I know, it’s hard to believe that yoga, with all it’s weird words and pictures of people in seemingly impossible poses, is actually not about flexibility. But stay with me here. Yes, there is lots of stretching and reaching for your toes, but there is also strength training, core work, and balance that go on in a yoga class. So if you find yourself or another giving the answer of “I am not flexible enough” when asked about yoga here are 4 reasons that yoga is not all about being flexible.
1) Strength is just as important is flexibility
In a yoga class, you will find, that you are expected to do more than just touch your toes. There are push up, core workouts, and endurance sequences. Something everyone should try is Sun Salutations. These are a series of poses which flow together and focused on warming up the body up for practice. Sun Salutations focus on core strength, balance, and helping to stretch out the muscles. There is also a great way of being one’s day.
2) Different Levels of Class
Every Yogi has to begin somewhere. Why not the beginning? Very few people are born with the ability to do an “Astavakrasana” (look it up is wild!). Just like a language, one must start with the basic words and build from there. A beginner’s class that focuses on getting down the foundational yoga poses is a great way to begin. These beginner’s level classes do not ask for crazy poses but work on making sure you feel comfortable in all the poses. It is a great way to get into yoga without feeling over welled in a higher level class.
3) Stress Reliever
The main focus of a yoga class is to allow yourself an hour to focus on your body and mind in the present. A teacher will often tell you to put your worries in a box for this hour and listen to what your body is saying. Some days you may feel amazing while other days your body is not as compliant. Both of these states allow of a proactive practice. Often by the end of class, when you go back to your box of worries you will find that is not as full as when you left it.
4) Savasana
How many work out class do you go to where get to end laying down and relaxing! That’s right; a yoga class concluded with Savasana, final relaxation. It is a time to thank your body for work out. We live in a world that is fast pace an nonstop. There are few chances to truly just be in a moment and relax. (It’s my favorite part of a yoga class).
So have I convinced you to try yoga or convince a friend to go with you? I have been doing Yoga for almost 10 years, and there are still days when my body barely lets me touch my toes. Yoga is not about how low or contorted you can make your body. It is about being thankful for the body and all it allows to do. And if your still not convinced let this cut puppy convince you. If he can do it so can you.