Many known exercises can be intimidating and may seem too tricky; yoga is the opposite. Many women/men might feel like they can’t do this because they’re not flexible or don’t have the body for it, but it’s for everyone! Finding something that works for everybody is significant when finding a new workout or exercise. Being a couch potato myself, finding out about yoga made me feel better about exercising. Overall, yoga is a more comfortable and overall more beneficial exercise than most may think. 

The History

Yoga is a mixture of healing, breathing, moving, and flexibility. It originated in North India 5,000 years ago and is documented in ancient texts. In many of the ancient texts, there were mantras; according to google arts and culture, a program that displays content from over 2,000 leading museums, mantras are “…repetitive sounds used to “penetrate the depths of the unconscious mind” and “adjust the vibration of all aspects of your being.” Practically, yoga guides the body to a state of tranquility. Despite the ancient and beautiful history of yoga, many rumors still hurt its reputation. 

The Misconceptions

The common misconceptions about yoga have made it more difficult for people to try it. This statement was proved when I talked with a peer, Mason Christie, a senior at SPASH, who stated, “[Yoga] just always seemed so hard, and I have no flexibility.” Mason is not the first person to say this either; Katy Cherney, a junior at SPASH, said this is how she felt when she first started. Katy continues saying, “but I’m so happy I did start [yoga] makes me feel like a new person every time I do it.” This comparison between a person who doesn’t want to try it and someone who has for a few years now makes it very clear that it may seem scary, but it is worth it. Yet these rumors still hurt the excitement of yoga and prevent some people from even trying it. 

The Benefits

Although many people think of yoga as stretching, the exercise has so much more! Not only are there hundreds of different poses, but there are even more benefits! Dr. Nevins, an osteopathic doctor who works with the Doctors of Osteopathic Doctors, acknowledges this by stating, “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate.” This evidence lists some of yoga’s excellent benefits; imagine how many more there are.

So Why Yoga?

Yoga deserves to be used more than it currently is. The physical and mental effects are unique, and it’s a personal time to work on the mind and body. This practice can be very independent or used in large groups. Yoga is for every body type, and there are 19 different styles. The act’s history is beautiful, and regarding the common misconceptions, it’s not all about stretching!