Busting 7 popular yoga myths

The art of bringing your spirit, mind and body in unison with the surrounding environment is what defines the principle of yoga. Its range of health benefits are well known and often touted.

Through combining deep stretching with dynamic movement, yoga can help increase your overall mobility and improve recovery time after vigorous fitness sessions. However, yoga is often sold in a superficial manner, undermining several of its core practices. Misconceptions and misinformation is rampant.

Whether you are new to the art, or have been held back by certain misconceptions; bust out the yoga mat, strap on your GPS smartwatch, and settle by a scenic backdrop – by debunking the following yoga myths, you might well get into the spirit of things.

Myth: You can’t possibly pull off such intricate moves.

While there is no shortage of complex and at times intimidating yoga poses, there are a number of simpler routines to start with. Certain routines are even watered down versions of more complicated ones; and others are oriented to beginners as per their body type.

Unlike other forms of training, yoga doesn’t function at a singular pace. Responding to the needs of every unique individual, you can go about at a slower, rhythmic speed, while adopting simpler modifications.

Myth: You can’t lose weight with yoga.

Certainly, other forms of exercise such as running and cycling can aid in burning calories faster; yoga offers incremental progress to weight loss, while simultaneously improving strength, flexibility and overall balance.

Certain routines within power yoga or hot yoga are designed to get your heart rate up, thereby increasing sweating and shedding off calories. You can tone done and elongate muscles and limbs, improving your overall posture. A smartwatch with HR monitor can give you insight into you fluctuating heart rate and even count calories burned.

Myth: The chanting is mandatory.

There is no compulsion to have to chant through a yoga session. Certain styles which lean towards chanting are often geared towards individuals who may have difficulty in clearing their mind.

Simple deep breathing and light stretching can help increase circulation and relax your mind, before you slide into a pose. The ColorFit Nav with a dedicated sports mode for yoga can track your session, and also assist in getting control of your breath, via its integrated Breathe Mode.

Myth: If you aren’t flexible, you cannot perform.  

Do not be deterred by a lack of flexibility; with time and repetition your muscles will gradually loosen up, decreasing stiffness. Athletes often can benefit from yoga post their intense training sessions, as it helps decrease the likelihood of sustaining any injuries.

As long term flexibility increases, your body can better cope with the sudden pivots and bursts of speed, demanded by the nature of sports. You can double down by getting a dedicated fitness tracker that can track your performance during training, and guide you through yoga sessions after.

Myth: Isn’t yoga a religious practice?

Despite having its root in ancient India, the practice of yoga bears no correlation to any religion. Such misrepresentation often hurts its images, as it is on the contrary grounded in science and wellness.

Yoga aims to invoke the divinity within you, rather than having you reach out for external divine forces. Hymns or mantras aren’t reaching out to any deity, but instead are being internalized to stir your inner consciousness.

Myth: Men do not opt for yoga.

A drawn out stereotype coinciding with a myth - yoga isn’t only beneficial to women. Men can enjoy the same range of health and wellness benefits, as long as they are willing to have a change in perception.

While yoga doesn’t contribute directly to mass increase or muscle growth, it can help prevent wear and tear, improving your endurance and sustainability post a weight intensive workout. A multi-sport smartwatch such as the NoiseFit Evolove can help to monitor your progress both at the gym and the yoga center.

Myth: Yoga is not for seniors.

There being no right age to start yoga, the concept of missing the boat doesn’t exist. Older people with no prior yoga experience mustn’t hesitate to give it a try - particularly due to the many health benefits it provides to the aging populous.

Older folk can perform several simpler routines with a keen focus on their breath. Rather than power yoga, slow flow or chair yoga is much more geared towards seniors. From facilitating stress relief and inducing relaxation, yoga can improve their daily balance.

Do not be deterred by distractions and misconception; zip out your smart wearables and put on the best yoga attire, as you bring to harmony your mind, body and soul.