is so not the case. Sure, women benefit from yoga because they participate in yoga. Men would benefit from yoga just the same if they could get past the myth that yoga is just for women. The truth is, men do yoga. Many great yoga instructors are male. So where does this myth come from?
It mirrors the myth that dancing is for women. Because many dancers are known for taking yoga to benefit their performance, it becomes known as a feminine form of exercise. The reasons yoga benefits dancers are the same reasons yoga benefits runners, football players and golfers. Yoga not only improves balance, flexibility and focus but also increases stamina, endurance and strength. What man does not want to be strong and full of stamina? Men, go grab a mat and embrace your manhood.
Myth #3:
Yoga is just another term for stretching with meditation.
The fun thing about yoga is nearly each class differs based on the instructor. If the instructor believes in spiritual yoga, then you will notice this in practice. This should not intimidate participants as yoga simply means living a healthy lifestyle. The practice helps guide participants to listening to their bodies and living this healthy lifestyle. Participants are not lead into chant, or asked to meditate. This is a common myth, and should not occur in the average yoga class.
Helping others is also part of the yoga belief. Although this is typically not focused on during class, most yogis are also humanitarians. This is not to say a person must be part of a humanitarian effort in order to do yoga. Yoga is one’s own individual practice and they can take from it what they choose.
If Yoga were just stretching, people would not be so committed to the practice. As mentioned above, yoga uses challenging poses and moves to increase strength and endurance. Rather than breaking down muscle to rebuild like in weight lifting, yoga focuses on challenging the muscles through poses and moves those muscles are unfamiliar with. Many will comment that they found muscles they never knew they had through yoga practice.
So the truth about yoga is there are no valid excuses for not giving it a chance. The only way to discover yoga’s benefits is by taking that first class.
