The Truth About Yoga: You Don’t Need to Be Flexible
by Carmen Lee-Schneider
I received an email the other day that one of my one-on-one yoga sessions was cancelled. The good news is that Yoga Base Camp, my beginner yoga workshop, booked out completely! The amount of signups for beginner yoga shows me how intimidating yoga can be. The word yoga alone comes with a lot of stigma that is difficult to diffuse.
Yoga Base Camp with Carmen
When you think yoga probably a few words come to mind – flexibility, stretching, and breath. For those of you who might not be able to touch your toes, this can be very discouraging. I can’t tell you how many people tell me they can’t do yoga because they are not flexible, so they don’t try it. But what people actually know about yoga might be limited to that pretzel yoga pose they saw on the cover of Yoga Journal.
So I showed up to teach at Yoga Base Camp and discovered at least half of the 63 students with that new-to-yoga, deer-in-the-headlights look. I announced to the class that this would be a beginner gentle class and we would start off slowly. The class almost immediately seemed relieved and took a deep breath. Several students in the class had little flexibility and required modifications. I always encourage my students to start off where they are and sometimes I share my own personal struggles. I know as yoga teachers we say it doesn’t matter if you touch your toes, but we mean it. If you are breathing, you are practicing yoga.
Don’t swear off yoga forever if your forward fold looks like you’re standing in mountain pose. This is where my students say, “I am folding forward!” It can definitely be discouraging if your flexibility feels like a bad joke, but it’s all about baby steps. A marathon runner doesn’t wake up one morning and start running marathons. So, it’s unrealistic to believe that you will be an advanced yogi without practice. As I’ve often heard, slow and steady wins the race. Yoga is definitely not about winning, but it sure feels good when you finally get that favorite yoga pose.
Here are a few beginner tips to get started:
- Start practicing! Don’t make excuses.
- Pick one yoga pose and work on it.
- Got tight hamstrings? Forward fold every day is your friend.
- If you’re short on time, practice for 5-10 minutes per day.
- Don’t dismiss breathing and meditation. It works!
- Find a teacher and class that work for you. All types of yoga exist.
One great benefit of yoga is increased flexibility
Here’s the skinny on yoga that you won’t know before you go: You will not be required to stand on your head or do other advanced poses. Your teacher will not require you to touch your toes. You do not need to be flexible, nor do you need to wear yoga pants. (I don’t think I have ever seen a guy wearing yoga pants, but I’m sure it exists somewhere. Definitely not in Bundaberg, QLD.) You will be able to use modifications. You do not need to be good at yoga or know what you are doing.
All of that is what we yoga instructors are here for and if you have the right teacher, you’ll see just what I’m talking about. Just go for it! The time is now! In fact, I would like to give you a $25 gift card to use at any of my yoga classes. Claim yours here.
*Gift card can be used for any of our Bundaberg Yoga Classes. Only one gift card per person. Claim yours here.
Carmen Lee-Schneider
Yoga Coach & Founder of Love Life. Live Yoga.
As a mother of two I practice and teach Yoga because it helps me stay present. When I am present, I have the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful things around me, rather than worrying about the past or future. Setting time aside for yourself to practice what you love is what makes all the difference. It is a time to grow, to open the mind, and to begin to see ourselves in purest form. Come practice yoga with me in Bundaberg!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!