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What is preventing you from giving yoga a shot? Do you believe that it is too expensive, that it will take up too much of your time, or that you are not flexible enough? These are just a few of the widespread misunderstandings that discourage individuals from beginning a practise that is associated with a plethora of positive health outcomes. Therefore, we are going to perform a little bit of myth-busting and tear down the obstacles that are holding you from stepping onto a yoga mat and beginning the road towards better health and well-being for yourself.
Since yoga is an ancient practise, many myths about it exist in people’s minds. Let’s dispel these on the occasion of ‘World Yoga Day’. It is important that we understand what yoga is before we start.The word “yoga” comes from the verb “yuj,” which means “joining.” The body, mind, and spirit are combining in this way. The genuine personality of a person is shown when all these components come together harmoniously. It is both a comprehensive system and a sci.
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Yoga belongs to one religion
There is a body, a mind, and a soul in every single human being, regardless of their religious beliefs. Yoga facilitates the bringing together of different facets in a person, and it is not concerned with any labels of any kind, be they religious or pertaining to any other superficial differences that exist between people. It is not membership in a specific belief system that is necessary to practise yoga; rather, what is necessary is practise that is done with genuine dedication and consistency.
The idea that practising yoga is the same as adhering to the Hindu or Buddhist religions is a major misconception. Indeed, a lot of people from many religions still believe that practising yoga will be a betrayal of their faith. It is true that yoga has certain connections to religion, even if it is not a religion in and of itself. The primary historical sources of yoga are found in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. However, when it comes to practise, yoga is something that people of all religions may do and benefit from, even while they continue to practise their own religion.
Any faith is OK as long as you practise all facets of yoga. For instance, OM is frequently chanted for Hindus and Buddhists because it reflects the sound of harmony in both the body and the mind. But even if you’re not a follower of Buddhism or Hinduism, you can say “Om” to experience this harmony. The integration of the mind, body, and soul to realise the inner self is the fundamental tenet of yoga as a spiritual practise. It takes perseverance and determination for this, not religious affiliation.
Yoga is only bodily postures
1: Which of these is the primary goal of yoga practice?
A person who does a trick with a rope, who is a magician, or who does physical exercises that exclusively include Asanas should not be regarded a Yogi. Yoga encompasses everything. Only one of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Asana Sutra, discusses physical postures (asanas). Patanjali recommends that practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga, which is comprised of eight distinct branches, do so in order to cultivate their authentic selves. It entails the practise of specific principles, such as Yama and Niyama, Asana, Pranayama (breathing methods), Pratyahara, Dharana, and D.. etc.
You can learn it through books
People have the misconception that learning yoga can be accomplished by reading any one of the numerous books that can be found at a book store. It is not quite as easy as that. These kinds of practises can not only cause physical harm, but they might also result in incomplete knowledge about the yoga practise. It is a methodical technique that must be learned from an experienced teacher or guru. It is necessary to have a complete comprehension not just of what one ought to do but also of the positive and negative impacts that particular behaviours can have. Reading the books could spark some ideas in you. However, the harm that it causes.
You should be flexible
The body’s movements grow increasingly restricted as people get older. It is not required that a person’s body be flexible before beginning the practise of asanas (yoga positions). Every single person possesses some measure of adaptability. Anyone can start their practise whenever they like. There are straightforward asanas that will assist the body in becoming more flexible and in adjusting to the new circumstances. The practise should include elements of strength, balance, flexibility, and focus all at the same time. It is possible to practise yoga even if you do not have a flexible physique, despite the fact that you may have witnessed people shifting their bodies into poses that are impossible to imagine.
By gradually stretching out your muscles, yoga can help you become more flexible over time. One of the many advantages of practising yoga regularly is increased flexibility, which is typically regarded as a side effect of this advantage. The realisation of one’s true nature on the inside is the pinnacle of a yoga practise. You don’t have to be flexible to practise yoga, but if you do it regularly, you will definitely improve your flexibility, which will give you a greater ability to move freely without the risk of injury. Flexibility is often seen as evidence of a yogi’s commitment to a physically active lifestyle, which is beneficial to the yogi’s path.
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Yoga is only for young people
This misunderstanding occurs when people just consider asanas in their yoga practise. On the other hand, yoga can be practised by everyone, regardless of age or gender. Simply devoting yourself and practising on a consistent basis are requirements. Anyone, at any age, can begin practising as long as they are guided by a knowledgeable instructor. It has been observed that persons with ages greater than 60 years are able to perform difficult Asanas such as Shirshasana, Sarvangasana, and others with ease and to a high level of proficiency. The only way to become proficient at anything is to practise it.
It may come as a great surprise to many who still believe that yoga is only practised by women that the most well-known yogis have been guys. Additionally, yoga was once only practised by men. Men were the masters who had a major role in the global growth of yoga. Women were not permitted to practise until the 1930s. Anyone can practise yoga. It makes no distinctions based on factors such as gender, age, caste, ethnicity, religion, or race. Actually, yoga will improve your ability to connect with a higher force and open your heart chakra, allowing you to experience love for everyone.
It is time-consuming
The amount of time that one spends is not required to accomplish anything. In the beginning, it will be sufficient to exercise for half an hour in the morning and half an hour before going to bed. You are free to make this longer if you have additional time available. Let each session consist of ten minutes of pranayama, ten minutes of meditation, and ten minutes of asanas.It may be useful and even vital to begin practise yoga in order to combat stress and improve relaxation if one has a busy schedule and feels they have little time for anything other than work. Yoga helps to reduce tension and promotes relaxation.
Another common misunderstanding is that yoga requires a great deal of time to practise. There are lessons that go anywhere from thirty minutes to ninety minutes of actual practise. You could even be able to accomplish more in less time if you consider using a virtual platform. If you are committed and serious about your practise, yoga won’t be difficult to work into your schedule at all. There are many different ways to do yoga, and not all of them include doing the poses in the morning and the evening. Only on the physical side will you be focussing your efforts, so just keep that in mind. You need to make sure that you are incorporating all of the aspects of yoga that you practise on the mat into the rest of your life as well.
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Yoga means a total lifestyle change
Practising yoga will almost certainly call for a shift in one’s way of living. However, in order to fully benefit from yoga, one must fundamentally alter their lifestyle. Moderation is something that should be practised in everything that one does. It does not imply that one must abstain from all forms of animal products and give up all of their material possessions. It is recommended to eat meat and junk food in moderation while maintaining a diet that is predominately vegetarian. Even on a regular basis, one could look forward to relaxing with a nice glass of wine. Altering one’s lifestyle, on the other hand, necessitates more than just alterations to one’s nutrition; it also involves c.
Yoga is not for asthmatics
What an urban legend! If you suffer from asthma, you should absolutely begin a yoga practise that includes asanas, pranayama, and meditation as soon as possible.Pranayama, which consists of various breathing exercises, is very helpful because it provides the essential oxygen in an adequate quantity, which, in turn, will assist you in lowering the impact of disease to a significant degree. It will also assist you in requiring a lower dosage of your medication. Therefore, there is a major therapeutic effect that can be gained from practising yoga for the treatment of asthma.
Yoga is dangerous
If you desire to accomplish anything quickly, doing anything—including yoga—could be hazardous, and the same holds true for the practise itself. Take care not to overdo it. Acknowledge the constraints that your body places on you and adjust your yoga practises accordingly. It is not only about the physical postures; in addition to those, you need to do pranayama, bandha, mudra, kriyas, and meditation in order to develop your personality comprehensively. If it is practised with devotion and initially under the direction of an experienced teacher, yoga is beneficial and poses no risk to the practitioner.
Yoga can be taught by anybody
It does not signify that you are an expert who is qualified to begin teaching yoga only because you have specific yogic literature, have participated in a yoga instructor training programme, or have attended yoga sessions for a period of time and are familiar with particular practises. It also does not signify that you are an expert who is qualified to begin teaching yoga. You are undoubtedly familiar with a number of procedures. However, before you go on the journey of teaching, you should first practise the same in your day-to-day life. This means you should be humble, practice the principles of Ashtanga Yoga, and then when you feel ready, you should move on to the next step.
Yoga can be learned from books
Try to avoid using attention-grabbing terms for the names of the numerous yoga books that are sold in physical and virtual bookshops. Written words cannot teach someone the genuine art of yoga; only practise can do that. There is a wealth of information available on the internet on how to execute asanas with cues; nevertheless, if you do not have a qualified instructor to guide you, you will not be able to practise it in the correct manner. Your body can suffer permanent harm if you have incomplete or incorrect information. A knowledgeable instructor will be able to recognise indications and nuances in your body that you might miss because of their training. You might find the motivation to start doing yoga in a book, but no book will teach you everything there is to know about yoga.
Yoga asanas are rigid and cannot be customized
If that were the case, there would not be millions of individuals who are actively practising one of the many varieties of yoga that are available today. It is not surprising that individuals have varying need and expectations because of this. Although it may come naturally to some people, others must practise patience and perseverance in order to achieve the same level of flexibility. Yoga positions are extremely adaptable, which enables practitioners to meet the diverse needs of their students.
You must pay attention to what your body is telling you and make appropriate adjustments with the guidance of your instructor. In yoga, there are no competitions, and you will not receive a perfect score even if you are the first person to ever complete an asana flawlessly. Your breath and developing a state of mind that is peaceful and comfortable should be your primary points of concentration. Now that some common misunderstandings about yoga have been addressed, take a look at the following information regarding the origins, methods, and advantages of yoga practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is yoga philosophy?
Yoga philosophy is a philosophy of life. The basis of yogic philosophy is the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. Written over 2000 years ago, the Yoga Sutras contain four ‘Padas’ or chapters brought from all paths of yoga and creating a comprehensive text. Within the sutras, Patanjali describes the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which must be practised and developed before true mental liberation is reached.
Can yoga help certain medical conditions?
A regular practice can help improve the following conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, menopause, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, migraines, insomnia, fused vertebrae, arthritis, chronic pain, scoliosis, sciatica, respiratory ailments, digestive disorders and diabetes. It benefits many other conditions also.
How often should yoga be practised?
There is no minimum or maximum recommended time. A daily practise, however short, can be more effective that an intense weekly class. Dedicated yogis normally spend several hours a day.
What is meditation?
Meditation is the result of sustained concentration. The desired purpose of each meditation technique is to channel our awareness into a more positive direction by totally transforming one’s state of mind. To meditate is to turn inwards, to concentrate on the inner self. Meditation calms the mind, brings emotional balance, mental clarity and focus.
