Are you holding yourself back from trying yoga? Have you heard of all these wonderful and seemingly magical benefits of yoga – yet not sure you can do it? Maybe some of these common yoga myths are stopping you from giving yoga a try. Before I started a regular yoga practice, every single one of these thoughts crossed my mind. It can be scary to start something new and even more scary if you let yourself believe that you might not belong there. Yoga is more than physical poses. It is a practice that you live off the mat every day, and yes – anyone can practice yoga.

1. You need to be Flexible

What you might be thinking:

“I can’t even touch my toes”

“I could never stand on my head”

I hear this all the time… and if you think about it, it’s as silly as saying I’m too sick to go to the doctor. Yoga is a literal remedy for the inflexible. As someone who has suffered from lower back pain for over a decade, I can attest that flexibility gained from yoga postures was a key part on my road to recovery. However, the physical postures (asana) of yoga is a small part of what yoga truly is. Your flexibility will extend to the mind as well. Yoga is a journey to you, and it will ultimately be you who decides its path.

“Yoga isn’t about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down.” -Jigar gor

2. You need to be Fit

What you might be thinking:

“I’m much too fat”

“I haven’t been to the gym in years”

Yoga is not a Ninja Warrior competition and it is not a physical fitness test. You don’t need to have your mile at a certain pace, or be at your ideal weight. The important thing when practicing yoga is to listen to yourself. This may be in fact – the most important thing. Yoga is a journey inward and a way to find your peace. Yoga will test you physically and mentally, but it starts right where you are– not ten pounds from now, not ten perfect push-ups from now, not when you “have your shit together.” It starts whenever you are ready for it.

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” –The Bhagavad Gita

3. You need a new Yoga mat, and blocks, and…

What you might be thinking:

 “Everyone will be looking at me”

“A new mat will help motivate me”

This is a big one for me. I fall into this trap all the time. Whether it’s a new yoga mat, gym shoes, or water bottle, there is something about a “fresh start” that I tell myself is motivating. The truth is you do not need a fancy mat, a bolster, two blocks, a strap, and some blankets to properly practice yoga. You don’t’ need special yoga pants, mala beads, or yogi tea. Those are material objects – you only need yourself. These things are nice – yes. . . and I love love love using props, but they are not necessary purchases. Things you already own can substitute for yoga props including books, pillows, and towels. Also- you don’t need that fancy $100 yoga mat. Yes, those are nice too- but I have also used the $5 ones you can get at Five Below.

“Everything you need, your courage, strength, compassion and love; everything you need is already within you.” -Unknown

4. You need a lot of time

What you might be thinking:

 “I’m so busy with work right now”

“I should really catch up on sleep”

You will hear often that yoga is a discipline that must be strictly practiced in order to make progress. I am not of this camp. You can start to practice yoga for just 5 minutes a day and see great benefits. Just five minutes of breathwork (pranayama) or meditation (dharana) can change the way you walk through life…. (remember how I said yoga is not just about physical poses?!) These changes will include how you sleep and how you perceive stress and “being busy”. Your yoga practice can be as simple as finding five minutes to remember to breathe every day. I promise you – that alone can change your life.

“In truth, yoga doesn’t take time, it gives time.” -Ganga White

5. You need to be healthy

What you might be thinking:

 “My body aches all the time”

“I can’t even get down on the floor”

I get it. I’ve been there too. It seems impossible to motivate yourself when you feel broken. Even after becoming a yoga teacher I have found myself so deep in a dark hole that finding any time for myself was impossible. I would tell myself that “healthy people practice yoga – I can’t do this now.” But yoga, my friend, is a place for healing.

Everyone I have ever asked about their yoga journey tells a similar tale: they turned to yoga to heal. These wounds come in all shapes and sizes: physical injury, mental health, trauma, or limitations due to illness or disability. As an occupational therapist I am particularly passionate about busting this yoga myth. Yoga is for everybody (and every body) and I aim to make it accessible for anyone who wants to practice.

“Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together.”
― B.K.S. Iyengar