In this third and final part of our ‘Introduction to Yoga’ series we have decided to tackle 5 of the most common myths that surround Yoga. Written by the Panache Sports team based on advice given by Ryan James Yoga
- Yoga is too gentle to have any physical benefits. Yes, yoga is gentle in the sense that it’s not as strenuous as traditional methods of exercise, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as effective when it comes to losing weight or getting fit. Practicing yoga on a regular basis can improve muscle strength and joint flexibility while boosting mood and controlling stress. Yoga also helps improve flexibility and endurance.
- You have to be extremely agile. Yes, it’s true that there are some difficult yoga positions but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to be super agile to practice yoga. Most postures can be modified to fit all skill levels or you can choose a position that isn’t so hard on the body.
- Yoga requires you to believe in all kinds of strange ideas. Yoga is based on universal principles shared by many other systems that have a holistic orientation to life. The fundamental approach of Yoga is for you to test those principles and find out for yourself whether they work for you. You either find them useful or you don’t, but no belief in bizarre ideas is necessary.
- Yoga Is strictly for relaxation While some yoga is meant to definitely calm and destress, not all yoga delivers that result. If relaxation is your goal, look for classes that are called “Gentle Yoga,” or slower and lower impact types such as Yin Yoga or Iyengar. If a 90-minute class of calm is not your cup of tea, try a faster paced, more intense classes such as vinyasa, ashtanga, or dynamic. If you’re not sure what type of class it is by the name, ask the instructor directly.
- Yoga is just for the ladies While it’s true that in parts of the world, most classes are packed with oestrogen, men do take classes and some of us even teach! Whether you’re a guy or girl, yoga benefits everyone, and athletic males with tight hips and hamstrings will love how yoga makes them better at sports. If you’re a guy who feels strange about being the only man in a room full of women, look for classes taught by men, or take classes guys are more likely to sign up for like, “Yoga For Athletes” or “Yoga For Golfers”
We hope you are all feeling inspired. Let us know if you have tried any of the poses yet?
If you haven’t read the other two articles in this series, here are the links:
12 Reasons why you should start Yoga
4 Simple yoga poses to try at home
Ryan James has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and in 2011 he took a teacher training course. After qualifying he travelled to India to study Yoga on a deeper level, training in the Ashtanga and Iyengar method and also studying Yoga Philosophy. Ryan now teaches Yoga at Loughborough University and at various venues around the midlands. You can connect to Ryan and find a class schedule on facebook by clicking here or connect to Ryan through Twitter here.
PS. Don’t forget that you always need to support your breasts to prevent stress, stretch and irreversible damage to the connective tissue that holds up and maintains the shape of your breasts. The Award winning Panache Sports Bra is available in size B-H. View our sportswear range
