Do not put yoga on this list!
As a dedicated yoga enthusiast, practitioner, teacher and studio owner, I quite often have the opportunity to talk with people about the benefits of yoga. What I have found is that these days, every body knows somebody who does yoga, and they know that they should, too. BUT….and the excuses begin. I don’t have time, I am not flexible, I am too big, etc. Really, anyone can do yoga, and yes, everyone should. But, if you find yourself in need of a few more excuses, I have compiled some here for you to ponder. See what works for you. And just in case any of you are taking this too seriously, please know that humor is a huge part of my life, and my yoga!
Now, yoga and its benefits have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and so have the excuses. I am not going to claim to have dreamed these up myself. Several months ago, a New York yoga teacher came up with her own list of reasons to stay off of your mat! So, ponder these, and pick one next time you feel like staying on the couch and off your mat. So here they are, in no particular order:
The bartender might ask for your ID when you order a drink.
A regular yoga practice can help you look (and feel!) younger by slowing the aging process, and in some cases even reversing it. Yoga revitalizes the mind and rejuvenates the body. You may find that you feel younger and stronger than you have in years. You are only as young as your spine is flexible!
You are so used to that backache; it is like an old friend.
At some point in our lives almost 80% of us will suffer with some form of back pain, because of the way we live (and sit). Generally, back pain is caused by an imbalance in the flexibility and the strength of the muscles of the back, hips and shoulders. A regular yoga practice can release the tension in the back, and strengthen the muscles in the hips and the core, eliminating much of the pain.
Sleep is overrated.
Yoga can help you sleep at night, especially if you suffer from stress related insomnia. Yoga relaxes the muscles, the nervous system, and the mind, helping you to sleep better at night. But hey, some of us love that feeling of lying awake at 4:00 AM, knowing there is a full day of work coming soon, with no sleep!
You’ve earned those toxins in your body and want to keep them!
Just like other forms of exercise, you can work up a sweat, relax, and maybe take your mind off the stresses of the day. Yoga doesn’t corner the market on that. And in the right class, you can even get a pretty decent calorie burn. But the way we live (and eat) fills our system with toxins, free radicals, and all kinds of other icky stuff that builds up over time. And there are all kinds of over the counter detox tools out there these days! But the best way to really clean and detoxify your body is to let it do the work itself, by supporting your lymphatic system with good for you food, lots of water, and yoga. Especially upside down poses. Headstands aren’t just for Kindergarteners!
You are afraid of what you might accomplish with some focus.
Just imagine how successful you could be if you could stay focused on the task at hand, without the constant mental distractions of the grocery list, the phone calls, the endless mental chatter. Yoga won’t cure you of this, but through simple breathing and meditation techniques, you can enhance your ability to focus and concentrate.
Your game is fine….no improvement needed.
It is great to have a passion for a sport or other physical activity, whether it is running, cycling, golf, swimming….you name it. But when we train our bodies a certain way, over and over again, over time we create imbalances in the strength and flexibility that we use (or don’t use) in that activity. Yoga is a great way to bring the body back into alignment and balance. And by bringing greater awareness to the breath through yoga, you can experience greater stamina, as well as focus in you game, whatever it is.
You prefer to get your energy from a candy bar or a soda.
Don’t you love that quick burst of energy you get from a Snickers bar and a Diet Coke? How about the subsequent crash? Do you love that, too? We have become dependent on getting our energy from outside of us, while we need to learn to cultivate and balance the energy WITHIN us. A yoga practice can help you do this. Yoga doesn’t create energy, but helps us to cultivate and use more efficiently the energy we already have.
You might have to buy new clothes.
Yoga strengthens, lengthens and tones your muscles, and those longer leaner muscles take up less space in your jeans. And the previously mentioned energy boost increases your metabolism, so when you do splurge on the Snickers bar or the Latte, it is less likely to linger on your hips.
You like visiting your doctor, and hospitals aren’t so bad, either.
Modern medicine is showing more and more the many health benefits of this ancient practice. From decreased blood pressure, better circulation, to better cardiovascular endurance, yoga everyday really can help to keep the doctor away. A regular yoga practice can also result in a stronger immune system, helping to keep you healthy.
The last cult you joined no longer wanted you as a member.
It is a misconception that yoga is a religion, or a cult. While yoga was designed as a holistic system to bring balance and harmony to the mind, body and spirit, many people come to yoga strictly for the physical benefits, or to relieve aches and pains. Others use the quiet time at the end of their practice to meditate or pray. While yoga did originate in India and has components that stem from Hinduism, there is no requirement that you chant, become Hindu or Buddhist, or ever understand a word of Sanskrit. Most practitioners do find that a dedicated practice helps them enhance their spirituality by allowing the time and the mental space to connect to their higher power, through mediation or prayer.
