If you believe flexibility is a prerequisite for yoga, you’re not alone. This common myth keeps many people from stepping on to the mat.
Whenever I meet people and the conversation turns to yoga teaching, people say, “Oh, I wish I could do that. I just don’t have the yoga gene.” or “I’ve tried. But I guess I’m just not flexible enough.”
In fact, it’s one of the biggest yoga myths going around.
Making flexibility a prerequisite for doing yoga would be like saying you need to be Greek to go to Greece.
Yep. It’s a myth. Why?
Because yoga is a gateway to flexibility. Not the other way around.
Stretching:
Yoga poses involve stretching your muscles, which increases their flexibility over time. When you hold a pose for an extended period, you are allowing your muscles to lengthen and stretch, which can improve their range of motion.
You’ll soon notice that everyday tasks become easier, that you can tie your shoes, reach that high shelf or reverse your car, with much greater ease.
Breath work:
Yoga also incorporates breath work or pranayama, which can help release tension and promote relaxation.
As you breathe deeply into your muscles during a pose, you’ll find you’re able to stretch further than before.
Mindfulness:
Practicing yoga requires focus and attention to your body, which can help you become more aware of your body’s limitations and work on gradually improving your flexibility. By paying attention to your breath and body sensations, you can learn to relax into a pose and allow your muscles to release tension.
This is a great strategy to support you in intense professional and personal situations.
(here’s a 5 minute mindfulness exercise we think you might like)
Strengthening:
Yoga also involves strengthening your muscles, which can help support your flexibility. As you build strength in your core and other muscle groups, you may find that you are able to hold poses for longer periods of time and move more fluidly between poses.
It will also start to show up as greater ease and scope in everyday activities.
Now that we’ve taken that big myth off the table (or the mat) how do you feel about doing yoga?
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