Yoga: True or False (guest post).

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Yoga: True or False

Even with all of the benefits yoga offers including improved productivity, reduced stress, injury prevention for athletes, reduced blood pressure, and improved sleep to name just a few, it is still a practice many shy away from.  So why is there still so much fear?  I’m not sure.  Perhaps it’s the conflicting information available about the practice.

I am passionate about sending a positive message about yoga.  As both a practitioner and instructor, there is nothing more important to me than making yoga as accessible as possible to anyone who might be curious.  In an effort to do just that, below are 4 common myths about yoga and the truth behind them.

Myth: I have to be flexible to practice yoga.
Truth:  Flexibility is NOT a prerequisite to begin a yoga practice.  One of the many benefits of yoga is increased flexibility.  But if you never start how will your flexibility improve?  There is no shame if you can’t touch your toes.  In fact, it took me almost 3 years to touch my toes.  Yoga is about leaving your ego at the door and not worrying about the people around you.  Keep up the practice and you will notice an improvement in your flexibility – physically and emotionally.

Myth: I don’t have the time!

Truth:  Even a few minutes per day is plenty to experience the benefits of yoga.  If your schedule allows you to attend 60 to 90 minute classes regularly, that’s great. Even if it doesn’t, you can still fit your yoga in to your day using time and cost effective DVDs, books and internet videos.  Scheduling a few minutes every day rather than 60 minutes once a week provides more consistency and of course the creation of a new habit.  If you do attend in person classes, in an effort to save time and money bring that practice home.  Choose a few poses that make you feel great and practice on your own time.

Myth: I don’t look like everyone else in class, so I can’t do it.

Truth:  Do you want to? Then you wouldn’t be you.  Besides, genetics doesn’t allow us to all look the same. The beauty of yoga is you get to start where you are and build from there.  It is after all, a practice.  The person to your right might touch her toes with no problem, yet handstand is something she struggles with. The person to your left might have the opposite problem.  It’s not how you look in a pose that matters.  If you feel the stretch, your mind is calm and your breathing is steady, then you are exactly where you are supposed to be.  If you feel pain, your breath has intensified and your mind is telling you to get the heck out of the posture, then you need to back off.  The bottom line, yoga is not about how you look, but rather how you feel.

Myth:  I’m not religious, a vegetarian or a woman.

Truth:  Yoga does not discriminate.  There is a style of yoga for every body and age, race, gender, physical ability and religion do not make difference.  Sure they are spiritual practices, but they are not religious practices.  These practices provide the practitioner with an opportunity to see the best in his or herself.  Seek out a local instructor or studio to learn more about what is right for your body, style and experience level.

Stacey Shipman is a speaker, author and yoga instructor who helps women experience less stress and more success personally and professionally.  A yoga enthusiast herself, she is passionate about sharing the benefits of the practice in a way that is practical and attainable.  To learn more about Stacey visit www.staceyshipman.com or send her an email

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Comments

  1. Thanks for posting this. I think a lot of people are afraid to try yoga, but it’s such a great way to stretch and take a little time for yourself. I like the Yoga in a Box kit with the flashcards. Really easy to follow. In the summer, it stays light here until about 9:30 pm. When my husband used to work nights, I’d pull out those cards and do yoga with the kids to help them settle down and get ready for bed, even though it was still light outside. Nice little break for me, too!

  4. Good morning! I love the Yoga In A Box as well Donna.

    There are a few studios here which offer night yoga by CANDLE LIGHT (sounds totally soooothing to me).

    Heavy Weight Yoga also originated in Austin (she sells a DVD here which Ive heard great things about and have as an upcoming giveaway)

    http://www.heartfeltyoga.com/

    but this?

    anyone see this on tuesday?

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Nude-yoga-for-Hollywood/articleshow/4951243.cms

    not.so.much.for.me.

  5. I have tried yoga a few times. I have certainly felt all of the ‘myths’ that have been outlined above but I really enjoyed being there. I don’t really know why I don’t go more often.

    I guess because it takes a few times to get back into it again and it can feel like a big committent-so that can be a little off putting.

    Unlike a spin or aerobics class where you can go once and you get the benefits right off but for yoga it feels like regular practice is the key. So I guess it might be the committment that is putting me off!

  6. Great post! I am “horrible” at yoga, but it doesn’t matter. I still love it and it loves me. The benefits are wonderful. I urge people to give it a try. Relax and enjoy the experience. It’s yummy!

  8. The thing is, even though I do a few individual moves (plank, headstand, crow, etc) that are yoga moves, it seems to me like you have to put them together in a sustained, mellow routine (NOT interspersed with jumping around) in order to qualify as a yoga routine. Once you get excited and start moving fast, it’s not yoga any more!

  10. This overweight blogger is thrilled to see the heavy weight link!

    I hadn’t heard of the dvd before.

    May I review it for your readers???

    Please please?

  11. I did some yoga last week that involved sleeping in while everyone else went to the class. Later in the day I actually got some real yoga in.

    Great post. Thanks for the information. I will be doing yoga regularly very soon.

  12. I’ve been doing some on my own for a few years now and recently switched to something called Tibetan Rites. Magnificent stuff.
    Good refutal of the myths. The mere fact it’s Eastern puts many people off, too.

  13. I’m one of those “don’t have time” folks, and I realize when you remind me that it doesn’t have to be a full-on class that maybe I could work a few poses into my stretching routine.

    I do think it’s a great thing for so many people and it’s weird all the myths about it that are out there.

  14. “I’m not religious, a vegetarian, or a woman” -> THIS made me giggle. It’s so true that often we think of yoga in terms of those three things, and for that reason we shy away from it.

    The “I don’t have time” thing is something I find so frustrating. How is it that we can find time to watch TV or spend hours doing nothing at work yet we can never find TEN MINUTES to exercise?

    PS MizFit I’ve heard of the nude yoga thing- I think it would make for a veeeeery interesting experience! I wonder if one would be better able to perform the poses in the nude? If it would be at all different from being clothed in terms of ability? Hm.

  16. I have nothing against yoga but just not into classes & especially after early morn when I do my weights & such. Maybe I will look into a DVD or something I can do at home…. although a class sounds more motivating.

    Thx for all the info.

  19. I love yoga. One of the myths that frustrates me is that it’s easy (what does that say about me:)). I work up a pretty good sweat in my ashtanga class, and when I first started I was sore for days afterwards! I’ve gotten a lot stronger in the last few months of regular practice though. Thanks for the post!

  21. Miz – thanks for having me here today to share the yoga information. And the Boston area has nude yoga – though I haven’t tried it out myself!

    Ann- great point! Yoga is not easy when first starting. I remember cursing out my instructor for “making” me hold downward facing dog too long! Like anything new, practice makes things feel “easier”.

    So happy to see so many practitioners of yoga here! (one of) My goal is to shed a light on how beneficial a practice like this can be for all areas of life, not just physically.

    Thanks for all your comments and for those interested in starting at home check out http://www.yogajournal.com or http://www.exercisetv.tv for free videos.

    Thanks, again, Miz!

  22. I remember my mother doing Yoga when I was about 4. It’s funny how it’s finally gone mainstream after all those years (because she was Yoga-ing back in the mid-1970s!)

  23. Yoga’s great! I acclimated myself to it by starting with videos (eh hem, I mean DVD’s)…and then slowly introducing myself into basic classes…and now I can stand on my head 🙂

  24. I always looked askance at yoga — if I don’t see a direct and immediate benefit, why bother? But I’ve listened to enough people rave about it to begin to see that there is more to appreciate about yoga than meets the eye.

  25. I admit, I like yoga, but my excuse for not doing it is none of the above. It boils down to frustration. I find it frustrating when trying to do the poses… that rolls and other issues get in the way while trying to do said poses. It’s hard being overweight trying to do a new thing and not knowing how to adapt for me. Going to a class… forget it… there is NO money in my family for that. lastly, I admit… I also shy away from anything that somehow lets my boobs land in my neck at some point in the workout. I know HORRIBLE, but true 🙂
    I admit though, I do love my Yoga Mama tape (yes doin’ it old school). I’m not sure WHY i stopped after my last pregnancy (probably would have been beneficial with the weight issues) but I’m planning on starting back up with it today, added benefit… I’m pregnant. hahahaha!!.

    i loved the idea of heavyweight yoga. I bookmarked the page, because maybe some day… I’ll be able to afford to buy it. Maybe.

    Thanks for the post. Because of it… i remembered I even had Yoga Mama hiding in my storage of VHS tapes. 🙂

  26. I tried the Just My Size Yoga DVD and didn’t really enjoy it, even though it had rave reviews from others. Any other DVD recommendations to try?

  27. Lyn, I’d love to hear more about the DVD!
    I haven’t seen it yet.

    Let me ask around about others as well.

    A friend is illustrating a plus sized yoga book (her words) so she might know of other dvds too.

  28. When I started reading this post, I kept thinking the word “yoga” was “yogurt” and was totally lost.

    Must.drink.more.coffee.

  29. Yoga in a box sounds cool…I”ll have to try that.
    I’ve been intrigured more with yoga since I got a bellydance DVD where the warmupa nd cooldown were yoga based. I didn’t fall down or lose a limb…so I figure maybe it’s the thing for me. 🙂

  32. I love your last point. As a Christian pastor I’ve had people question why I practice yoga when it is based in other belief systems. For me its about the calming and breathing. It is about feeling better about my body after the class or anytime I do yoga than before. Its about seeing what my body can do and knowing that I’m getting better at it. Yoga has been so helpful in my recovery after back surgery. I love it!

  34. Like the concept of yoga, like the benefits it promises, but I have a few problems with it. I find it boring, holding those poses for what feels like forever and a day, when I could be doing cardio or lifting. Also, I really don’t feel like I’ve had a workout when I’m done. So, I’ll stick with doing a few stretches at the end of my regular workout and call it good.

  35. There are SO MANY types of yoga! I LOVE it, and will be going to a hot yoga class later today. Ashtanga/power yoga is GREAT for people who don’t like holding the poses for a long time, and it is a really good workout, as well. (There’s even yoga geared toward Christianity, as opposed to Bhuddism.)
    If any of the spiritual aspects of yoga are a turn-off, there are many places (as well as DVDs) that focus solely on the physical practice.
    Personally, I’ve never been to a yoga class in which others have made me feel uncomfortable because of my size. Most of the classes I go to have participants of all sizes.

  36. I heard someone years and years ago tell me (way back when yoga was NOT cool) that they don’t practice yoga because they were Christian.

    Nor did they believe in martial arts (the practice of)

    to this day, I don’t get it but it stuck with me.

    it’s the days I need it most that I skip it… I am learning to just do a few down dogs or even a butterfly or pigeon… and ahhhhh I feel so much better (breathing is a big help)

    great topic

    • benefits? Ill start us out (what the benefits are for *me* not scientifically):

      *stress reducing
      *blood pressure lowering
      *increased range of motion in joints (does even mentioning this make me old??)
      *increased energy and strength (inexplicably I think my GRIP strength has increased too)
      *posture improved
      *I. Happier. When. I. YOGAing.
      *I sleep better

  38. I don’t have much yoga experience, but I’ve dabbled a little. I attended a class at the gym one time, just to try it, but most of the gym classes are scheduled too early or too late for my schedule, and they are all over an hour long. I can see where myth #2 came from. But I did enjoy the class quite a lot. It was a nice combo of flexibility and strength (particularly on the inverted poses).

    I did find DVD that I liked, “Yoga Conditioning for Athletes,” with Rodney Yee, at my local library. (One of the people in the class recommended his DVDs in general for beginners, although a lot of the Amazon reviewers complain about his videos being too short.) This one had a long segment, which I did part of before a road trip when my back was feeling tight, and it really helped loosen me up. But what I really liked was that the DVD had several sport-specific “mini” segments (less than 10 minutes long). True practitioners would probably tut-tut about it being too short, but sometimes 10 minutes is all I’ve got. I’d say that this video was more effective for flexibility than strength.

    Would love to hear of more yoga video reviews from the Bumbling Band.

  39. Forgot to mention that my kids like to strike yoga poses every now and then and get me to follow along. They love the tree pose and downward dog. Not sure where they picked them up, dance class, I think.

  41. I love hearing all the different perspectives!

    Food for thought: if starting a yoga practice, start where you are. I was a runner/weight lifter (fast moving person). So power yoga/ashtanga was a great entry point for me. I still felt like I was getting a workout. Over time I recognized I couldn’t move fast all the time and found “slower” forms of yoga more complimentary to my running.

    I like Rodney Yee, Bryant Kest (he’s power yoga) and Shiva Rea.

    Other benefits I personally experience:

    Greater sense of awareness
    My running improved from a combination of breathing deeper and stretching
    Compassion
    Less judgment
    Confidence and risk taking
    Increased clarity, focus and productivity
    Stress relief – not just on the mat, but in “real life”, too.

    I wrote a post on 20 reasons to practice yoga: http://staceyshipman.com/2009/05/10/back-to-your-senses-sunday-20-reasons-to-practice-yoga/

    If seeking out a class, try different instructors to find one who fits your style and comfort level. Instructors are there for the students, if you don’t feel that way, find another instructor who will help you modify for your needs.

  43. My morning stretches are the first few standing poses from the Bikram classes I’ve taken. They make such a BIG difference in my day. On days where I roll out of bed and straight into kid chaos, my shoulders & neck are tight, and my level of patience is no where near what it should be.

    As the temps drop over the next few months, I’ll likely be back in the studio once or twice each week. The 90 minutes of hot stretching should help keep me injury free during long cold winter runs.

    As for the nude yoga… no.

    Don’t want to see it. Don’t want to do it.

    Just. No.

    Hey – Pubsgal – tree pose is my daughter’s favorite, too. She also is trying to get her balance for standing bow, because she thinks it’s so beautiful.

  44. I’m not a woman, religious or a vegetarian either. In fact from what I’ve seen most folks in yoga classes are more spiritual than religious. I am a 270 pound weightlifter and I attended classes for a year and it was kind of nice being one of two guys among 30 women.

    I love that you are coming all out with this passion Stacey. The world needs your special brand of yoga enthusiasm.

  47. I love Yoga…when I do it! It’s a great challenge for me. I have to be in the right frame of mind, I’m very overweight and it can be intimidating, if I let it, it’s my judgments of myself and everyone else that can make it hard for me to step into a yoga class. If I can check MY preconceived notions at the door I do just fine! 🙂

    Then I have to block out everyone in the room and focus on me and how I move and progress with my poses. It often moved me to tears when I realized what I could accomplish in that room! It was a wonderful feeling of freedom. Not judging myself, not comparing myself to anyone. Well maybe comparing the progress I made from week to week! But that’s a good comparison! 🙂

  49. Stacey!
    Great to see you here!!
    {Struggles with the handstand} –> he raises his hand.

    Why do I NOT do yoga? I don’t think I look fully enough at the “big picture” of what yoga can do. Maybe better said – I don’t look at it in the realm of being a holistic approach to wellness. The connection at different levels. Hmmm….

  51. I’m a man and I love to practice Yoga. I’m not afraid to admit it. 🙂

    Yoga must be practiced by me every day or I don’t enjoy life as much as I should. Some days I only get 10 minutes in, but at least I keep my streak going.

    There is a lot of fear still held in western culture about Yoga. We need to keep educating, with articles like this one, so more and more people practice and enjoy the benefits.

  53. Hi Stacey,
    Great post on yoga. I really appreciate it actually because it is something I’ve been meaning to integrate into my life for quite some time. I did try it a few times. I went to a 90 minute class which was a bit long for me, felt great at the end, and then could not move for three days after!! Ha! Eventually, I will get out there again and go consecutively to get over the soreness. Anyway, anything that can dispell my fears helps so thank you for this!! P.S. MizFit–what a great site!

  54. Thanks for this Stacey. I’d add that, while going to a class when you’re afraid of “not looking as good” as the other students could be a great growth opportunity, if you don’t think you can fit a class into your schedule you can always get one of the many thousands of yoga instructional DVDs, or even watch free videos on YouTube. Personally, I started my yoga practice with a DVD several years ago and eventually moved on to taking classes.

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