Why So Many People Don’t Practice Yoga

January 31, 2022

There are many reasons why people don’t practice yoga whether it be lack of flexibility or otherwise. People assume just because they aren’t able to touch their toes or shut off their many racing thoughts to meditate, that they are incapable of practicing yoga when thoughts like that are inhibitors of getting started in a practice that is meant for everyone—-from toe-touchers to back-benders, from retirees to teenagers, from fitness fanatic to stay-at-home mom—-yoga is universal.

In this article, we’ll be going over some reasons why people may have reasons to hesitate to practice yoga…and then swifty abolish those reasons with sound reasons to practice yoga. These hesitations may seem small, but to those individuals, it can keep them from stepping forward to achieving results in all aspects of life, which is why we’re here to expose and soften these mountainous issues with sound answers and reasonings to shrink those mountains into small pebbles. 

Reasons Why People Don’t Practice Yoga (And Why Yoga Solves Those Issues)

Flexibility- “I’m not flexible enough”

Everyone starts somewhere. The starting points may be different depending on the individual, but one can’t progress if they don’t at least start.

Though many search images of “yoga” depict a person bending in all shapes and manners that seem quite implausible, know that the practice of yoga is what you make of it. If you only practice once a week joining a studio with the neighborhood moms, or a 15-minute guided video you found on Youtube…you reap what you sow. If you wish to increase flexibility and mobility, yoga is an essential form in doing so. Putting the time in to improve will heighten the benefits, and eventually, the results.

The yoga instructor is trained to provide precise instructions to guide each individual in movements so that is challenging for them individually. Through the usage of tools like yoga blocks, blankets, and straps, the instructor will improvise movements to align, based on the individual’s need, properly to ease into poses rather than force one into a pose and cause pain.

Yoga is not a comparison sport. It is an individual practice and mindset. Don’t let your lack of flexibility, or comparison to others, stop you from achieving a more sound you

Experience- “Not Good Enough At It”

Like everything else in life, if you don’t practice something you will never be able to get better at it. This includes yoga. 

Everyone has to start somewhere. If you are afraid of being out of your element, know that your instructor will guide you and allow you to go at your own pace. If the flow is too fast, slow down. If the pose is too hard, check in with your instructor for a modification for the pose (which they normally give). There are classes that are designed to be for beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Sometimes a mixture, as it can be as hard as you make it (as in more advanced poses compared to the beginner or intermediate poses provided). Yoga instructors will, in the class, give modified versions based on experience level so that each individual, or yogi, can challenge themselves adequately and properly. 

Confidence–Afraid To Be Embarrassed

Keep an open mind. New things can be intimidating for many people. Just know, going in, that everyone is working on themselves. Taking that first step can be hard, but it will be worth it. 

Benefits Of Yoga

There are many, rather than a few, benefits of practicing yoga. Most would assume flexibility and mobility would be the most one would benefit from a yoga class. They would be wrong. Yoga has been around for a long time, traced back to northern India over 5,000 years ago. Originally created as a spiritual development practice, yoga was used to encourage self-awareness, self-regulation, and discernment of the mind and body. Nowadays, since becoming popular, especially in America, yoga is mainly used as a tool to increase flexibility, relax, reduce stress, and more (though it has been widely corrupted with temptations of a “smaller waist” and an “increase in muscle mass”, which is not the goal of yoga whatsoever). Take a look at the benefits of yoga below to get a true understanding of all that yoga and its practice encompasses. 

Here are some astounding benefits of yoga:

  • Improves flexibility
  • Improves mobility
  • Improves strength
  • Soothes chronic back pain
  • Soothes arthritis pain
  • Reduces stress levels
  • Reduces inflammation in the body
  • Improves heart health
  • Improves mental health
  • Improves energy levels
  • Improves quality of sleep 

How To Get Started:

Viridity Co Holistic Yoga + Wellness Studio

Reach out to Viridity Co Holistic Yoga + Wellness Studio to sign up for your first class! Whether it be attending in-person at their studio located in Thornton, PA, livestreaming the classes from the comfort of your home, or even setting up a private session catered and personalized to your needs, Viridity Co is the yoga studio to join. Classes are available 7 days a week and are dedicated to not only building a connection between teacher and student, but to create a safe space devoted to a holistic approach. 

The live streaming option is going to require some accountability on your part. There are dedicated times for classes that can be a great first step to starting to practice yoga. Whether it be 10 minutes or 40 minutes, you’re putting in the time during that session to dedicate yourself to, well, yourself. You can also take part in private sessions that are customized specifically for you and your goals.

Get a feel for the movements, the instructions, the mindset, and listen to your body. Whether it be practicing in the comfort of your home or in the studio, Viridity Co Holistic Yoga + Wellness Studio is a great place to start in making healthy moves to calm the mind, reap the physical benefits (flexibility and more), and listen to your body. 

Conclusion:

There are many reasons why people don’t practice yoga, yet many of them can be debunked. Yoga is not judgmental. It is informative, productive, calming, and beneficial. Whether it be concerns of flexibility, experience level, mindset, or otherwise, yoga is a place to set aside one’s worries, doubts, and fears when stepping on the mat. A practice that encourages compassion with oneself and others.

We hope this article encourages you in some way to practice yoga and debunk your fears and doubts. Share this article with a friend, family member, or coworker! 

Alisha

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Meet Alisha Beine

As a holistic health coach, I will work with you on an individual or group basis, where we work together to identify small integrative steps that you can take to become healthier and happier. The work itself is really part listener and part recommendation-giver to encourage and allow you to learn to listen to your own body and decide what’s right for you. Holistic health coaches act as a wellness mentor and support system to you if you are looking to feel your best and are ready and willing to make changes to your diet and overall lifestyle. It’s my job to tailor specific recommendations to you based on your life, body, and needs.

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