The existence of yoga dates back to ancient times, and it is daring to establish the exact range of its origin. Yoga represents a set of techniques aimed at connecting the body, mind and spirit with the help of various techniques - physical exercise, breathing exercises, meditation, ethical and moral principles, etc. Many myths have been created around yoga, but they are not true, and we will look at the most widespread ones.

Yoga is a religion

Yoga is the teaching of unity, liberation from one's ego and the attainment of a higher state of consciousness. And despite the fact that yoga may seem spiritual, spiritual or esoteric to someone, no deities are worshiped in yoga, even if the influence of Hinduism is noticeable. In yoga, Sanskrit names of physical positions are used, mantras are repeated or chanted, also in Sanskrit, but their purpose is to concentrate attention on one activity, not to worship any gods. Also, stories and epics about Hindu deities serve more as moral lessons, similar to Greek epics.

Yoga is just stretching

Even though yoga positions are very similar to stretching exercises, believe me that you can also strengthen yourself and work up a sweat during yoga. In addition, with physical positions it is mostly about directing attention to your body and deepening your breath. The goal is to move in harmony with the breath in order to activate the parasympathetic nervous circuit, which induces a feeling of relaxation and relaxation, even a meditative state.

Yoga is too easy/difficult

If we were to look at the physical execution of some asanas, it is true that some of them look extremely simple, or on the contrary, extremely difficult. However, in both cases, it is not so much what we see on the outside, but what is happening beneath the surface, specifically our breath and attention. We can sit calmly on the outside with our legs crossed on the ground, but if we are not used to confronting our mind, slowness or static positions, it will not be easy for us. Or, on the contrary, we will balance in a handstand or headstand with total lightness of the body and concentration of the mind and literally enjoy the asana. And what seems difficult from the outside will be pleasant for us. Many people who are used to long kilometers of running or heavy weights in the gym, after watching yoga, may wonder why they should waste their time reserved for exercise on something as simple as yoga. However, yoga asanas require the involvement of completely different muscle groups and concentration of the mind, and this can be really challenging, even for relatively well-trained people in other types of movement.

Yoga is only for the flexible and slim

The most common excuse people give for not being able to do yoga is that they are not flexible enough. But that's the same as saying that you can't go jogging because you're not fit. Just by training for running, or any other type of cardio exercise, you will get in shape, just as flexibility is acquired by practicing yoga. In yoga, it is not about the perfection of positions, but about taking time, about the effort and the way to feel good in your body.

Since social networks offer many motivations in the form of photos of perfect bodies in designer leggings tangled in amazing positions, many people do not have the courage to come to a yoga class if they do not look like the said photos. Again, it should be remembered that yoga is really for everyone - regardless of gender, age, weight or worldview. Yoga is a wonderful way to cultivate a healthy relationship with your body and acceptance of what we have been given.

If I do yoga, I have to become a vegetarian

Yoga became popular in the West in the 1960s during the hippie era and was associated with long hair, floral patterns, vegetarianism and more. However, none of this is necessary for the practice of yoga. Vegetarianism in yoga reflects one of the moral principles, namely ahimsa - non-violence, not harming oneself or other living creatures, including animals. Yogis valued life in any form and therefore refrained from killing animals and preferred a vegetarian diet consisting mainly of rice, legumes, vegetables and grain cakes. However, we should not do violence to ourselves, and therefore, if we like meat, or even need to eat it for some reason, we should not force ourselves to do anything. For some people, this change comes naturally over time. The practice of yoga and meditation increases sensitivity and many people begin to pay more attention to what they take in the form of food, drinks and other foodstuffs. And we're not just talking about meat, but also about sugar, coffee and alcohol.

Meditation is definitely worth a try. Whether you seek out an experienced yoga teacher or try it yourself at home, remember that 5 minutes a day is better than 2 hours once a week and that patience and kindness are key.