10 Yoga Myths Debunked! What Beginner Yogis Need to Know.
If you’re a regular yoga practitioner, you’re probably already aware of yoga’s many health benefits. Some of these benefits include enhanced flexibility, defined muscles, increased strength, and lower stress. That’s why it is not surprising that 300 million people practice yoga worldwide, according to the International Yoga Federation. This is almost the population of the entire USA alone. But while there are many benefits to yoga, there are a lot of myths that keep beginners from experiencing the many benefits of yoga. Here, we debunk the top 10 myths about yoga for beginner yogis.
Myth #1) You must be flexible to do yoga
People seem to think that you must be a former gymnast or contortionist to do a yoga class. While practicing yoga does often result in increased flexibility, thinking you must be flexible in order to participate in a yoga class is like believing you need to be a marathon runner in order to go for a jog. Just like jogging might eventually help develop your stamina to become a marathon runner, practicing yoga can over time help increase your flexibility. So, if you’re not flexible, or would like to be more flexible, consider doing yoga!
Myth #2) Yoga is only for fit adults
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The beautiful thing about yoga is that it is a practice that is accessible for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or physique. Although it may be common to see “fit adults” do yoga, it should never be a deterrent for you to try out yoga classes. You are never too old or too young to start! That’s because yoga is designed to be a lifetime practice, meaning you can start any time, and with time itself you will improve your physical fitness.
Myth #3) Yoga is only a physical practice
The word yoga means union, meaning community and coming together. Yoga can provide you with a killer workout, Zen you out, or help you become more connected with meditation and manifestation. Yoga is a well-rounded, versatile practice that has many benefits, both physically and mentally. Yoga is not only a good way to eliminate stress and anxiety, but it can also give you the opportunity to join a like-minded community and create lifelong friendships with like-minded individuals.
Myth #4) All yoga is the same
Some people assume that “yoga is yoga” and there is nothing more to it than that. However, there are many different styles and levels of yoga, such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Rocket, Restorative, Pre- and Postnatal yoga, yoga for kids, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar, and many more. All styles of yoga follow a similar principle in practice, but each style of yoga is uniquely different and has options for beginner yogis, advanced yogis, and many individual personal preferences. For example, if you are recovering from an injury, you might prefer taking a Yin class, which offers restorative and light stretching. Or if you are pregnant you might want to take a prenatal class, where a specialized and certified prenatal instructor safely guides a class for women expecting a baby. Or perhaps you enjoy a dynamic blend of softness and spiciness, and you prefer taking a vinyasa class to complete your busy day.
Myth #5) Yoga is only for women
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Evidently, yoga was originally a male-only practice up until 1937. Nowadays, yoga is predominately practiced by women. According to Seattle Yoga News women account for 72% of practitioners. Although yoga has been stereotyped as a “more feminine practice,” society has started to shift towards amplifying its equality. Men have bounced back significantly over the last 4 years creating an increase of 150% of male participants in a yoga class, according to Yoga Alliance. This means men doing yoga are now part of the new norm. Next time you go to a yoga class, don’t be afraid to reassure your dad, brother, or husband that it’s okay for them to come along for the journey.
Myth #6) Yoga is hard
Yoga is only as hard as you choose to make it. What that means is you can take a challenging yoga class that will get your heart pumping, or a slow yoga flow that will mellow out your soul. Most importantly, the goal of practicing yoga is to always find the perfect balance between effort and ease. For example, when doing a low lunge you want to push yourself to reach your fullest expression, but also search to find sweetness within the posture. At the beginning of your class, you will often hear your yoga instructor say “I’m here to guide you through your practice” – notice the key word here: guide. Each movement and posture that is offered in a yoga class is not a requirement, but rather an option. If what is being offered doesn’t feel good in your body, you can skip it. Overall, you make the decision on how far you push yourself when participating in a yoga class.
Myth #7) Anyone can teach yoga
Although many yoga students might eventually want to share their passion and knowledge for the practice of yoga, it is required for each aspiring yoga teacher to successfully complete a 200 hour training before teaching. These training programs are taught by yogi experts who have completed well over 500 trainings hours, plus thousands of hours of teaching experience. The training programs cover many topics including human anatomy, breath work, meditation, yoga philosophy, and the ethics of teaching yoga. Just as in many other occupations, there is required training and certification involved before “anyone can teach yoga.”
Myth #8) Yoga is for "hippies"
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Medical herbal teas, sage sticks, dreadlocks, vegan food, and colorful clothing patterns are all things that people seem to associate yoga with. Most assume you must consider yourself a free spirit in order to develop any interest in yoga. Many people may be put off by what they perceive a yoga class has to offer. But yoga is actually for everyone! There is no formal requirement mandating that “you must like chanting and kombucha” in order to be part of the yogi community. Former Victoria’s Secret supermodel Miranda Kerr is well-known for her early modeling days all over the world, but what many people don’t know about her is that every morning she makes time for meditation, accompanied by her own sacred mantra. Miranda practices yoga a couple times a week. As she states on her Instagram account: “Kundalini yoga has helped me so much in my life and is a great stress relief tool.” Consequently, yoga is becoming more integrated into our culture and the stigma around “yoga is for hippies” is becoming a thing of the past.
Myth #9) You can't practice yoga when you're feeling unwell
If you’re coughing up a storm and your head feels like after a long day at the beach on a hot summer day, then yes, give your body time to rest and recover. But if you had one too many glasses of wine last night and are considering canceling your 9am Power Yoga class, you may want to reconsider showing up on your mat: Movement is one of the most natural forms of medicine, and yoga is one of many wonderful cures for when you’re feeling under the weather with a hangover, PMS, chronic pain, or a headache. Rather than binge watching your favorite Netflix show when your energy feels low, hop on your mat and sweat out those toxins!
Myth #10) Yoga is expensive
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If you’re concerned about the cost of an in-person yoga class or seminar, consider practicing your downward dog in the comfort of your own home to cut back on expenses. Yoga Alliance states that 65% of US yogis practice yoga at home. Many online platforms also offer affordable or free courses that you can attend at your own pace. If the cost of purchasing props and blocks seems to be a financial obstacle, don’t be afraid to get a bit creative when it comes to choosing alternatives so you can still embark on your yoga journey. For example, you can use a towel or rug instead of a yoga mat, and you can use pillows and blankets as props instead of using yoga blocks. Don’t let the assumption that “yoga is expensive” block you from moving your body to the rhythm of your breath.
If one or more of these myths have been limiting you from getting to experience what the practice of yoga is all about, encourage yourself to step out of your comfort zone and embrace being uncomfortable! Seeking discomfort will allow room for growth and can create the opportunity to embrace yoga. “What we see may remain the same until we are willing to shift our perspective.” The difference between knowledge and knowing is similar to reading about a yoga posture in a book versus just doing it and getting to experience the yoga posture yourself. So kiss these 10 yoga myths goodbye – because good things happen when we move!