"Yoga is just Stretching , Right?"

Misconceptions about what yoga is - and isn't
by René Quenell

Many people ask me "Yoga is about stretching, right?" or "Is all you do lie around and stretch and contort your body into weird positions?". Well, one element of yoga is stretching. There is also strengthening and breath work and the list goes on. As a matter of fact a yoga practice can tone all 10 systems of the body. Starting with the muscular system ( strength and stretching) and moving on through the skeletal system (alignment and bone strength). It also improves the digestive, endocrine, nervous, energy and mental systems. Did you know yoga does all that? Still not convinced? The list is huge. Ask any yogi, they'll tell you how it helped them. AND you don't need to be flexible. Yoga helps you become flexible.

It's not about putting the body in all kinds of weird positions. It's about the art of healing, the art of finding your inner strength, the art of getting to know yourself better. And oh, getting stronger, more flexible , losing weight and looking better just happen to be by-products. See, when you address all 10 systems of the body, they start working together - a union, hence the word YOGA (which literally means union).

Ah, yes, then there is stress reduction. Learning to cope a little more effectively in the world today is essential. In case you did not know, yoga was mainly designed for men, so don't think it's just for the ladies. It benefits us both. Depending on the class you take you can get the toughest workout you've ever had or the most relaxing. You can help your back or your pms. Do some research. Find a good, credentialed teacher that knows their stuff. Tell them all your ailments and find the right class for you. You'd be amazed at the transformations that can take place and the peace of mind. So next time someone tells you yoga is just stretching, you can say "well, actually.....".