When you think of yoga, what image comes to mind? Is it some hippy chick with pink hair in skin tight yoga pants doing a scorpion pose? Or is it a dark skinned, half-naked, bearded man wrapping his legs behind his head? Whatever you think of, you probably have some preconceived notion about what yoga is, the type of person who does it, and what the ideal yogi looks like. Forget all that. And while you’re at it, forget about these four myths as well.

I’m not skinny or young enough to practice yoga

When we see pictures of women doing yoga, they’re almost always incredibly lean, young 20 or 30 somethings. And when you attend a yoga session, you’ll see your fair share of these women. But is this really the only type of girl who does yoga? If you look around the classroom more, you’ll notice there are a range of other body types. There are some women who are short and stout, others who are heavy set, and even those that are in their 50s or older.

Age and waist size aren’t what yoga is about. Yes, yoga is an exercise that can help you lose weight. Yes, a lot of young people do it. But more importantly, yoga is a practice that can develop your mental focus. When you’re sweating, practicing crane pose and focusing on your breath, the little problems of everyday life tend to melt away. In time, you can carry this added focus outside of the yoga classroom and into your day-to-day activities. It will help you be a better you and focus on the bigger picture, one that runs much deeper than appearances.

Practicing yoga isn’t part of my religion

Whoever came up with the idea that yoga is religion? Maybe it’s too many movies or YouTube videos of women chanting “aum” and saying “namaste”. In all fairness, there is a connection between Hinduism and yoga. But this doesn’t automatically make you Hindu for practicing it. People all around the world celebrate Christmas. Not all of them are Christian, and nor does it make them automatically believe in the ten commandments.

Whether you’re Atheist, Christian or Buddhist, yoga is for everyone. Religion is only involved if you want it to be.

It’s slow and boring

Just because you have one bad romantic relationship, doesn’t mean all of them will be bad. The same goes for yoga. One class you attended may have been slow and boring, but another can be completely different. From the “slow and boring” Gentle Flow yoga to the fast-paced Ashtanga and the intense workout of Bikram, try out different types and see which one fits.

Yoga will automatically give you a flat tummy

Yes, yoga can give you a flat tummy or tight butt. But just because you started attending class once a week doesn’t mean you’re going to achieve those results next month. In fact, there’s no exercise that’s going to produce instant results or a flat tummy overnight. A healthier, leaner body comes with regular exercise and the right diet. If you do yoga, do it because you enjoy the practice. If you don’t enjoy it, then find something else you do like. You’ll have the most success in achieving your fitness goals if you can find an exercise or practice that you’ll stick with in the long run.

When it comes to yoga, don’t believe what everyone else is saying. If you’re really curious about it, go ahead and try it for yourself. If you like it and decide to stick with it, you’ll quickly see that these myths really are just nonsense.

Want to learn more about yoga or give it a try? Contact us today to find out more or join one of our classes.