Yoga is not a religion

When we moved out of London, I looked for a space to run yoga classes. Most towns have church halls where anything from children’s nurseries to village fetes take place, but none would allow me to use them for yoga. Yoga is spiritual and philosophical, but it is not a religion and this misconception prevents some people from trying it.

You don’t have to be bendy

This is probably one of the most commonly held opinions stopping more people from trying it. You really don’t have to be a gymnast to get an enormous amount from yoga. In fact, I came to yoga because I needed to improve my mobility and flexibility and I discovered all the other many benefits along the way.

Probably half the clients who have passed through my classes over the years are far more flexible than me and the other half see great improvements. Stiffness causes many aches and pains all over the body and it’s quite miraculous how a bit of stretching can reduce or even eliminate these.

Yoga can be quite a workout

Many people still think of yoga as being just stretching and relaxation, both of which are important. Depending on the instructor, style, focus of the class and the effort you put in, yoga can be physically quite tough.

You don’t have to turn the heating up or move fast either: Hatha yoga can be challenging depending on how deeply you move into the posture and how long you hold.

Don’t expect or try to get a cardio workout though, but you will get everything else from yoga.

Any length class is beneficial

One thing that put me off yoga was the fact that most classes were 90 minutes long. Most people struggle to do any exercise and over the years professionals have come to understand the importance
of modifying classes to suit busy lifestyles.

Most of us agree that it’s better to do something regularly than one big effort less often. It helps build good habits. For example, a couple of minutes’ pranayama (breathing), a few rounds of the sun salutation and three or four well-chosen postures before a short Shavasana need only take 15 minutes a day and will probably be more beneficial than dragging yourself along to a 90 minute class.

Yoga is not just for girls

Men are far better informed of the benefits of yoga these days, but there is still some way to go. The only men who turned up for my classes when I first started teaching were mostly dragged along by their wives. Now there are far more men practicing yoga.

In the USA men now make up as much as 40 per cent of the average yoga class. Even if men prefer competitive sports or a more physically challenging workout, yoga can prevent injuries, improve focus and increase speed amongst other benefits.

You don’t have to be young & fit

Yoga is the perfect choice as you get older and have to leave physically demanding sports behind. It’s kind to the body. It’s a great for those who aren’t fit; you simply move into a posture as deeply as your body allows or modify with props.