Resilient Reflections: The Truth About Yoga - Myths Part 2

The Truth About Yoga - Myths Part 2

I’m on a mission to bust myths about yoga. After having owned yoga studios for almost 8 years, I have heard everything in the book about how “I can’t do yoga, I’m…”. And even though you think your issue is unique, I can tell you I’ve heard it before and more than once.

Now that’s not to say that everyone has the same challenges in doing yoga and movement but what it does say is there are a lot of excuses in people’s minds or sub-conscious that are keeping them from really trying a practice that can usually help heal many ailments. Yoga is a practice that is 1000s of years old and can be adjusted for everyone, and a practice that if you do it at the level you’re comfortable with, will allow you to remain more mobile, stronger, and give you more clarity and strength as you age.

Ultimately, it’s you needing to work on your mindset to encourage your inner mind and heart that you can try something that will support your self care, your resilience, and your overall health for years to come.

So, here are some more myth busters today, and please note that none of these have sprung out of my brain on their own, these are written about over and over because we all hear it over and over. 😊 

Myth: You have to be young to do yoga.

“I often hear people say, ‘I’m too old to do yoga.’ Age is literally just a number. Yep, our bodies mature over time, our abilities ebb and flow, but there is the perfect yoga flow for every body at any age. Embrace your age and the body that has carried you to it. Connect to your body through your practice. Honour your body through your practice. At PŪR Resilience your yoga teacher has all of the loving kindness to support the perfect practice for your body; not your age.

My mother-in-law is 94 and just started chair yoga! There are no age limitations and there are styles for everyone up to and including chair yoga when you want to stay moving well into your 90s!

Myth: All yoga is the same.

“One of the biggest myths in modern yoga is that yoga is a unitary practice, and that every yogi’s practice can and must be the same. The reality is that yoga is not a singular practice at all, but rather a multiplicity of movement. Some of the wonderful diversity in yoga comes in the form of accessibility through the use of props, safety through the use trauma-informed practice and joy through the use of narratives and language that speak uniquely to different yogic populations. The goal is to find ways to make the practice fit the yogi, not the other way around.” 

Myth: Yoga is only about your physical ability.

“Many people think yoga is about being able to touch your toes or put your ankle behind your head, but yoga is about breathing deeply and having a desire to quiet your mind, calm your nervous system and work through any issues preventing you from being at peace. It’s about knowing yourself and sometimes it’s about rewiring your system so you can find ease—both physically and mentally.” 

Myth: Yoga is nothing more than stretching.

“Saying yoga is just stretching is like saying professional bodybuilding is just throwing weight around. At first glance, that’s what it might look like, but it’s actually not that at all. With an experienced teacher, yoga is incredibly functional and therapeutic because it can be very corrective when it comes to muscle dysfunction. It doesn't replace medical care, but it's highly effective for addressing imbalances. You'll gain strength, decrease tension and increase range of motion, so not only can it help restore optimal alignment, but it can also prevent injury down the road.”

Myth: All yoga teachers are the same.

Current yoga teacher training is set up in a way that means not all yoga training programs are created equal. Some have a heavy focus on just the physical postures, while others focus on the philosophy. Yoga students expect their teacher to be an expert in their craft. Do your homework. Look up their training(which should be on the website) or speak to the studio owner/manager about the teachers that will best suit your needs. At PŪR Resilience we actively send out surveys to see where you are when you join and offer a follow up chat for every member to get them started and where they need to be.

Myth: Yoga is just another type of exercise.

Yoga is the union of body, mind, and spirit. Practicing asana (postures) is the smallest part of what yoga is. What practising postures does is allow you to move with conscious breathing to improve flexibility, strength, balance and evoke the relaxation response. Yoga philosophy connects us to our true selves, guides us to clarity, and enables us to examine self-acceptance. The larger piece to yoga is to use it as a guide that enables us to live well, to care for self and spirit, to go within. 

References

Justine Mastin, yoga teacher and creator of YogaQuest.

Ally Hamilton, author of “Yoga's Healing Power: Looking Inward for Change, Growth and Peace.”
Erin Motz, yoga teacher and co-founder of Bad Yogi.