5 Common Misconceptions About Yoga
When I first discovered the power of yoga — nothing was ever the same. And it pains me now, to know how saturated the world of ‘Yoga’ has become, and the immense misconception behind the current ‘trending’ practice.
- You need to be flexible — to ‘do’ yoga.
I fell in love with yoga, because I noticed that it works with the raw material common to each of us. No matter where or how we live. Our bodies, our mind, our breath, and our emotions. Many people think of yoga as either a physical exercise for flexibility and strength, or a calming means of escapism from the chaotic world. And while yoga can be either of these, it is so much more. Yoga is all about relationships — your relationship with yourself, with the people in your life, and with the world around you. The practice of yoga is rooted in nurturing and empowering a deeper connection, both internally and externally. Asanas (physical yoga poses) are only a minuscule part of a much grander picture that is anciently crafted to ground you and help you cultivate balance and life-purpose amid the chaos of your day-to-day life.
2. Yoga is a religious practice.
From its early beginnings in India, yoga has always been tied to Hinduism, however the practice itself is not a religion. While it is certainly a spiritual practice, yoga is a path that allows a connection with the divine, or your ‘true’ transcendent self. It is believed that the wisdom of the yogic way of life was passed down verbally from guru to discipline during India’s Vedic Age — as a means of living a harmonious and spiritually connected life. Although yoga is now widely practiced across the globe, it was only in the 1960s that it first captured the attention and imagination of people in the West due to an influx of Indian teachers.
3. You need a mat and other equipment (matching yoga sets) to properly practice Yoga.
It’s funny how a thousand year-old practice rooted in a minimalistic way of life can now be attached to so much glamour and vanity. With all the new and trending yoga apparel stores, selling the perfectly manicured vision of a young, thin, vibrant girl wearing a dusty pink yoga set, in tree pose, on their $60 branded yoga mat… is not the reality of yoga. At the core of the yogic practice is the element of simplicity and the raw, unfiltered, human self — open and vulnerable to connect and embrace their mind, body, and spirit. Finding moments of inner peace and comfort, amidst the chaos. Focusing on your breath to realign yourself in the present moment. Practicing gratitude and self-love in intimate moments. Noticing a newfound quality of awareness that enhances your wellbeing. That is the vision of yoga.
4. Yoga helps you lose weight.
It could. But that isn’t the main reason to dive into the world of yoga. If your motivation is to lose weight, pilates or other forms of exercise are much more suitable. If you’re looking for a sustainable way to connect with your body, love your body, tune in to your body, nurture your body, and feed your body with the love and self-awareness it deserves, then yoga is definitely the place to start. When you integrate yoga as lifestyle shift into your day-to-day, losing weight will not only be part of the beautiful manifestation, but keeping the weight off, and enabling healthier decisions throughout your life will come with it as well. There is so much beauty in the practice of yoga, and the most transformational is how you view your body, and how you connect with it, in a loving, confident, and intimate way.
5. I’m a beginner! I need a membership to a yoga studio to learn.
While it’s great to discover new teachers and methods of yoga, the best place to start, is at home. With yourself. This last point is not so much of a misconception as it is a reality: many beginners feel intimidated when going to a yoga studio because of the different levels of the practice. I’ve even witnessed some people leave a class mid-way because they felt embarrassed for not being able to keep up! And most of them never return, or give yoga another chance! How unfortunate and counterproductive! But that’s just the reality of the world of yoga we have created, which truly shadows the accepting, nurturing, empowering, and welcoming nature of Yoga. So my little piece of advice: start on your own at home. There are so many amazing videos on YouTube for beginners that help guide you to a space where you will find your own level of comfort. And don’t forget. Yoga is a ‘practice.’ That means it takes time, effort, and faith. Once you stick to it and are consistent with it, you’ll see your mind, body, and spirit thanking you in a million different ways!
I’ve been there. I know how yoga looks from the outside for those who haven’t given it a chance. I know it looks intimidating. I know it feels like all it is, is a different form of stretching, and if you’re not flexible — what’s really the point. I know it can be discouraging with the dozen different types of yoga and poses you can’t even think of mastering. I know it seems foreign.
But yoga is a fire within you. A fire waiting to be unleashed. You just need to want it to.