Yoga Misconceptions

Yoga Alliance, the organization that develops standards for yoga teachers, released results from a survey suggesting that people who don't practice yoga avoid it due to misconceptions about it. Yoga Alliance summarizes these misconceptions as follows:

• People assume that yoga is religion-based. According to their survey, 57% of those who do not currently practice yoga believe that it requires mantras or chanting related to a form of worship.

• Non-practitioners believe that yoga requires flexibility in order to practice. Their poll shows that nearly 3 in 5 Americans who do not practice yoga think that it requires a person to be in at least "decent" shape.
  

• Finally, respondents opine that yoga is not really exercise. Half of men who have never practiced yoga believe it "isn't a workout." In contrast, Yoga Alliance claims that 73% of people who do practice believe it is just as effective as running, swimming or weight lifting.

These assumptions are being made yoga "outsiders" based on their experience of yoga through pop culture, observing their yogi friends or acquaintances, peeking in on classes in their gyms or community centers, or other casual encounters with the practice. Yoga Alliance is trying to reach out to the public to encourage them to try yoga, and arguing that these points are misconstruing the nature of yoga. However, like many stereotypes, these "misconceptions" do have some basis in reality ... they are not completely out of left field, in any case. I would like to examine each of these "misconceptions" individually.

Yoga is Religion-Based

When I first began working out, I avoided yoga because I viewed it as a "new-agey" pursuit. I pictured a bunch of hippies sitting around in lotus position, with flowers in their hair, wearing tie-dye with their eyes closed and chanting "OM". When I finally tried out a class, I surprised by the athleticism involved.

However, as I pursue yoga more deeply, it is quite clear that there definitely is a spiritual aspect to it. Unlike most other athletic pastimes, yoga is accompanied by a set of texts, some of which are considered sacred. In addition, the physical aspect is only one branch of a multi-limbed practice that also involves ethical and moral teachings. One of the texts most yoga teachers study is the Bhagavad Gita, a central text in the Hindu religion that delves into philosophy. Advanced yogis often travel to India and seek out tutelage from a respected guru. Meditation, a spiritual practice, is often linked to yoga.

Some teachers shy away from this aspect of yoga and stick only to the physical asana practice. A few even advertise their classes with "No Om-ing" or "No Chanting". Others will mix in a little spiritual side, maybe by offering an inspiring quote during savasana or asking the participants to chant "om" at the end or beginning of the class. Still other teachers will encourage their students to pursue the philosophical side of yoga more actively and interweave the spiritual teachings with the physical practice.

While yoga itself is not a religion, there definitely can be a spiritual side. However, if this part of yoga is off-putting, it is certainly possible to seek out a practice that focuses on the physical postures.
Flexibility is Required to Practice Yoga

This is another "misconception" that hits close to home. I have always had very tight hamstrings and difficulty doing forward bends. I was quite intimidated by the bendy people I saw in yoga classes.

In truth, many yoga asanas require a great deal of flexibility to reach their full physical expression. However, that does not preclude anyone from practicing yoga. Each yogi approaches their practice from their ability on any given day. Our practice helps us to find our limits and explore the abilities of our bodies. A knowledgeable yoga teacher will offer a variety of modifications with yoga poses so that students of varying levels can complete a pose at their comfort.

Yoga encourages a non-judgmental attitude towards your own body and acceptance of what we are able to accomplish. One of the most reassuring mantras that I received early on in my practice was, "If not today, then tomorrow". When a person first comes to yoga, she may not possess a gumby-like ability to stretch her muscles. However, if we keep up with our practice and have patience with ourselves, our bodies will change and adapt.


Yoga Is Not a Workout

To someone who spends their time sweating it out on the treadmill, it is easy to see how they might peek into a yoga class, see the class lying on their mats with their eyes closed in savasana, and dismiss yoga as a non-athletic activity. Yoga does have its moments of quiet and rest and most teachers value that time as much as the more active periods.

In truth, there are many different styles of yoga, with varying levels of athleticism. For the most part, yoga is not a high impact, high level cardio exercise that is going to burn the same number of calories as running ten miles. Yoga can be a still, restorative practice, or a more intensive, powerful flow of movement. Some styles of yoga crank up the heat, so not only are you moving vigorously, you are sweating like a pig.

I generally practice Ashtanga yoga, or vinyasa flow yoga. In this style, there is definitely a lot of movement. Throughout the practice, I do many, many push-ups. It requires stamina to hold the poses and move through the flow. The practice requires core strength to balance. It is, without a doubt, a workout, but not a workout in the same way that my running is a workout. Yoga can help you lose weight, develop muscle tone, and improve your cardiovascular health.


Yoga, like many things, is a complicated and multi-faceted concept. It has many different permutations, so characterizing yoga in one way is difficult. The "misconceptions" so labeled by Yoga Alliance could definitely be true in some cases, but in many more situations, are not going to describe the type of yoga many people are practicing. If someone takes a yoga class and is turned off by one aspect of it, I would encourage that person to try a different class and/or different style of yoga and see if that is a better match. Ask questions before you take a class to try and meet your expectations.

Personally, I found that my own misconceptions of yoga did not fit with my experience of the practice. However, as my practice of yoga developed, my needs changed and I sought a deeper, fuller understanding of what yoga could offer.

Today's workout:
50 min. run (6.4 mi)
30 min. resistance training
60 min. yoga