Having a non judgemental mind is one of the primary foundations of a Yoga practitioner. We all have our set methods and preconceived notions before we try out anything. While some perceive Yoga to be slow and boring, others perceive yoga to be not physically challenging enough. I had to write this blog today to dispel a few popular misconceptions surrounding Yoga.
Yoga is not effective for weight loss
Yoga is perceived as a slow and low-intensity workout that most people do not give much thought to while on their weight-loss journey. Research shows that Yoga triggers not just physical, but also behavioural changes in your lifestyle that promote weight loss. You can adopt different styles of Yoga practices such as rigorous Ashtanga Yoga or Power Yoga that involves Vinyasa flows, or even a mix of Yoga and Pilates like Yogalates. In fact, 5-10 rounds of Surya Namaskars at a fast pace (and slowly increasing the number of rounds) also works wonders to tone the muscles.
You may practice Yoga for one hour a day. But it’s the rest of the 23 hours that make a lot of difference to your weight loss journey: Food, Rest, Sleep, Stress make a big impact.
Yoga is mainly for women
A stereotypical mindset that Yoga is a woman’s workout, does not hold true. Our wise Yoga gurus who have passed on the rich knowledge of Yoga were mostly men. A study conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance reveals that in 2016 women practitioners in the US were a majority at 72%.
But the good news is that the number of male Yogis has gone up from 4 million in 2012 to 10 million in 2016 and the percentage of male Yoga teachers is at par with that of female teachers. These numbers suggest that the number of male practitioners is definitely on the rise because they understand that Yoga is way beyond just stretching and balancing, and regardless of age and gender, Yoga is a mind-body practice that improves mental health.
Yoga should not be done during periods
Menstruation can be different for every woman. Some women undergo immense physical and emotional upheaval during their periods, which makes them want to shut off from the world and retire to their beds.
However, just like the regular days, you should be kind and listen to your body while you are menstruating. When feeling low on energy, you may prefer to do light stretches that give some relief from the cramps and some breathing exercises that elevate your mood.
You can check out my playlist on Yoga during Periods from my Youtube channel Yogalates with Rashmi.
You need to be flexible to do Yoga
Most of us get intimidated watching our teachers or other Yoga practitioners doing advanced Asanas. This deters us, thinking our bodies can never turn or twist that way, and we finally give up on our plans to do Yoga. The truth is that these Yogis that you see had also started their Yoga journey at some point in their life when they felt exactly the way you feel now. You need to have an open mind and patience and see the changes through regular and dedicated Yoga practice.
Yoga makes you grow tall
Yoga does not increase your skeletal height. It is the genetics, lifestyle factors and nutrition that play an important role in deciding anyone’s height. Although it does not directly contribute to increasing your height, Yoga involves stretching and lengthening the spine as well as increasing core strength thus helping you gain the right posture.
Yoga is not meant for children
Some people believe that practicing Yoga at an early age can hamper a child’s bone and muscle development. Nothing can be further from the truth.
When performed under expert supervision, Yoga is immensely beneficial for kids. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics, suggests that Yoga is safe to be taught to children as long as it is performed under the supervision and not done beyond the child’s capacity. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends Yoga to be a safe and effective therapy for children as it helps them by improving their balance, concentration, flexibility, and strength and building self-confidence and self-esteem.
Today, an increasing number of kids are diagnosed with diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and even mental health issues. Yoga has proven to be extremely beneficial for kids to battle depression and anxiety, improve digestive health, and repair the body’s mechanism by strengthening the organs and toning the muscles.
I have been teaching Yoga to children for over 10 years now and I am immensely grateful to have full confidence along with love and appreciation from parents who have noticed positive changes in their children. If you have a child and you want to introduce them to fun Yoga techniques, check out Yoga Guppy
Now that the common Yoga misconceptions are busted, it’s time now for you and your family to embark on your own Yoga journey.