Maybe you have thought of practicing yoga yet feel you are too fat, too stiff or too old to begin classes? Maybe you are pregnant and want to attend a yoga class, however, you worry the category may be too challenging for you.
There are lots of myths and preconceptions about yoga. Like a yoga teacher, I receive plenty of inquiries from new students who voice their fears and concerns about yoga.
This article is made to help dispel a few of the common misconceptions I receive. Observe how many of the following five myths you are able to identify with.
Five Popular Myths About Yoga
Myth 1: Yoga is just for super-bendy-flexible people.
It doesn’t matter how inflexible, stiff or tense you’re, yoga can help you be flexible and open. Yoga is perfect for everyone. Yoga encourages you to accept your body and to treat each yoga class as if it were your first ever class. Some days, your hips may go through tense, other days, more open and relaxed. It really does not matter how flexible you’re. The most important thing would be to regular show-up and exercise.
Myth 2: Yoga is an additional hyped-up-new-age-exercise class
Yoga is over 5,000 years old. Its roots are steeped within the ancient good reputation for the civilisation of the Indus Valley. Yoga is much more than “just another exercise class”. Traditionally, yoga was practiced like a form of spiritual devotion and meditation make it possible for visitors to experience unity and oneness using the Divine.
Essentially, yoga supplies a philosophy of living harmoniously with all. It emphasises the need to live a healthy, natural life-style and for you to see the great and sweetness in most. Nowadays, many people, particularly in the Western world, see yoga as a type of relaxation and exercise.
Myth 3: Yoga is too hard and not suitable for quickly Half a century old
Regardless of your age, you can practice yoga. A skilled yoga teacher can adapt poses and exercises to satisfy your own needs. There are various styles and schools of yoga, ranging from very gentle classes to more dynamic lessons.
A lot of today’s health problems, for instance, digestive complaints, arthritis, hypertension, are created worse by loss of focus, poor dietary habits and shallow breathing. Yoga, using its focus on healthy living, e.g. eating wholesome natural foods, correct breathing, rest and positive thinking are ideal for older aged people. As the saying goes “you are as old as you feel.” My oldest student is really a 92 year old lady, who practices yoga in her own wheel chair.
Myth 4: You need to be a vegetarian to practice yoga.
Many people who practice yoga eat meat and fish.
The foods you consume have a major affect on your energy levels. As a supply of energy, food may either drain or energise you. Yoga philosophy views all life as energy. The food you eat provides energy and serves to correct, strengthen and protect your body from disease.
From a yogic perspective, energy can be seen in three forms, known as the three gunas – satva, rajas and tamas.
Sattvic foods are foods which are pure, natural and whole, e.g. fresh fruit and vegetable, seeds, nuts, wholemeal foods. These food types nourish your body and promote a calm and harmonising impact on your body;
Rajasic foods are foods that are hot, bitter, sour or salty. They have a stimulating impact on your body and lead to you feeling over stimulated and excited, these foods include coffee, strong spices and herbs, chocolate. Eating a lot of rajasic foods weaken your internal feeling of balance and calm.
Tamasic foods don’t have any energy. They’re considered to have no life and deaden your energy. Foods, for example meat, alcohol, highly processed foods are considered tamasic.
Out of this perspective, as you practice yoga you create a greater sense of inner calm and balance. You become attuned to your environment and gravitate towards eating more sattvic foods which naturally support you to keep inner balance and calm.