I cannot tell you how often I have heard this line. Hundreds of times….possibly even thousands of times. And I have to say, I take issue with this on a couple of fronts.
The first is the flexibility thing.
Let me tell you, I’ve been practicing yoga consistently for over 25 years and I would definitely not put myself into the ‘flexible’ category.
Not the category of flexible that most people bring to mind when they think of the word and what it entails, anyway. You know – the super-bendy, contortionist-style of flexible that often times is assumed to be the prerequisite for yoga. The kind of ‘flexible’ we so often see gracing Instagram posts and advertising yoga classes. For sure, this kind of flexible makes for absolutely beautiful images and might even be inspiring for some to see the possibilities of the human body and mind working in tandem, but for most of us we see it as pretty much out of reach and it only serves to discourage us from dipping our toes into the waters of yoga.
But I would like to remind you that this type of flexibility has never been a prerequisite for practicing yoga – only for creating stunning photographs or videos of incredible bodily control (which, let’s just remind ourselves, are taken in one moment of a person’s practice in order to record the feat.)
Now, in no way am I wanting to diminish the incredible capabilities of individuals who perform and post these gorgeous images and videos. In most cases it will have taken many months/years of consistent practice to reach their goals of striking those postures and all credit to them. I feel enormous appreciation and awe of the human body and mind and the dedication of those who do achieve the awesome shapes – they’re gorgeous to look at!
BUT – I do want to acknowledge that these kinds of images can also contribute to creating a false impression of what yoga is and who can practice it, especially for those who are circling the edge of the vast lake of yoga wondering if they should dive in.
I, for one, am not capable of bending my body into pretzel-like shapes (nor am I interested in doing so!) and I am by no stretch of the imagination a gymnast or dancer – turned – yogi. But my ‘lack of flexibility’ has never, ever – not once! – prevented me from benefiting immensely from my yoga practice. Even on my lowest of days my yoga practice has always cradled and supported me, balanced and grounded me and shifted my whole perspective to a more positive and open viewpoint. And I guarantee it has never had anything to do with being able to touch my toes (or not) or doing the splits (or not) or hooking a foot behind my head – or not!
The practice of yoga is for everyone. The only limiting factor is whether or not you decide to give it a try. It’s a choice thing, not a flexibility thing.
And there-in lies my next issue with the “I’m not flexible, I can’t do yoga” statement.
Yoga is not really something that we ‘do’. It's not a task to tick off our list and move on. Yoga is something that we PRACTISE.
The idea that we ‘do yoga’ tends to reduce the practice of yoga to an exercise session. A bit of time spent throwing a few shapes with our body – stretching a few areas, making weird shapes called funny names, taking a little nap at the end and leaving the mat to go back to our tasks and the demands of our lives without any further thought of yoga until our next class rolls around next week.
And, you know what – doing just that will likely make you feel pretty good for the session and for a little while after it and it certainly won’t be a negative in your life. It’s movement, it’s rest – it’s great!
But yoga is so much more than just those few minutes spent on your mat stretching and twisting.
It is a blueprint for living your life. It is a connecting of the dots. It is a roadmap for learning who you are and how you operate. It is a manual for getting to know your own body and your own mind and learning how to affect your whole system and balance yourself. It is connecting with yourself and your inner world and then with the world around you and those within in. It is a recognition and an acceptance of what is and a means of living in the present moment without longing or attachment to what is not.
And how is it all of this? Because it is a PRACTICE .
Yoga is more than a good stretch or a physical workout. It’s more than sitting cross legged gazing at a candle occasionally or trying to twist yourself into a pretzel just to hit that pose. It is a collection of intelligent, functional practices – physical, mental, energetic and emotional - which begin to teach us a way of living fully in our bodies and interacting with the world around us - and within us - to bring us to balance.
And yes, a regular practice of yoga asana (the shapes and movements we make), will have great physical benefit.
However, when combined mindfully with connecting our movements and postures to our breath, focusing our awareness on our experiences in the present moment, this same asana practice will have a greater ability to increase your flexibility, mobility and your strength. But it won’t just apply to your body – it will apply to your mental, energetic and your emotional states as well.
And, when we see yoga as a broader practice, and we take it off the mat and into our daily lives, we learn how to be self-aware in all of our actions. We learn to practice compassion for ourselves and others; kindness towards ourselves and others; forgiveness towards ourselves and others.
We learn that we are as connected with every aspect of life on the planet as we are with our own family and close knit group of friends. We learn that every single action we take, decision we make, word we speak and thought we form has consequences that are wider reaching than we will ever truly realise. We learn the power we hold within us and ways that we can direct it and create positive ripples in our inner and outer world
These things, in my mind, are the true value of our yoga practice. And believe me, you most certainly do not have to begin flexible to gain these benefits and to create positive changes.
So, tell me – have you ever dismissed the idea of trying yoga because you feel you aren’t flexible enough?
If that’s a yes, then I encourage you to reconsider your conclusion. Dip your toes in – give it a try! Yoga is a practice which you choose for yourself – which fits your life and your needs. And which supports you through your own journey.
And, if you are curious but still not sure it’s for you, I’d love to talk with you about how we can find a practice which meets you where you are, right now, and which grows with you. Because that’s what yoga is all about – accepting the universal law that change is the only constant in life, and learning the skills to make our growth and transitions smoother.
I’d love to help you discover how!
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