So you’ve thought about trying yoga. You’re ready to begin, but then excuses start to poke deflating holes in your interest. Let’s look at common myths (and excuses) and ways to move beyond them so you can embark on perhaps one of the most satisfying journeys of a lifetime.
1.
Can’t touch your toes? Not as spry as you once were? Confined to a bed or wheelchair? The good news is that flexibility, age and physical ability have no impact on your ability to practice true yoga (which is actually more than just poses). A good teacher who can provide modifications and a humble, flexible attitude toward yourself and your practice are all you need. Yoga practice is not about getting to an end point. It’s an unfolding in a certain direction. And, yoga can include proper breathing and meditation which don’t require the ability to touch your toes to your head.
2.
Have you tried Sun Salutations and standing poses? An arm balance? They require the heart and muscles to work quite a bit! For those looking for a vigorous workout, yoga offers many different styles of practice like Power and Vinyasa flows. However, you may find that as you start a yoga practice, the importance of cardio and strength training becomes less important as you moderate your lifestyle habits that may be currently requiring the extra calorie burn. You may also find that a strengthening practice followed by a beautiful walk in nature might be more beneficial.
3.
Do your homework with a fun sense of exploration. Watch free classes online to explore the differences in class types. Read studio class descriptions before you go, and don’t stop after one class if you don’t like it. Try different teachers, styles and studios. There are vast variations!
4.
Just like choosing healthy eating habits, you can make it expensive … or not. Consider community recreation classes through your city, local hospital or college. Consider online yoga classes you can take with you anywhere for free on YouTube or online as low as $9 / month. Try www.yogaglo.com, www.gaiamtv.com or www.myyogaonline.com. Some of these even offer free trial periods so you can explore different instructors and classes. Ultimately, consider cultivating a home practice. You can get started by taking an intro online course like the Yoga Foundations Course at www.halepule.com/yoga-foundations-online-course.html.
5.
This is a detrimental progress-stopping belief that you can work to dismiss right now. Be ok with your starting point (we were all there once) and know that comparing yourself with others is not helpful to your personal experience. If it makes you feel better, try online classes, seek beginner classes or if you have the resources, try some private lessons before you hit a studio environment.
Patsy Mennuti began her journey with yoga in 1999, attaining her 200-hr certification in 2000. She assembled and edited Simple Ayurvedic Recipes by Myra Lewin and continues to travel to Hawaii to further her studies and assist in yoga teacher trainings. In 2013, she received a Yoga of Recovery certification. She currently teaches yoga in Fort Lauderdale and can be reached at [email protected].