My goal is to reach out to as many people as I can and in my pursuit of spreading awareness about the benefits of yoga, I tried encouraging many people to join my free yoga sessions. Who does not like freebies? However, to my surprise, most of the people showed hesitation in joining the class. Read the full blog to know why!
When I started writing my first blog, I kept wondering what topic should I pick up? Should I start with something like 'What is Yoga?' or 'Types of Yoga Forms', or any similar topic? Then I thought, people who will land on this page might already know something about yoga and as a yoga teacher, it is my responsibility to first try to break few myths about yoga in order to encourage more and more people to get inclined towards this wonderful practice. Yoga is one of the most precious gifts given by the ancient Indian sages to humankind. It is the spiritual heritage of India. Yoga is a way of life and it is meant for everyone.
We often hear people saying 'yoga is not for me as I am not flexible enough, I am not slim' and many such reasons. Are these excuses? Not at all! There can be multiple reasons why these people feel this way. So I thought, why not clear some of the most common misconceptions which we hear on a daily basis. Lets get started!
Myth #1: Yoga is Slow and Boring!
'Yoga is really slow. One just have to sit cross-legged with closed eyes and breathe. I tend to fall asleep. There is not enough movement involved. Isn't it so boring and sleepy?'
Absolutely Not! Have we ever wondered how many thoughts pass through our minds in a day, how many unnecessary and involuntary actions we perform in a day, how many different emotions we feel in a day? Yoga helps to balance all these thoughts, actions and emotions. Yoga is essentially a discipline bringing harmony between mind, body and soul. Chapter 2 Sutra 29 of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras talks about the 8 limbs of yoga (we shall talk about them in detail in another blog post). We generally start our practice with calming our mind, followed by asanas practice which works on the physical aspect of our wellbeing. Traditional Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga practices have numerous yoga postures (beginners, intermediate and advanced levels) which help in building strength, stamina, and improving the over all physical health. Post that we practice some pranayama or meditation to develop awareness of one's breathing and to increase the ability to concentrate more. Hence, yoga is a holistic approach towards achieving good health. So many new forms of yoga styles and levels, makes it super interesting.
Myth #2: Yoga is only for Young people who are Slim and Flexible!
'I am too old for yoga as I cannot even sit on floor. I am not slim and flexible enough to look good while practicing yoga.' I am sure all of us have heard such things. Is age a barrier? Are we trying to body shame someone?
Not at All! People of all age groups and all body types can practice yoga. Yes, you heard it right! Nobody is asking you to directly get into Chakrasana or Headstand. No one is born perfect. Everyone is different and has a unique journey. We learn, apply, make mistakes, fall, relearn and progress gradually. Isn't it true for our lives? The same principle applies to our yoga practice. Every body is different and everyone has their unique health issues to deal with. So we modify our yoga practice to suit each situation. We may also use various props, like a yoga block or a belt, a bolster, a chair, use a wall to get into a yoga posture and refine our practice. Hence, yoga is for young, mid-age, old, slim, plump, flexible, inflexible, everyone.
Myth #3: Yoga is only for Women!
'Yoga is too girly. Boys only go to gym!' Is it true?
No Way! How can any form of exercise or movement be categorised as feminine or masculine? These days, we see so many females going to the gym, doing weight lifting, cross fit, etc. So why cannot men practice yoga? In fact, some of the greatest yogis, to name a few, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya ji, K. Pattabhi Jois ji, B.K.S. Iyenger ji, are all men who had brought a revolution in the field of yoga. This proves that yoga is for all, irrespective of gender.
Myth #4: Yoga is only for the Sick!
'I am all fit and fine. Why should I practice yoga? Yoga is for the people who are sick and suffering from any ailments.' Really?
This is Not True! Yoga is a lifestyle and a discipline and who doesn’t like to lead a healthy and disciplined life. We all do, right? There is something called Therapy Yoga where in people suffering from any specific disorder are treated by making them practice a set of specific yogic practices as per their health conditions. Yoga has multiple benefits which work on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Moreover, a fit person without any disease should also practice yoga, in order to avoid any future ailment.
Myth #5: Yoga is specific to a Religion!
'Yoga is to be practiced only by the people of certain religion, caste and sect.' Is it written somewhere?
No where! Yoga is an art & science of healthy living. It is a philosophy & a way of life. Yoga goes beyond the boundaries of caste, creed, religion & nations.
Myth #6: Yoga is all about twisting the body in Difficult Advanced Postures!
'Yoga is so difficult. I cannot balance my body on my arms nor can I stand on my hands.' Who said that yoga is only about doing Bakasana or Handstand?
Said No One! Yoga is not equal to Gymnastics like what we see on social media. Even lying down in Shavasana also comes under Yoga. It is not just physical exercise, like many people think. Asanas or postures are only one aspect of Yoga. There are various paths of Yoga that lead to the unfolding of the infinite potentials of the human mind & soul. Each one is a specialized branch of one comprehensive system. There are various practices which form part of Yoga, such as Shatkarmas, Pranayama, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and many more. It is a diverse field, having something to offer to each one of us.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by saying that "Yoga is for All, however, not all yoga practices are for everyone". One should know the benefits, contraindications as well as the precautions to be taken care of before practicing it. It is always advisable to practice yoga under the guidance of a certified teacher/expert/Guru.
Happy Reading
Let me know if you too had confusions and used to believe in any of the above fallacies? I hope I could change that notion now. If yes, just type "YES" in the comment section below. Also, if you are even slightly motivated after reading the above blog and want to embark on the beautiful journey of yoga, just DM me "I AM NOW READY TO START MY YOGA JOURNEY". I have a special gift for you!
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