Can’t touch your toes? Yoga is still for you!
Let’s get one thing straight, Yoga is not a one-size fits all!
All kinds of people come to Yoga for all kinds of reasons and contrary to popular belief you don’t have to be able to touch your toes to be “good” at Yoga! In fact, being effortlessly able to touch your toes could even be a sign of hypermobility which is by no means a prerequisite for Yoga, and can even cause issues.
Let’s address some of the common concerns people may have before joining a Yoga class:
There is so much more to Yoga than the postures we do on the mat but often it’s the postures that people worry about. So I made this blog to affirm that if you’ve ever had any of these worries then Yoga is still absolutely for you!
You can’t touch your toes
A okay! Being able to touch your toes is not a prerequisite! Everybody has different experiences of flexibility, ranges of motion and bone structure. With the rise of glorifying bendiness and aesthetics in yoga there’s been growing concern about the risks of overstretching to achieve extreme poses for the “perfect” IG shot. Who knows, you may well have a healthier range of motion than a super bendy yogi who was practicing postures unsafely and had to get a hip replacement from overdoing it in splits…
A Yoga class stretching out reaching for their toes.
You feel self-conscious
We probably all do sometimes to different degrees. Everyone has a unique relationship with their body and different life experiences leading to feelings of self-consciousness. Unfortunately a lot of Wellness spaces can feel unsafe for many due to lack of representation, inclusivity and accessibility. Feeling self-conscious is a valid concern, especially for those who don’t fit the narrow box of cis-het, slim, white, able-bodied. Choose teachers / studios that have a broader understanding of adapting yoga postures to fit the body, as well as those who are engaged with anti-racism work and are actively contributing to positive change in the industry so everyone is made to feel welcome and safe. Trauma-informed teachers are also worth looking out for.
I’d recommend following @diannebondyyogaofficial ‘leading voice of the Yoga For All movement. Her inclusive view of yoga asana and philosophy inspires and empowers thousands of followers around the world – regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability.’
Online Yoga being practiced from the comfort of home.
You don’t have much time
That’s fine! You don’t have to be doing full 90 minute practices everyday. Gentle movement for 15 minutes or a 10 minute Core Yoga sequence is great. Perhaps even 5 minutes of pressing “pause” at work to simply breathe deeply. Small efforts daily can be really beneficial. Make it work for you. I used to feel guilty if I didn’t do my 90 minutes of Astanga Primary Series and Meditation EVERY single morning. This wasn’t actually helpful as I was using it as another stick to beat myself with so-to-speak. I now have a much gentler approach to my practice.
You use props
Fantastic, props can be a really useful resource to support us with our yoga practice. Make the most of them! I often use a wall for balance, or a block to sit on. I use a chair for yoga practice when I need to as well with my energy limiting condition Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Same goes for taking variations of a posture, different options are offered in class because different bodies come to class and what works for one person may not work for another! If you adapt the postures with props, you’re doing a great job at supporting yourself.
Are there any other worries you have had about coming to yoga class? Get in touch !
Yoga mat rolled out and ready to practice with props.