As a yoga teacher, people often tell me, “I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible.” And it’s really normal to think that way, especially when every picture of “yoga” on Instagram and in yoga magazines is of some crazy-bendy-flexi-gumby body in some intricate, impossible-looking posture.
When you struggle to simply touch your toes, and then you see the cover of Yoga Journal when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, it’s not unreasonable to feel like “yoga,” as represented in that way, is impossible.
But the truth is, the more inflexible you are, the more flexibility benefit you’ll get; in other words, you don’t have to be flexible to do yoga in the first place, it’s the yoga that helps you get flexible.
In a very physical sense, simply practicing and trying yoga postures will help your body build its flexibility. Range of motion that you figured was lost and gone forever will slowly start to emerge. We get good at what we practice, right? So if you chip away at yoga postures that are designed to increase your flexibility, well, you’re going to get pretty good at them! It’s starting the process that’s always the hardest thing to do.
More often than not, yoga can help you obtain what you think you need in order to begin yoga.
Here’s what I mean:
I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible.
Yoga will build flexibility.
I can’t do yoga, I’m too stressed out.
Yoga will help you de-stress.
I can’t do yoga, I’m not strong enough.
Yoga will help you build strength.
I can’t do yoga, I have a bad back.
Yoga will heal your back.
I can’t do yoga, I need to lose weight.
Yoga will help you lose the weight.
I can’t do yoga because I can’t concentrate.
Yoga will help you concentrate.
I can’t do yoga, I’m in too much chronic pain.
Yoga relieves, reduces, and eliminates chronic pain.
I can’t do yoga, I can’t afford it.
Ask your local studio about whether it has a work study or trade program. Often studios will allow you to take free or discounted yoga classes in exchange for work around the studio.
I can’t do yoga, I can barely balance on one leg.
Yoga improves your balance and coordination so that you’ll be able to balance on one leg.
I can’t do yoga, I don’t have a yoga body.
Do you have a body? Good. Then go to yoga. There, you have a yoga body 🙂 A “yoga body” is a body doing yoga, plain and simple.
I can’t do yoga/I don’t want to do yoga, I’m not spiritual.
This may differ from style to style, but I’ve found that the spiritual side of yoga is very personal. If you don’t want it to be a spiritual experience, it’s not, it’s really just physical. But if spirituality is something you’re seeking in yoga, it can provide that too. Just like some runners say that running is spiritual while others do it just for the exercise, the same is true for yoga.
I can’t do yoga, I’m too busy taking care of my kids/family/job/home/etc.
Yoga provides a space to take care of yourself so that you have the energy and ability to continue taking care of your kids/family/job/home/etc.
Much of what yoga gives requires you to go outside your comfort zone to get it. And that’s hard. Really hard sometimes. Facing a challenge head on and taking control to change or improve your situation doesn’t always start off easy, in fact it rarely does.
But when we push beyond boundaries, amazing growth and improvement happens. And then when yoga becomes part of your routine, part of your life, you can take the lessons you learn in class out into the world. Yoga then has the ability to help you with everything, whether you’re in the studio or not.
So what do you think? Is there anything holding you back from doing yoga that you think yoga might actually help?
Ruth Aaqqii says
February 25, 2017 at 5:04 pmSo, there`s really no excuse for not doing yoga! 😉 I needed this reminder, since I´ve recently “fallen out” of my home yoga practice, and used some of the arguments you mention to justify not getting back on track. One thing that I use as an excuse for not doing Bikram Yoga is “I don`t have that much time, tonight”, since doing all the poses twice, the way I learned doing it at the studio, takes at least 90 minutes. I think in everyday life I would benefit more from a shorter practice, like 30-45 minutes, that I could do every day. Rather then doing the whole thing a few times a week. What is your opinion on doing the poses only once? Or do you have any other suggestions to that challenge?
Maria @RatherBeSweating says
February 26, 2017 at 1:26 pmHi Ruth! Not having enough time isn’t an excuse.. it’s a real, genuine concern!! Time is our most valuable asset, so fitting everything in can definitely take some planning. If you’re doing a home practice, I would still do 2 sets of everything. The first set is like your warm up or diagnostic set (figuring out how your body is feeling) and your second set is the healing and depth set. But because you would be by yourself, the practice should only take about 55-60 minutes tops. What you can really cut out is all of the set up time. Keep it moving faster at home and you will fit it up in less time AND work up the internal heat.
My justification for taking so long to do yoga (90 minutes at the studio) is that the 90 minutes makes me so much more efficient in everything else. Bikram Yoga is a workout, a skin cleanse, a massage, a chiropractic adjustment, mental therapy, and a detox all in one, so I don’t need to go to any of those other places to get those benefits – it’s all in the class. Plus, it makes me sleep way better so the hours of sleep I’m getting are real quality hours.
I hope this makes sense. Let me know what you think and let me know how it goes to do a faster paced, less set up home practice but still with two sets.