Who benefits from yoga?
To put it simply, EVERYONE benefits from yoga. Whether you desire greater flexibility, stronger muscles and bones, lasting endurance, or peace of mind, all can be found in yoga. Yoga asana is a great method for helping people get into shape and stay in shape. There is always somewhere to progress in the practice! Beginner and restorative yoga classes can be utilized by those recovering from an injury or suffering from chronic illness. Many find that yoga improves the quality of their sleep, increases their energy level, and reduces stress.
Common yoga misconceptions:
I can’t practice yoga because I am not flexible.
That is one important reason to practice yoga! Many tight bodies have found healing in yoga classes. From athletes to weekend warriors and everything in between people need to maintain adequate flexibility to maintain optimal health. For those craving looser hamstrings, check out our Yin yoga classes.
Is yoga a religion?
No, yoga is not a religion. Many people find spiritual healing through their yoga practice but no specific form of worship is carried out during a yoga class. Yoga can mean many different things to people. Some come to yoga solely for the physical practice, while others prefer to divulge deeper into the philosophy behind yoga. The bottom line is that a student should never feel pressured to explore a side of yoga that is outside of their comfort level.
Isn’t yoga just for women?
Quite the contrary! In fact, CFY’s owner and founder is a male. Almost 30% of yogis in America are men, and dudes find their ways to yoga classes for a variety of reasons. Men with greater flexibility, better range of motion, and reduced stress tend to perform better in other activities such as contact sports, running, weight training, and yes, even the bedroom. In fact, anyone who has taken a heated yoga class or power vinyasa flow class is well aware of the physical fitness required in yoga. All others can choose to sit back and speculate or discover the benefits of yoga for themselves…and yes that was a challenge to all you “tough guys” out there!
I have seen pictures of people doing yoga, and there is no way I could ever balance on my forearms!
Many people think that yoga classes are filled with ex-ballerinas and gymnasts who don’t think twice about touching their toes or standing on their heads. While there are indeed ballerinas and gymnasts who practice yoga, there are people from all other backgrounds and fitness levels as well. Why? Because one does not have to stand on his or her head or do the splits to reap the benefits of yoga. Do not be intimidated by the practice, because the practice can easily be tailored to fit all needs.
I already go to the gym so I do not need to practice yoga.
Yoga is a great complementary practice to other forms of exercise. Yoga offers students greater flexibility, better mental clarity, a chance to heal sore muscles and injuries, reduce stress, and improve sleep.