Why yoga? Why not?

Most of us have heard that yoga is good for us. It is a safe and effective way to become more active, and it is particularly good for strength, flexibility and balance. So why do so many people still avoid giving it a try? Here are the myths we hear most often.

“Yoga is just for women”

Yoga is often linked with celebrities, but plenty of elite athletes rely on it too. The New Zealand All Blacks use yoga in their training, and Shaquille O’Neal took it up to stay in shape after retiring from the NBA.

“Yoga doesn’t build muscle”

It can, although perhaps more slowly than lifting weights. Poses use your own body weight as resistance, holding them builds muscular endurance, and yoga works the stabilising muscles that other exercise often neglects.

“It’s not challenging enough”, or “it’s too hard”

Like learning to ride a bike, yoga is tricky at first, whether that is matching your breathing to your movement or getting your forehead to the floor in Child’s Pose. Once you have the basics, you can progress to harder variations, deeper stretches or longer holds. If the pace feels too slow, Vinyasa yoga flows through poses more quickly to build heat and strength.

“Yoga is expensive”

It does not have to be. Local studios, gyms and leisure centres across Leeds run classes, and there are excellent free sessions online, such as Yoga With Adriene, Yoga With Kassandra and Yoga With Tim on YouTube. Practising at home means you can choose a session to suit your time and mood, and all you need is a mat. The one downside is that nobody is there to correct your form, although you will learn to feel when a pose is right.

The health benefits

Regular yoga can help people living with high blood pressure, heart disease and everyday aches and pains, and it may reduce stress and low mood. Better strength, balance and coordination can also help older people avoid falls.

Have we sparked your interest? If an injury or pain is holding you back, talk to one of our physiotherapists before you start.