| Although there are a lot of great reasons to try Yoga, | | | | hear about every day, so there is already a lot of |
| most people won't even take a shot at it. I think I know | | | | misunderstanding and uncertainty about the practice |
| why. Stay with me for a couple of minutes and I'll get | | | | anyway. On top of that, take a look at the pictures in |
| there. | | | | any Yoga book and what do you see? Pencil-thin |
| Years ago, I read one of the most truth filled | | | | people twisting their bodies into impossible (to you and |
| statements I have ever encountered. Although I usually | | | | me...and I DO Yoga) positions. No way! |
| try to avoid generalities, I believe that most of them | | | | Let's go back to the statement I mentioned. To get to |
| DO have a portion of truth to them. Unfortunately, | | | | the level where they are selected to pose for pictures |
| many people either don't realize that these statements | | | | for a book, they usually have had to practice for |
| are not ultimate truths or they assume that since there | | | | several years. When they started, some of them |
| are times that these old adages and generalities are | | | | were as out-of-shape as you think you are now. You |
| NOT true, not only are they false, but completely | | | | can bet they made a lot of mistakes along the way |
| without merit. | | | | and some of them often thought of giving up because |
| Most generalities, as I have stated, DO contain some | | | | they weren't able to perform the asanas the way their |
| truth, enough truth that we can often at least glean | | | | teachers did...or the way it was done in a picture in |
| guiding principles from them even if we cannot live our | | | | some book. Nobody is going to begin Yoga today and |
| lives exactly by them. | | | | be able to do the positions that way right away. |
| Now, the statement I made mention of was, "The only | | | | Also, not everyone is going to be able to achieve the |
| job where you start at the top is digging a hole!" | | | | level of skill that they have achieved. Some of us just |
| I normally would not actually say that to someone who | | | | aren't going to realize that potential for a long time and |
| expected to get to the top of the heap by tomorrow, | | | | maybe never. |
| but the idea behind the statement would be | | | | So why bother to learn Yoga? |
| understood by most of us. Those people who have | | | | After all, if you can't do what the books and instructors |
| made it to the top of their profession, art, or even their | | | | say to do, then you have failed, right? |
| hobby, usually put in a lot of practice time and made a | | | | Wrong. |
| lot of mistakes on their way to achieving the level of | | | | First of all, simply moving into your best imitation of the |
| skill or competence that they have reached. | | | | perfect position can begin to produce the health |
| Which brings me (finally, you say) to Yoga. | | | | benefits associated with Yoga. Second, learning yoga |
| Yoga has the potential to be one of the best physical | | | | breathing techniques and practicing this as you perform |
| fitness programs that anybody can practice, but many | | | | the movements and asanas (not to mention you daily |
| people won't even give it a chance. | | | | activities) can also produce benefits in both your |
| Yoga requires no special clothing, not special skill, no | | | | mental and physical health. Finally, continued practice of |
| special equipment. It doesn't need a gym, because it | | | | the asanas, breathing, and movements will, over time, |
| can be practiced on the floor beside your bed, in the | | | | move you closer to being able to do what the person |
| living room, or even in a large enough bathroom. Once | | | | in the picture was doing. |
| you learn a few basic poses (asanas), you can do | | | | Remember, nobody said you had to be able to touch |
| your yoga routine at home or on the road. You can | | | | your toes, you just have to reach for them, breathe |
| even do some of your Yoga while riding in a car or | | | | properly, and do it again tomorrow. |
| bus. It doesn't even require a personal trainer. You | | | | Yoga is actually simple and easy to learn, and can |
| actually CAN learn Yoga from a book! | | | | produce some startling affects in both mental and |
| So what stops a lot of people from trying Yoga? | | | | physical health. |
| To tell the truth, I think they are intimidated. | | | | Why not give it a try? |
| Obviously, Yoga is not something we read about or | | | | |