common misconceptions

You need to be flexible to practice yoga.

No way! You do not have to be flexible to begin a yoga practice. In fact, the less flexible you are initially, the more you have to gain. Although flexibility is not the main aim of yoga, it is one of the benefits of practicing.

Yoga is all about stretching and is not a workout

Yoga not only lengthens the muscles, but it also builds strength and muscle tone. Because yoga is weight-bearing (your body is used as resistance), it helps build muscle tone, while strengthening the bones - essential to prevent osteoporosis. Incorporating weight-bearing exercise into a fitness routine is vital for long-term health.

Yoga involves chanting and mantras, akin to a religion

Yoga is not a religion; it is suitable for those of every faith, or for those with none. Although styles such as Kundalini and Sivananda yoga include some chanting, most yoga classes in the west do not.

Yoga is for women

In some parts of the world the majority of yoga students are women, and some men may have gotten the idea that yoga is not for them. The fact is that all people are searching for inner peace and all people wish to avoid disease and live a healthy life. Yoga offers something for anyone who wishes an effective method of physical, mental or spiritual development and should not be thought of as a discipline reserved only for women or only for men.