Although many people are interested in practicing yoga, there seems to be a common reservation among most of these potential yogi. The question that is pondered time and again is: “Am I right for yoga and is yoga right for me?” The answer is simply, “Yes”. If you take an active interest in the practice of yoga, nothing else matters. Religious practice, sexual orientation, race, heritage, economic class, or any other societal class holds no value to your fellow yogi or in yoga itself. (Note: Health is an issue for some people wishing to begin yoga; please consult your physician if any postures could be potentially dangerous to a specific health condition you have.)
Yoga has survived thousands of years and has been spread throughout our world. It brings people from all walks of life together by refusing any form of discrimination into the practice, as well as embracing differences and creating different ways to practice yoga ( Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, etc.). This allows all types of people to become involved. If a person chooses to drink alcohol or eat meat, other yogi do not discriminate against them.
An aspect of yoga that concerns many beginners is the specific postures which may look difficult to attain. People worry that their level of flexibility and strength are insufficient, but in reality this is the exact reason to begin yoga in the first place! Yoga is a process. Flexibility and strength will increase over time, as will a person’s acceptance of their body. Yoga is holistic, which means it positively affects one’s mind, body, and spirit rather than focusing individually on the aspects that make up a being.
With most things, the moderation of certain habits and health choices allow a person to lead a balanced life, but one is not required to stop enjoying life because of yoga. It is possible to alter your lifestyle to make yoga a main priority for you, but it is just as possible to fit yoga into your existing lifestyle. Often, people begin to practice yoga to relax themselves and exercise the body with no intentions of becoming fully involved in a yogi lifestyle. With many, yoga will slowly make its way up the priority list because, in order to better anyone else’s life, you must first make peace with yourself and better your own.