When I was younger, I was met with a lot of hostile reactions from friends and peers about my love for practicing yoga. Even in high school, when I encouraged others on my sports team to take a yoga class with me after practice, some of my teammates mocked my interest or refused to take a class for various reasons. Many of these reasons included that they simply did not like yoga because, 1) they did not believe that they were flexible enough, or 2) it wasn't enough of a workout for them. Little did they know, though, that none of these arguments hold true. One does not have to be as flexible as a gymnast to enjoy the benefits of the practice- in fact, practicing yoga will make you more flexible eventually! And although yoga is not necessarily considered cardio, it is still a type of workout and can definitely be used as a cool-down workout after an intense weight-lift or run.

Yoga is not solely a form of exercise, it is also a philosophical practice. Its beginnings are rooted in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India, and were originally mentioned in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest sacred texts that were a collection of songs, mantras, and rituals used by the Vedic priests. Later, yoga was refined by the Rishis and Brahmans, who documented their work in a large scripture, the Upanishads. Eventually the Upanishads developed the core teachings of yoga, including the sacrifice of ego through knowledge, action, and wisdom, all of which require self-reflection and patience.

These core values are apparent in the names of the poses and flow of a yoga practice. For example, half moon pose (aka: Ardha Chandrasana) physically creates space in the chest area, improves posture, and practices balance. However, all the physical benefits also coincide with the mental aspects of yoga: creating spacial area in the chest allows one to open their heart, to be open to others around them and to new ideas.

Also, in all forms of yoga, whether it be ashtanga (modern/ more athletic type yoga), iyengar (improving alignment), or power yoga, there is a strong emphasis on Pranayama, which is the awareness of the breath and controlled slow and steady synchronization of it as you move through the yoga flow. Breathing allows for flow of oxygen to the muscles so that they can be fueled and repaired while working out, and also helps to clear and calm ones mind. These habits are beneficial to more than just yoga. Controlling ones breath is important for athletic performance, can help in times of mental distress, and allow for a more creative thought process.

Additionally, the philosophy of the practice of yoga includes energy anatomy, which focuses on the movement of energy in our bodies, physically and spiritually. Some of these entities include the Seven Chakras, the Mudras, and the Five Vayus, all of which are vehicles of ways in which energy flows and is expressed in and outside of our bodies.

So, the next time you decide to pass on that yoga class because it is too easy or too hard because of your presumed inflexibility, or you feel you will be bored or only look forward to the infamous corpse pose at the end (spoiler: it's not a pose where you're supposed to fall asleep, sorry!), think again. Not only can you become stronger, more flexible, and more confident, but yoga is a great outlet to de-stress, reflect on your day, and set an intention, or goal, during practice.