If the ubiquity of yoga pants and associated gear hasn’t already given it away, yoga is making its mark on American culture. According to a “Yoga in America” survey conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, as of 2016, there were approximately 36.7 million yoga practitioners in America, up from 20.4 million in 2012. That’s a growth of more than 50% in just four years.1
You may have had some preconceived notions about yoga that are keeping you from getting started. If that’s the case, it’s time to set the record straight. Here’s a realistic explanation of the practice.
1. You Don’t Have to Be Flexible to Do Yoga
Saying you have to be flexible to do yoga is like saying you have to be in shape to go to the gym, or that you have to be clean to take a shower. There may be a relationship between yoga and flexibility, but being flexible isn’t a prerequisite for doing yoga.
“You don’t have to touch your toes to practice yoga. If you want to touch your toes, bend your knees,” says Kelly DiNardo, a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), owner of Past Tense Yoga Studio in Washington, DC, and the co-author of “Living the Sutras.”
“Whether or not you’re flexible should not dictate whether you practice. Over time, yoga can help you become more flexible—that’s why we call it practice—but you don’t have to be Gumby-like to start. Flexibility is a result of yoga, not a prerequisite.”
2. Yoga Is for Everybody
Anybody can do yoga, regardless of age, body size, gender, ethnicity, or fitness level. Social media may have perpetuated the image of yoga in America to be thin, bendy, young women flocking to studios and beaches to complete pretzel-like body contortions. But the true image (and intent) of yoga goes beyond that.
“It pains me to think that people are intimidated to go to yoga based on what they see online,” says Jenay Rose, a 500-hour RYT, online fitness coach, and wellness influencer. “Yoga is for you, me, our sisters, brothers, nephews, grandparents. Yoga is for all. In fact, yoga means union.”
You do not have to be thin or fit into a particular aesthetic to practice yoga—yoga is inclusive and welcoming, and as Rose pointed out, it’s a practice for all. Just check out the rockin’ Instagram pages of yogis like Jessamyn Stanley and Amber Karnes, who prove yoga is accessible for anyone at any size in truly epic fashion.
And you don’t have to fit within a certain age bracket, either. According to the 2016 Yoga in America survey, only 19% of American practitioners fell into the 18–29 age bracket. The vast majority of practitioners over age 30 and 38% of them fell into the “50+” category.1 All ages—from kids to older adults—can reap the benefits of yoga.
3. Yoga Is Not a Religion
For the uninitiated Westerner, there’s a lot about yoga that may appear “religious.” Certainly, there’s a spiritual element to the practice, but it’s essential to understand that yoga itself is not a religion.
“This comes from yoga’s Indian roots where mantras and chants have been used for many years,” says Brad Ormsby of Freedom Genesis, a yoga and meditation blog. “They’re meant to bring focus and help you awaken internally, but they’re not required to practice yoga.”
And even if you decide to join in with the mantras and chants, you’re not “converting to yoga” as if you were converting to a new religion. “There’s a spiritual element that encourages you to connect with a higher power, but it’s non-denominational, so you can do yoga as a practitioner of any religion,” says Christa Fairbrother, a 500-hour RYT and the owner of Bee Content Yoga.
4. You Don’t Have to Be a Hippie to Practice Yoga
Yoga is a practice that encourages self-awareness, love, and connection with the world. As practitioners become more mindful and conscientious of their actions, many do make choices that seem “hippie-like” to the outside world. But you won’t be shunned if you don’t fit into the hippie lifestyle.
According to the 2016 Yoga in America survey, half of yoga practitioners do say they “live green, eat sustainably, and donate time to their community”1—all positive attributes, by the way—but that means half don’t claim to do those things. So let the record state that yogis have no requirement to give up meat, join a commune, or stop using commercially-made deodorant.
5. Yoga Is About More Than Stretching
When you go to a typical yoga class, you go through a series of asanas (poses) that can look and feel a lot like stretching. But the physical element of yoga is just a piece of the bigger picture.
“Yoga is about the breath,” says Rose. “The true goal of yoga is to move your body, connect with your breath, and be in the present moment. The actual only ‘goal’ is to release excess energy so that you can sit and meditate, classically speaking.”
These are some of the reasons why yoga is considered a practice rather than a workout. Being a practitioner isn’t just about what happens for 60 minutes on your yoga mat. It’s about what you take from that 60-minute session to carry with you throughout the rest of your day.
SOURCE: https://blockscroll.com/5-facts-you-should-know-about-yoga/
