I don't eat granola.

I am not flexible enough for yoga.

I will try yoga after I lose weight.

I am not a vegan so I can’t do yoga.

All yogis are skinny.

Yoga is a religion.

I already workout, I don’t need yoga.

Yoga is just stretching and chanting.

All yogis are >insert myth here<.

I have been teaching yoga for over 20 years and I have heard every reason for why people do not try yoga. I have also taught other forms of fitness, including martial arts and many types of aerobics. Excuses are not unique to yoga but yoga has unique excuses. For other fitness activities the primary excuse is “I do not have the time to workout.” I occasionally hear that about yoga, but more often the excuses are based on preconceived notions about yoga.

The benefits of yoga have become more widely known and appreciated in recent years. Yoga has moved from a practice with limited participation to an endeavor that many have embraced. Yoga is a versatile activity that can be modified to fit anyone that wants to incorporate it into his or her life.

Some of the why’s I hear:

I am not flexible enough to do yoga.

You do not have to be flexible to start yoga. Yoga meets you where you are and you begin your practice from that point. There are modifications for every pose. Your flexibility will increase with yoga.

I will try yoga after I lose weight.

Yoga will help you feel better about yourself. Yoga can help you become more aware of things around you. These changes can help you become healthier.

I am not a vegan, so I can’t practice yoga.

Yogis are as varied as any other group. Yogis are vegans, carnivores, vegetarians, drinkers and non-drinkers.

All yogis are skinny.

In every class I have ever taught I have had a wide range of age and sizes. Yogi’s come in all body shapes and each enjoy their practice.

Yoga is a religion.

Yoga is not a religion. It is a spiritual practice that is built on kindness and compassion towards yourself and others.

I already workout, I don’t need yoga.

There are three components of fitness; strength, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility. You need to incorporate all three to have a complete and healthy lifestyle. Yoga is a wonderful way to work on your strength, flexibility and you may find cardio benefits depending on the type class you take.

Yoga is just stretching and chanting.

There are many styles of yoga and there is a style that works for you. There are some styles that focus on stretching, some on strength, some on flow, some include chanting – yoga can be what you need it to be. It is important to try out different styles and teachers to find out what you enjoy.

All yogis are >insert myth here<.

There are numerous myths that surround yoga.

Which ones have I missed? I would love to hear your misconceptions about yoga.

Before I began yoga, I had misconceptions. I worked out to stay fit. I did not see the benefit of yoga and didn’t want to “waste my time” just stretching. I laugh at my younger self often now. Yoga is so much more than just stretching. I have found that yoga is a workout, it is a place of healing, recovery from injuries, food for the soul and a community. My yoga practice has changed over the years and I have found a peace within that I never experienced in my weight training, martial arts, aerobics and running alone. Yoga is a wonderful practice and a great compliment to your other activities.

Yoga can help when you are tired, need relief from stress and have challenges in your life. Yoga may be more than you realized.