What do a person who just recovered from back surgery, a woman just cleared to return to exercise after giving birth, a triathlete, and a dancer have in common? They are all people who can do yoga.
Yoga is inclusive and accessible, no matter who you are. There is no such thing as a “yoga body.” If you have a body, you can do yoga. It’s as simple as that.
The Father of Modern Yoga, T. Krishnamacharya is credited with creating what we know as Vinyasa yoga. One of his guiding principles was "Teach what is good for an individual." Initially, he taught Hatha yoga to young boys in his school in Mysore, India. For many years, women weren’t allowed to practice or teach yoga. In 1937 this all changed when T. Krishnamacharya, admitted Indra Devi into his school. She was the first woman student and the first Western woman in an Indian ashram.
Indra Devi is credited as one of the main teachers to bring yoga all over the world, including to the United States. Just as Indra Devi changed the “rules” of who could be a yogi, in this day and age, anybody who wants to practice yoga can. B.K.S. Iyengar, another famous Krishnamacharya disciple, left a legacy of yoga focused upon alignment and breath control. Iyengar was a child with many physical ailments and he implemented the use of props, like blocks, straps, and chairs into the yoga practice to allow students to experience the poses they might not be able to do otherwise.
So, ignore the stereotypes you see on Instagram and tap into the wisdom and strength of these yoga masters. The beauty of yoga is that numerous styles and adaptations exist, so you can find yoga to accommodate any physical or perceived limitations. Today, we want to be part of the solution in providing yoga classes to encourage and welcome everyone to give it a try.
One of the many benefits of online yoga is you can do it in the privacy of your own home, without some of the insecurities that arise when you enter a public class. Experimenting with different styles and teachers can help you find the yoga classes that make YOU feel happy and joyous.
This week, we bring you classes for different body types with Dana (author of Yes Yoga has Curves), yoga for men, and all levels relaxing Yin class from Josey and breathing practice from Maria, that everyone can enjoy, regardless of previous yoga experience, or physical limitations.
1. Dana Smith - Open Your Heart
2. Robert Sidoti - 5 Best Daily Stretches
3. Maria Garre - Pranyama to Calm & Ground the Mind
4. Josey Prior - Sleeping Swan