I Can’t Do Yoga, because I’m Not Flexible

Lack of flexibility is the biggest reason I hear people give for not trying yoga—but also the biggest reason I hear from people who choose to start yoga.

What is flexibility … and why is it the end all be all of yoga?

Flexibility is the “ability of muscles, joints, and soft tissues to move through an unrestricted, pain-free range of motion” (Physiopedia). Being flexible can reduce your risk of injury, because your joints are less constricted, and improve your posture and range of motion.

When people feel they are tight and less mobile they often think they can’t perform yoga poses like they see online and, therefore, they don’t even try.

However, yoga images online are often of people who have long practiced yoga—and can be a testament to how effective the practice is. But they are also an introductory lesson on what yoga shouldn’t be—a competition. Yoga is a personal and internal practice; you can’t change yourself significantly from external sources.

How can you use yoga to become more flexible?

Start slow and with more limited ranges of motion. Gentle forms of yoga, like hatha, are typically the best introductions to the practice. Hatha yoga focuses on slow and controlled movements, which allow you to incrementally increase your strength and flexibility.

Use props. Most people think that props are cheating, and they try to push through a pose without them. However, if you aren’t in proper alignment without props (like blocks or a chair), you are more likely to hurt yourself and strain your joints as opposed to working with your muscles.

Have patience. If you are inflexible, your condition probably didn’t happen overnight. Becoming more flexible, with an increased range of motion, won’t happen overnight either.

What yoga poses should I practice to increase flexibility?

Areas on the body that are tight or have reduced range of motion vary from person to person, so it is hard to provide specific poses to practice. Ask yourself the following questions in order to come up with some poses to start with:

1.     Where do I have tightness in my body?

2.     Do I have any limited ranges of motion?

3.     Where do I have pain in my body that I need to be mindful of?

4.     Does my body provide the functionality I need to complete my daily activities?

5.     What is my goal in improving my flexibility?

If you find you need more flexibility or range of motion in your back, find poses that target muscles of your back. If tight hamstrings prevent you from getting in and out of the car with ease, find poses that work the backs of your legs. Take stock of where you are today and where you want to go.

As you begin your yoga journey, be clear with yourself about what limitations you may have and what your goal is. Those things can change over time; focus on the ones that can help your daily life and function.

Yoga is a great approach to improving your flexibility, strength, and quality of life, but if you won’t get started simply because you don’t have the end result yet—or can’t obtain it instantly—you will miss out on many opportunities in life…and not only those that take place on a yoga mat.