Popular belief tells us that yoga is good for mindfulness, stress relief, and balance. That’s all true, but you might be surprised by what you don’t know about yoga!
1. Yoga is not about stretching yourself beyond your body’s limits.
Sure, yoga can help you become more flexible, but what it really does is encourage a healthy balance between flexibility and strength. You don’t have to contort yourself into a pretzel in order to make it through a class! The more yoga you do, the more you will feel that you’re attaining a stronger sense of flexibility and balance.
2. Yoga doesn’t require chanting or extreme spirituality.
While the practice of yoga is rooted in Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist principles, it doesn’t require you to be! Some people view yoga as a form of exercise, while others view it as a means of connecting with their spiritual selves. The truth is, you can approach yoga any way you want, because...
3. There are dozens of different kinds of yoga.
We can’t say which one is right for you, but we highly encourage you to explore the many varieties and find the best fit for you! Whether it’s an intense bikram (hot) yoga experience, a strengthbuilding Hatha yoga class, or just a few simple poses in the park, we know you’ll find one you enjoy!
4. Yoga can be difficult, and it is exercise.
If you’ve done yoga before, you know this is true. However, there are those out there who think yoga is just a breeze that doesn’t require or build strength and coordination! While these are not required to start, doing yoga regularly will improve the skills required to practice it at higher levels. You’ll be happy to see these benefits of yoga transfer to other areas of your active life as well!
5. One of the main Sutras (tenets) of yoga is Ahimsa nonviolence.
This is why many people think that yoga requires you to be a vegetarian, as these principles are highly related. You do not have to be a vegetarian to practice yoga, but Ahimsa is a beautiful principle that reminds us to appreciate peace, which is helpful to remember when you’re struggling to hold that Peacock pose!
