1) Lack of flexibility
Yoga has a well-earned reputation of being only for the uber-flexible, with every related image featuringamazingly in-shape individuals in seemingly agonizing and unnatural positions.
But yoga is for everyone, regardless of their age, athleticism or flexibility. It’s about improving your mind and body–and it can start with relatively simple poses which, over time, will increase your flexibility, strength and mental focus.
2) It’s boring
Some people feel the need for speed. If they’re going to spend their valuable time in a gym or studio, they’re going to want to be doing something that gets their blood pumping, like playing basketball or dancing. They want to feel the physicality of their activities.
In reality, yoga is a great way to tone your body and improve your mental performance. And because yoga involves you, your body and your mind, you are only as bored as you allow yourself to be.
3) It involves chanting
Chanting makes some people uncomfortable, which is understandable. It can be embarrassing to hear yourself making sounds you wouldn’t ordinarily make on the street, at work, or in a group of people.
And that’s okay.
But yoga classes rarely (if ever) require you to chant. Some encourage chanting as a way to clear the mind, reflect and relax. However, many yoga groups eschew chanting altogether. You might hear an occasional “Om” or “Namaste” at the beginning of a class, but you by no means have to join your fellow classmates in the art of Sanskrit.
4) Lack of knowledge
Fear of the unknown is common, but it shouldn’t keep you from trying yoga. Knowledge is power, and there are yoga classes for beginners, where instructors take it slow and teach you how to properly position your body, what the different poses are called and what each pose is designed to do.
Don’t let a lack of knowledge keep you from trying yoga. If you try it, you just might like it–and you’ll learn something new.
5) It looks foolish
Many people fear looking foolish, which is understandable. But yoga classes are notoriously welcoming to newcomers. After all, everyone who does yoga was new to it at some point in their life. Learning something new takes some time and can feel a little uncomfortable at first. But imagine what would happen if toddlers around the world refused to try to walk for the first time because they feared falling. Failing the first time is the first step toward perfecting something.