Yoga has been steadily increasing in popularity, even before the pandemic. During the pandemic, the need to stay safe at home but remain active has been a challenge for many. Yoga is an activity that can be done at home. Dogwood Studio offers classes live over the internet or On Demand when and where you want. Yoga can be for any body, young or old, fit or new to exercise, arthritic or post-surgery. Many have not yet tried yoga because of a lack of understanding what it is. Here are some common myths about yoga debunked.
Myth 1: Yoga is for young people.
Answer: Although there are many images of young, fit people in a twisted yoga pose in popular media, these images do not depict the typical person who practices yoga. Yoga has tripled in popularity among those over fifty in the last four years and now accounts for 38% of those participating in yoga. There is even a 101-year-old yoga instructor! You can find a yoga style and teachers that meet your medical history and goals. Be sure to do your research. You should be able to observe a class before participating.
Myth 2: Yoga is a religious practice, and it is not part of the religion I follow.
Answer: Yoga is a mind-body practices that can become positive support for a healthier lifestyle. Yoga has many elements, movement and poses, meditation, breathing, concentration, inward focus, ethical principles, such as truthfulness, nonviolence, compassion to name a few. Yoga can be integrated into a spiritual and/or religious practice, but it is not a component of yoga. The ability to build the connection between mind and body is a human experience that we can all share in equally. Finding a yoga style and teachers that serve your goals for yoga is important to receive the benefits of yoga.
Myth 3: I am not coordinated, so I won’t be able to follow what to do.
Answer: No problem! Most yoga classes are not coordinated dancing to a beat but is posing your body and sometimes includes movements that connect the poses. The instructor explains and can demonstrate how to do the poses. Poses have many variations to achieve similar benefits that the poses hold. If a pose does not feel good or you have restrictions in your movements, like with arthritis or previous injury or surgery, there are alternative ways for you to benefit with a different variation or modifications. Finding a well trained and experienced yoga teacher that approaches yoga from a functional mind-body approach is important. Yoga should meet you where you are.
Myth 4: Yoga can be taught by anyone
Answer: There are different style of yoga with different methodologies and goals. Finding a style that fits your needs can be therapeutic, no matter if it is a vigorous flow class or a restorative floor practice. Find a practice that supports the transition into a yoga practice to support a lifelong practice. So, a yoga teacher should be able to adapt to the needs of the students and not the teacher’s. This takes time and maturity. Yoga teachers have a variety of backgrounds. Commonly, most initial certifications start at 200 hours of training in the components of yoga. The background of the teacher prior to the training and after matter a great deal. So maybe what commitment does it take to teach yoga is likely a better question.
Interested in trying yoga? Watch this inspirational beginning to a Therapeutic Yin Yoga session. Click the image to view.
Click Image to Play Video
It is important to have a well-trained yoga practitioner to guide in selecting poses that will support your body and not cause additional problems. SAM Sather, a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), works with individuals with an understanding of their unique needs and trains yoga teachers on how to safely guide clients through a carefully chosen practice.
Dogwood Studio offers weekly live and recorded On Demand classes taught by SAM Sather. For example, Joint Freeing yoga is a great, gentle option for increasing movement in joints.
Click on the link HERE to sign-up and go to the ‘Classes’ tab to sign-up for any sessions, including Joint Freeing Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Mindful Movement & Yoga Classes.
For the latest schedule on the website, click HERE.
On Demand Line-up for November 23rd through 29th & available for signing up:
For more information about On Demand classes, visit our website page HERE or email us at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com.