Next week sample session at Centre Sablon...and 5 false myths in yoga.

Today I was reading about the stereotypes about yoga. There is nothing I have not heard yet. So for once and for all, let's talk about these and move on.

Stereotype/ false myth 1: you have to be flexible to do yoga.
First of all, yoga is not just postures. Secondly, you come to practice to get the flexibility. Third, you won't only get more and more flexible, you will become stronger, more toned, balanced in and out.

Stereotype/ myth 2: Yoga is a trend and it's for young people only.
I have seen some people get into yoga at 50's and they loved it so much that they went to get a full intensive one year training and became a certified teacher. There are few teachers who are at their 75-90's still teaching yoga and they have only started in their mid-age. Yoga is therapeutic in its core nature and is made to support the aging process. If you still have doubts, talk to your teacher and register for sessions that are adapted to your needs: chair yoga, restorative, gentle, therapeutic...

Stereotype/ myth 3: Yoga is for women only.
Yoga has no gender! In Asia, there are actually more men practicing this discipline than women. Only here in North America, there is this stereotype. In our city, the more you go out of the center, the less men visit a studio. For e.g. go to a studio in Plateau area, you will see tones of men, sometimes more than women, the more you go out of the downtown or Plateau area, like in Laval for example, you see less men. What is this phobia? Based on nonsense! Break your fears, break boundaries! 

Stereotype/ myth 4: Yoga is a religion.
Most of people I meet came to try because their friends or their doctors suggested yoga and they became regulars for privates or group sessions. They come to get more flexible, toned, stronger physically, but also for reducing stress, and some for spiritual enlightenment.
Also, spirituality should not be confused with religion. You can very well be religious and not be so spiritual and vice versa. Even if to give a guidance in finding your authenticity and the truth about life and beyond, so we give you an example about Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, you don't have to become Buddhist, Taoist nor Hinduist: just take the philosophy that serves you and apply, that's it!

Stereotype/ myth 5: Yoga practice at studios costs money.
Like some say, eating organic costs more, going to a studio costs more, etc. My reply for both: getting sick costs way more! Medication costs way more! If you are off work and you cannot afford to be off work for sick days, being away from work due to illness costs way too much! Our health should be our number one priority! Everything else comes after that as when you get sick, you have to drop everything. When you get a promotion or package deal at a studio, it does come down to the cost of just 1.5-2 lattes per session, it is nothing compared to the price you'd pay if you had to stop everything for a day, week, month. Prevention is easier than trying to get over something. Let's heal ourselves in and out before it even starts!

Who would we be without all these unnecessary fears? Wouldn't we be freer if we were more opened? Open mind makes each postures in yoga even easier to practice. The other way around works too: as we develop more flexibility in our bodies, our mind becomes more flexible too. This is the beauty in yoga asanas (postures). 
See you later at the studio~ http://www.websablon.ca/