Sometimes, the most beautiful journeys begin with clearing away misconceptions. Like morning mist dissolving in sunlight, let's gently explore and release some common beliefs about yoga that might be holding us back from experiencing its full embrace.
"Yoga is only for flexible people."
Have you ever stood at the edge of your mat, wondering if your body is "right" for yoga? Perhaps you've thought, "I'm not flexible enough," or "My body doesn't look like those Instagram yogis." Let's pause here and breathe into a deeper truth.
Yoga isn't waiting for us to become flexible—it's waiting to meet us exactly where we are. Like a dear friend who accepts us wholly, yoga offers its gifts to every body, every shape, and every level of ability. The path of yoga isn't about forcing our bodies into perfect shapes but about listening to the wisdom they already hold.
Think of it like tending a garden. We don't criticise a seedling for not being a full-grown flower; we nurture it, give it time, and trust in its innate wisdom to grow. Our bodies hold this same wisdom.
"Yoga is just stretching."
Many believe yoga is simply about stretching muscles or achieving difficult poses. But this is like saying a symphony is just about playing notes, or that poetry is merely words on a page.
In truth, yoga is an invitation to stretch far beyond the physical—to expand our breath, our awareness, our capacity for compassion. Each time we step onto our mat, we're not just stretching our hamstrings but stretching the boundaries of who we think we are.
"Yoga is for young, athletic types."
There's a beautiful myth that yoga belongs to the young and athletic. But yoga is as timeless as the mountains and as welcoming as the dawn. It offers itself to all ages, all bodies, all stories. In fact, it's often those who come to yoga later in life, carrying their experiences like precious gems, who discover its deepest treasures. That has certainly been my experience.
My classes are enriched by students who come to yoga carrying life's full tapestry of experiences. They bring a depth of understanding that makes our practice together particularly meaningful, approaching each movement and breath with hard-won wisdom and authentic presence.
"You have to meditate on a mountaintop to practise real yoga."
We sometimes imagine that "real" yoga happens in perfect settings—on mountaintops or in serene studios. But yoga's true magic lies in its ability to transform any space into sacred ground. It might be a corner of your bedroom, a patch of garden, or even a quiet moment at your desk.
Remember, the most profound practices often happen in the midst of ordinary life, where everyday moments become doorways to presence.
"Yoga is a religion."
Yoga isn't a religion, but rather a path of self-discovery. Like a clear mountain stream, it adapts to the landscape it flows through, nourishing all it touches without requiring them to change their nature.
It invites us to explore our inner landscape with curiosity and compassion, finding what resonates deeply within our hearts.
"If you can’t get into advanced poses, you’re not doing real yoga."
Have you ever felt that you're not doing "real" yoga because you can't achieve certain poses? Let's breathe together and remember—yoga's essence isn't in the shape of our pose but in the quality of our presence.
Think of it like sitting beside a dear friend. The value isn't in how perfectly you sit, but in the warmth and awareness you bring to that moment of connection. Asana is just one of the eight limbs of yoga, anyway. There is so much more to yoga than the physical.
"Yoga is just for women."
Yoga’s roots reach back to a time when it was practised predominantly by men in ancient India. Today, yoga is a practice for everyone, a space to nurture both the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine within us all. It’s about balance, not gender.
Like nature itself, it holds space for both strength and softness, power and grace, in each of us.
"Yoga should always feel calm and peaceful."
Sometimes yoga feels peaceful, sometimes it stirs the depths. Like the ocean, it has both gentle waves and deep currents. When emotions arise on our mat, we're not doing something wrong—we're doing something real.
"Props are only for beginners or those who can’t 'do' yoga."
Props aren't crutches but bridges, helping us connect more deeply with our practice. Using them is like accepting a friend's helping hand—not a sign of weakness but of wisdom and self-care.
"Yoga alone will cure all aches, pains, and stress."
While yoga offers profound support for wellbeing, it's only one thread in the tapestry of healing. Like a garden that needs various elements to thrive—sunlight, water, soil, care—our journey to wholeness often weaves together many different paths and practices.
Remember, yoga meets us wherever we are on our path. It doesn't demand perfection but offers presence. It doesn't require us to change but invites us to unfold.
Join me on the mat to explore these truths together. Let go of what you think yoga should be and discover what it already is—a gentle, powerful invitation to come home to ourselves.
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