You Don’t Need To Be Flexible To Start Yoga

This might be one of the biggest myths about yoga ever created.

Right up there with:

• “I’ll just have one potato chip”

• “I’ll only watch one episode”

• and “I’ll start my diet next week”
  

The number one thing people say to me before trying yoga is:

“But I’m not flexible.”

And honestly? You do not need to be flexible to start yoga.

That’s a bit like saying you’re too dirty to have a shower.

Yoga isn’t something you’re supposed to already be “good” at before you begin. It’s a practice. You show up exactly as you are, stiff shoulders, tight hips, creaky knees and all

Some people can touch their toes easily.
Some can barely reach past their knees.
Both are welcome.

One of the things I love most about teaching Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga and Senior Yoga is watching people realise they don’t have to force their bodies into fancy shapes to benefit from movement.

Yoga can help improve flexibility over time, sure. But that’s only a tiny part of it.

It can also help with:

• stiffness

• balance

• stress

• breathing

• sleep

• mobility

• slowing down mentally for a while

And honestly, most people walk into class wanting to feel less tight, less stressed and a little more human again. Not audition for the Yoga Olympics

At Settle Petal Yoga, my classes are designed to feel welcoming and relaxed. There’s always options, modifications and absolutely no pressure to “keep up”.

Some days your body feels amazing.
Other days touching your knees feels ambitious.

That’s normal too.

I think social media has made yoga look a little intimidating sometimes. Perfect poses on beaches at sunrise are lovely to look at, but real life yoga often looks very different.

Real life yoga might look like:

• stretching after sitting at a desk all day

• lying on the mat trying not to fall asleep during relaxation

• wobbling in balance poses

• forgetting to breathe occasionally

• or quietly celebrating because your back feels slightly less cranky than last week

And all of that counts.

Yoga doesn’t care if you can touch your toes.
It cares that you showed up for yourself.

That’s the important part.

Until next time, lower your shoulders and breathe.
Leesa x