The next time you join yoga classes just remember that we're all just showing up on our mat to practice something that makes us stronger, more flexible, and, along the way, we tend to become better than we used to be yesterday. That’s the only competition you’ll find is outgrowing your old self.... It’s ’s perfectly fine if you don’t know Sanskrit or your other body parts from your elbow, because I firmly believe that yoga is for everyone.
Myths you should stop believing about people who practice Yoga
Myth 1: You have to be “good” at yoga - There is no such thing as being “good” or “bad” at yoga. You can have the flexibility of steel but that doesn’t make you “bad” at yoga. Think you have to twist your body into a pretzel to get the most out of yoga? Think again.On Instagram, yogis are acrobats and contortionists, but the real yoga isn't about that all.The person who can hold a TREE pose for 3 minutes is no “better” at yoga than you, they simply spent months or years practicing a particular skill set that you haven’t attempted yet. From the physical perspective, yoga is about mindful movement. It's about placing your attention on the current of the breath underneath various yoga postures. It’s an attitude of presence and self-acceptance, focusing more on 'how' than ‘what.’ From the philosophical perspective, yoga stems from a history that’s more than 2,000 years old, and yoga poses are only one small part of a larger eight-limbed practice that includes ethics, breathwork and meditation. In no way is doing or getting yoga postures a part of the REAL yoga.
Myth 2: You have to be super serious - Not all yoga teachers have the same training, some have a heavy focus on just the physical postures, while others focus on the philosophy, while others in fact, aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves, the funny idiosyncrasies of a yoga practice, or the stereotypes of those who practice it. You can certainly each find your own.
Myth 3: You have to be vegan - Not so. While most of us who practice yoga have serious respect for the choice to be vegan, it’s not something that all of us embrace ourselves. It's natural for those who study or practice yoga to try to adopt an entire lifestyle that reflects their new commitment to conscious living and mental and physical balance. But according to the Yoga Sutra, you don't have to become a vegan or vegetarian. Even if you are or you aren't - it's your choice, you are welcome on the mat
Myth 4: You have to be woo-woo - not all yogis are flower children who know their entire astrological birth chart and care more about balancing their chakras or talking about the color of your aura, non of them required. It’s true that the less physical, more intangible aspects of the tradition of yoga as well as some related lifestyle choices in many people’s practice of yoga. But that doesn’t have to be your practice of yoga.
Myth 5: You have to be spiritual - This one is pretty controversial and some will disagree on this. But the fact remains that you can come to yoga for the physical practice without searching for a spiritual component. The larger tradition of yoga is beautiful and can be profoundly beneficial. But if you just want to work up a sweat or feel more embodied or learn how to sit still in meditation, there’s a yoga class for you. The spiritual side is certainly available.
If you fall into these categories of Myths Nr.4 and Nr.5, good for you. If you don’t, you don't have to. All yoga asks is that you try to be a decent human being.
Myth 6: You have to love everything about Yoga ( including your Yoga teacher ) - not at all. Yoga encompasses everything from athletic vinyasa, hot yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga to incredibly subtle meditative yoga. You don’t have to love it all or even practice it all. So don’t give up just because your first class didn’t sit well with you. Keep trying. You’ll find what works for you. Beyond the styles, there are thousands of different teachers, and each one will create a different yoga experience, even within the same style of yoga. You never know who or what might be exactly what you need.
"Yoga with Inga "
Her aim is to keep classes accessible, you don't need to know poses names in Sanskrit in her classes and it’s perfectly fine if you don’t know yoga body from your elbow to your toe. She firmly believes that yoga is for everyone. Teaching yoga has been one of her greatest pleasures in the past 10 years.
She offers gentle restorative, relaxing, unwinding yoga classes which suitable for all abilities and will stretch out your tension and help you to find stillness within. Using guided meditations and relaxing yoga Nidra this class will help you float away home for a peaceful night's sleep.