Meagan Stevenson - 15 Jan

YOGA
MYTHS

The success is of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our lives and our relationships.

T. K. V. DESIKACHAR

Im not flexible.

Im not good at it.

Its too expensive.

Im unsure if Im doing it right.

I dont know where to begin.

Everyone else looks like a pretzel and I cant even touch my toes.

Im worried people will judge me.

Im worried Ill judge myself.

If I had a dollar for every time Id invited a friend, coworker, or new aquaintance to take my yoga class and the first thing out of their mouth was fear or insecurity, Id have enough money to live in New York lavishly.

When trying something new, our immediate reaction is often to talk ourselves out of it. Maybe we make a New Years resolution. Insert excuse number one, then time passes. It occurs to us to try againcue excuse number two, then more time passes. By the time youve come around to excuse number three, its the end of the year and its time to make a new resolution. What excuse will continue to keep you from trying yoga? Is it fear of the unknown? Like dipping your toe into the pool to check the temperature first, theres hesitation, a sense of worry, a gut reaction of fear. The water is just fine, and the more you put off taking the plunge, the more time you waste not enjoying the swim. Im here to reassure you that its worth the jump. Yoga is for everyoneno ifs, ands, or buts about it. There are many misconceptions about what yoga actually is and what it has to be. Here are some major misconceptions:

ONE HAS TO BE FIT OR FLEXIBLE TO DO YOGA. Surprise! Thats a major reason why we do yoga: to gain body awareness. Everyone starts as a beginner. Though it may seem like everyone is looking at the newbie in the back, theyre one hundred percent more focused on their own bodies and selves than they are on judging you. Theres no perfect yoga body. Everyone is included, and all ages, shapes, sizes, and colors are welcome. If you encounter someone who tells you otherwise, make eye contact as you roll your mat out and flash a big smile. You should feel at home wherever you decide to practice. Allow yourself to enjoy the firsts of inviting yoga into your life. We rarely get to experience new things as adults, so let yourself give in to the bubbly feeling of a first.

DOING YOGA MEANS INCLUDING FANCY PHYSICAL POSES.. Social media has morphed yoga into extravagant flows, incredible handstands, and seemingly impossible poses. While those are beautiful in their own ways, yoga is not just about the asanas. Eventually, you can work toward adding some fanciness to your flow... or maybe you continually keep it simple. Your practice is what you make it. Yoga can be sitting for a few minutes every morning connecting your breath to your body, moving between cat/cow and then taking childs pose, or simply lying in savasana tracking your breath; these all can be versions of yoga.

YOGA IS ONLY FOR WOMEN.. Oh boy, this one is my favorite. Ive had many men tell me they assume yoga is easy, just stretching, or that it is too girly. Nothing is more satisfying than a boyfriend begrudgingly joining his girlfriend for yoga, and ending the class fully covered in sweat, looking at his lady and mouthing, That was hard! Sure, theres restorative flows that target release and relaxation, but a Vinyasa or Ashtanga will kick your butt in all the right ways when done correctly. Your core will be strengthened, your arms will be toned, your soul will be happy.

IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH.. Think about learning how to write for the first time. When you look at your handwriting from first grade and compare it to what you can do now, youll notice quite a difference (I hope... ). Over time, you acquired muscle memory. It didnt happen overnight, but throughout your life youve refined a simple movement and have maintained it by writing as often as you can. The same thing applies to yoga! The more you move through flows, the more your body adjusts and learns. Good and bad at yoga dont exist. Over time, youll begin to build body awareness. Trust me. I spent a very small percentage of my middle school years playing volleyball and I was admittedly not great. Inherently, I had zero athletic ability and no desire to get sweaty, thus leading me to band and theater as suitable substitutes. The body awareness Ive found over the last ten years is all from my own hard work. I can with confidence tell you that this isnt something that comes naturally to all, and thats okay! Its never too late to start yoga.