Is Yoga for everyone? Top 5 myths answered

Yoga is more than what you can see on surface and practising it often brings more benefits than you ever anticipated. Yet, when it comes to signing up for the practice, many people hesitate thinking it is ‘too deep’, ‘not for my age’, or ‘I am too inflexible to bend my body’. Many fitness enthusiasts may also feel that Yoga will not help them lose weight, even if it is able to make them calm. The truth is that Yoga is not only a stress buster, it is an awesome workout too. It is not just for young, but also for elderly and children. It works perfectly well for slim people as well as for overweight. In essence, Yoga is for everyone and incorporating it into your daily routine can bring a bouquet of benefits.

Here are Top 5 myths about Yoga that need to be busted:

1. Yoga is not a workout

Yoga is a set of asanas, breathing techniques and meditation, each of which brings different set of benefits for the body, mind and soul. Many people think that exercises like walking, running, cycling, cardio, aerobic exercises, swimming can provide a better workout to the body compared to asanas that are performed in the confines of a Yoga mat. However, it’s far from the truth. Shirshasana or headstand, Kumbhakasana or plank pose, Cow pose, camel Pose, Surya Namaskar, Warrior 2 asanas have elements of aerobic exercises, cardio and can increase muscular strength, improve metabolism and reduce weight.

 

2. Yoga is for young people

Many elderly people prefer walking to Yoga as they may feel many asanas could be too complicated for their bodies which may become delicate and fragile with age. However, there are Yoga asanas that can be customised for the elderly and can in fact increase their muscle flexibility, range of motion, improve their respiration among a host of other benefits. Yoga can also slow down effects of ageing and that includes the brain health. Elderly who practice Yoga regularly experience improvement in the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth and survival of neurons. This helps in improving age-related neuro-degeneration.

 

3. You have to be flexible to practice Yoga

When you look at people doing Headstand, Bhujangasana, Chakrasana or Ushtrasana, you may feel that your body simply isn’t made that way and only those who are blessed with this kind of flexibility should attempt Yoga. While it’s natural for you to think like that, this can be changed with practice and determination. In Yoga practices, the body and mind are gradually trained and the asanas are practiced as per the body, experience and capability. Once you ace the basic asanas, your Yoga teacher will move towards more intricate ones. Even if your body isn’t flexible enough initially, you will get there if you practice Yoga regularly.

 

4. Yoga is not for overweight

People who are a bit overweight or obese may be either hesitant in rolling out their Yoga mats and practice it in front of everyone or aren’t confident about moving their body in specific angles. However, Yoga is for people of all body types, weight and kind. In fact, Yoga can be very effective in targeting your belly fat and help you reduce inches effectively. Your Yoga trainer can guide you in your Yoga journey even if weight comes in the way of mastering those asanas. Not only will you feel more confident about your body after practicing Yoga asanas but also feel more energetic with the practice.

 

5. Yoga is not for everyone

 Many people do not even attempt Yoga and in their head they may think it is either too adventurous or too dull. People may also feel gymming is better as the results are quicker. People may feel Yoga is for women and may not try it themselves. On the contrary, Yoga is for everyone and Yoga gurus often recommend starting this practice from childhood as it’s the best age to begin learning. As you discipline your body and mind with a series of breathing techniques, poses and meditation, a person can achieve its full potential and remain in best of their health mentally as well as physically.

In nutshell, if you are someone who hasn’t attempted Yoga assuming that it’s not for you for one reason or the other, you should at least give it a try keeping in mind its holistic effects on your overall well-being. The practice is not just inexpensive as it does not require any equipment, it can be practiced from the confines of your home. Yoga also doesn’t have any side-effects if practiced with care and under expert supervision.