12 myths about yoga that keep us from getting on our mat
I remember the first time I walked into a yoga studio.
As my friend pulled her car into the parking spot, I was nervous. I could still taste the peanut butter I had frantically stuffed down my throat before getting into my friend’s car. (Later, I discovered that heat and peanut butter aren’t the best combination.) I had never taken a yoga class before. I wasn’t flexible, and honestly, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The word Bikram meant nothing to me.
After a quick conversation with the woman at the front desk, I walked into the dark room and found my spot. Leaving the room after the class, I didn’t think this type of yoga was for me, and for a couple of years, I was stuck with this image of yoga in my head. But I soon discovered that one yoga class doesn’t depict yoga completely. There are so many different types of yoga like Baptiste, Iyengar, Yin, Forest, so on and so forth. Each type of yoga is different and one type may work better for someone than another, but it is easy to assume if one class doesn’t work for us that none of them will. That is just not the case.
On top of that, I was constantly flooded by slim, flexible yoga bodies and scary bending and balancing poses on Instagram and I was intimidated. My mind immediately rushed to thoughts about how “That’s not me. I can’t do that.” A yoga instructor later asked me, can you breathe? Are you able to sit at a table and focus on your breath? Yes? Than guess what? You’re doing yoga.
It is easy to get wrapped around the axel about what yoga looks like, but if we go back to the roots of yoga, it’s all about connecting our breath to our movement. It is less about flexibility or graceful movements and more about being aware of our breath in every moment, even the difficult ones. Different types of yoga achieve this in different ways and it is about finding the way that works best for you.
Yoga consists of 8 limbs: abstinence, observances, physical yoga postures, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation, and absorption. These limbs are typically listed in sanskrit but for our purpose, we’ve translated them to english. As you can see, the physical asana practice (yoga poses) is only one limb! Go figure, right? There are many ways to practice yoga, and it is all about finding your yoga and what works for your life.
Here are some myths about yoga we’ve learned indirectly or directly that keep us from rolling out our mats and taking a class.
Myth: You have to be flexible. False. Believe it or not, people go to yoga because they aren’t flexible. It isn’t about already being flexible. Flexibility, strength, and balance are side effects of connecting to our breath through the physical practice of yoga. It is nice to see how we build our flexibility, but that is definitely not the point. There are also benefits like mental flexibility and mental strength that we can feel but not see.
Myth: You have to look good. Negative. You don’t need Lululemon yoga pants, a skinny waist, and graceful movements to make it to a yoga class. Um, yeah, that's a no on the perfect looks. Yoga isn’t about perfection. Despite what may be on your Instagram feed, there is no certain “look” to yoga. I showed up once in athletic shorts (not tight pants) with hairy legs (as a woman). Yoga is for everyone! Every single human, no matter looks or race.
Myth: I need yoga pants and gear before I go. Most studios offer mat rentals, meaning you can rent the mat before class and return it afterward. You also don’t need yoga pants to participate, despite all the gimmicks. Just dress so you are comfortable moving your body. At times, you may even lift your legs in the air so finding clothes that don’t reveal anything you aren’t comfortable with is key. Go for comfort not looks.
Myth: You have to be buddhist or hindu to do yoga. After working in a yoga studio for years, this is a common question I would get. While yoga comes from Hindu practices, the practice in a Western studio is not a part of any particular religion. It is quite secular and can be paired with whichever religion you practice at home. No need to convert before rolling out your mat.
Myth: Yoga practice is a performance. It can feel intimidating putting your legs in random positions with 50 other practitioners. The thing is the practice is not a performance or a comparison. Everyone else in the room is more concerned with their body and practice than yours. They call it a yoga “practice” for a reason. It isn’t a yoga “performance” or yoga “perfection.” It is a practice. It is a place where you can practice poses that are new. There is no need to get it “right.”
Myth: It’s all about the handstand. Maybe you saw a yogi doing a handstand on the side of a mountain. While that can be impressive, yoga is not about perfecting the most difficult post. It is about breathing through ordinary challenges, like breathing through a tough conversation you’re having with your friends, kids, or husband in the kitchen. It’s not all about these superb poses. Life is a challenge in itself. It isn’t about what you do but rather how you do it, seeing what’s possible in each breath and movement.
Myth: You have to go to a yoga class to be a yogi. You don’t have to go to a class and practice with other people. There are so many classes online and a myriad of youtube videos that allow you to get started anywhere. Here are a few to get started right at home.
Myth: You have to be graceful to do yoga. I’m perhaps the most clumsy person around. I trip and knock water off of the table. The thing is that it doesn't matter when I enter a yoga class. Yoga is about practicing. It is not about being perfect. It is about being me in every moment. No grace is required to practice yoga. Period. Falling is half the fun anyways.
Myth: I have to be super spiritual to do yoga. You don’t need mala beads or a meditation cushion. You don’t have to know how to chant. You don’t need to burn incense. You don’t need to know what any of those things are. And you can if you want to. To enter a yoga class, you just have to show up and be willing to try.
Myth: I’m not comfortable lying on the ground or doing certain poses so I can’t go. Nope and nope. You can go. Each and every pose has a modification. Don’t want to lie on the floor due to an injury? Don’t worry, you don’t have to. Do you find squatting uncomfortable on your knees? Yep, don’t do it. There is always another way to do a pose. There shouldn’t be excruciating, biting pain involved with doing yoga. You shouldn’t feel like your joints are going to collapse inward. Your teacher can always give you a modified pose that works for your body.
Myth: Yoga is boring. Maybe you’ve found a type of yoga that doesn’t vibe with you. Congrats! You’re discovering things. Time to go back to the drawing board and find a new class or a different type of yoga. There are so many different types. I would ask you to get more specific about what you found boring about the class? When you can answer that question, you open up the possibility of finding a class you do enjoy.
Myth: I didn’t like the class I went to one time so I don’t like yoga. There are so many types of yoga. Find the style that works for you. Not a Bikram fan? Great, there are a lot of different classes. Want to move slower? Try Yin or Iyengar yoga. Want to sweat and move? Try Baptiste yoga. There is a different type of yoga for every mood. And remember, sitting still on your back porch and breathing deeply is also yoga.
There are a lot of beliefs and doubts that hold us back on a daily basis—from living our life to rolling out our yoga mat. Notice where your beliefs are holding you back and ask yourself if that is the life you want to be living.
Yoga doesn’t look a certain way despite the images we are constantly being fed. Yoga is for every body. Find your yoga, whether that’s running, or breathing, or meditating, or going on a walk, or coloring. There is a yoga for everyone, whether that means doing a physical practice in the studio or practicing being conscious of your breath in every moment of your life.