The word yoga makes people think of one of the following – a sage type person sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, lissom girls in pretzel-like poses staring into the horizon, or some odd-looking, gravity-defying asanas. The truth is that yoga is much more than this. Some people find it boring while for others it is just the kind of work-out that keeps them going.
Given the increasing popularity of yoga, there are some myths about yoga that we thought we should debunk.
Myth: Yoga is only for the Ultra-Flexible
No, that’s absolutely incorrect. Yes, there are those who can touch their toes with their head and are extremely flexible. But, if you are barely able to touch your toes, that’s alright too. By working on your flexibility levels slowly, you will improve over time and achieve a level that is comfortable for you and your body. It’s a question of practice – as is the case with most things in life.
Myth: It’s for the Ladies
Yoga is for everyone. Men may choose not to go for a yoga class because they feel it’s not for dudes. But, there are so many well-known male yoga gurus – B.K.S Iyengar, Bikram Choudhury, T. Krishnamacharya to name a few. Did you know that many professional sportsmen and women are turning to yoga to deal with injuries? Yoga gets all your muscles and joints working and improves blood flow. It gives your body the overall workout you need to stay fit.
Myth: It’s for Relaxation
Yes, it’s true it helps calm you down and relax. There are deep breathing techniques involved which increase the blood flow and oxygen in your body and help centre your thoughts. But, if you think that this is a boring form of work-out that helps you sleep, you are mistaken. There are a number of fast-paced options like power yoga and hot yoga, which can give many HIIT(High-Intensity Interval Training) sessions a run for their money.
Myth: Yoga can only be done by the Young
Yoga is not just for the young. I know so many people who are in their mid-60s and 70s and practice yoga. They keep themselves active by doing kriyas and asanas which work for their body. Yoga is not about doing chakraasanas or standing on your head all the time. It is about building your inner strength and keeping you fit.
Myth: It’s a Hindu thing
Yoga is a form of exercise and has no religious strings attached to it. Since it originated in Ancient India, it is naturally associated with Hindu culture. Having said that, there are a broad variety of yoga schools and practices including in Buddhism and Jainism.
If any of these myths have been stopping you from exploring yoga, we hope we have dispelled them for you. Get started right away!
