Is My Body Too Tight To Practice Yoga? Is It Worth Practicing Yoga Even If You Will Never Become A Human Pretzel? Explore The Many Benefits Of A Yoga Practice.

Maybe you’ve been interested in practicing yoga but have felt that you don’t have the right body for it.

Perhaps you’ve thought you’re not flexible enough.

This is understandable.

Marketing and advertising has placed great emphasis on the acrobatic aspects of yoga.

There’s a lot of varied understandings and popular ideas that people share about yoga. 

What is yoga exactly? Exercise? Extreme Flexibility? Pretzel Poses? Meditation? Spirituality? 

There’s a bit of yoga contained in all these aspects.

Yoga is holistic, it encapsulates the entirety of ones’ being. 

The word yoga itself means to yolk or to unite.

It is a practice to integrate one’s body and mind to cultivate harmony, balance, tranquility, and focus. 

The practice of yoga has evolved over more than a thousand years within a variety of different schools of thought and diverse practitioners.

It traces is roots to India though many respected teachers around the world have contributed to its dynamic evolution and growth.

Arguably almost anyone can practice yoga, irrespective of their body type or level of flexibility. It is a practice that helps deepen a connection with yourself.

The key is finding a style that you resonate with.

There are many types of yoga practice. Different styles focus upon or integrate certain practices, some of which include movement, breathwork, sound, lifestyle habits, and meditation. 

Perhaps you’ve been interested in yoga but have set up preconceptions or roadblocks in the mind that hold you back. Maybe you’ve felt that yoga is about doing “pretzel poses” and that your body is too tight to do yoga.

It’s understandable why you might avoid yoga class thinking you lack the necessary flexibility.

Often times our exposure to yoga is of practitioners doing high level maneuvers such as a handstand inversion.

The logical conclusion may be that “this is what yoga is and this ability is necessary to practice yoga”.

Perhaps it is a consolation to know that you do not need to contort your body into intricate positions or invert your body upside down to practice yoga.

This metaphor maybe useful. Imagine if you wanted to start going to the gym for the first time but you felt you weren’t strong enough and assumed you would need to be able to bench press 200 pounds in order to start going to the gym. Seems a bit unrealistic?

It’s fair to say that the secret to bench pressing 200 pounds is consistent practice and training. First you would identify the amount of weight that you could easily bench press and slowly you would increase the amount of weight over a period of months if not years before you work your way up to 200 pounds. The same holds true with yoga. Find a style that feels good on your body and at a level that is accessible.

Essentially you could experience the depths of yoga throughout a lifetime without ever having to try a “pretzel pose”; I use the term “pretzel pose” to describe a variety of poses and movements that are generally difficult to do or advanced in terms of strength, flexibility, concentration, and coordination.

However after some time and practice, if you feel called toward challenging the body and mind, some of the more advanced routines and poses can be a wonderful way to keep the body healthy and facilitate the development of the mind and consciousness.

This is where the “pretzel poses” come into play. Some of the poses that really contort the body are a great way to work with how the emotions interface with the body. A certain pose may feel very claustrophobic, maybe the lungs are compressed and it feels difficult to breathe deeply, as such it could be an opportunity to experience, reflect, and process such sensations in a safe space.  

If you are interested in practicing yoga, find a style and beginner class that feels good on your body and move forth based on your goals, desires, and intentions.

What do you want to accomplish?

Do you have a tight or weak back? Do you experience chronic neck pain? Are you struggling with stress management? Overwhelm or fatigue? Are you seeking a deeper connection with yourself?

Yoga is considered a mind-body practice because it is holistic and addresses the body as well as the mind. Some practitioners are seniors who do chair yoga to keep their joints and muscles limber. Other people practice it as a physical workout. Others focus on breath or meditation to counteract stress and cultivate tranquility. Some of the deeper practices involve working with emotional attachments, suffering, compassion, introspection, and spiritual liberation through meditation.

While the the physical exercises in yoga can be practiced as a meditative experience in itself, they are also a way to balance, strengthen, and prepare the body for deeper meditation and inward reflection. It is more difficult to think, reflect, contemplate, surrender, and relax when the low back is tight or the neck and shoulders are in constant pain. If meditation and introspection is your goal then a physical yoga practice will help stretch and strengthen the body so that sitting still feels easier. 

Amidst the diversity of yoga practices, there’s a style for anyone who is interested in exploring yoga. Take a yoga class, try out some different styles. Find what works for you and which ones are useful in your life and inline with your goals and desires. May you continue to find balance of mind and body as you experience the vast teachings of yoga!

For any questions on exploring and cultivating a yoga practice contact me at KaiBodyMindWellness.com

Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. 

Neither KaiBodyMindWellness or the author of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content.

The content and information on this blog is intellectual property of the author and of KaiBodyMindWellness.com and may not be downloaded, reproduced, republished or otherwise copied without express written permission of the author and of KaiBodyMindWellness.com.