How to Overcome Common Fears About Yoga

​Yoga is an extremely powerful practice that has changed the lives of millions of people all over the world. Although it has many obvious benefits, there are a lot of people who still resist joining up for a wide variety of reasons. 

Here are the top reasons people may be cautious or intimidated when considering doing yoga: 
 

• Reason #1: They are Scared of Not Being Flexible Enough
• Reason #2: They Don’t Want to Look Inexperienced in Class
• Reason #3: They Think Yoga is Too Hard
• Reason #4: They Can’t Quiet Their Mind
• Reason #5: They Think Yoga is too Feminine

No matter what your yoga fears are, whether it’s a feeling that your body just doesn’t bend that way, or if you’re scared of looking awkward in front of others, use the tips below to help you get over your fears. 
 
Start Slow. If you think yoga is too hard for you, or if you’re afraid of not being able to keep up, don’t be. You can start right at the beginning with a simple beginner’s class and take your time to build up to the more challenging poses. 

​Everyone has to start somewhere, but if you’re still feeling uneasy about being in front of other people, then instead of in-person instruction, you can simply opt for an online class so you can learn the yoga basics in the privacy of your own home. 
 
You can also hire a personal yoga instructor to work with you in a private setting. As a beginner, you stand to benefit a lot from one-on-one instruction. 

Bring a friend to yoga class. Sometimes it’s a lot easier to try new adventures with trusted companions. Having your best friend right there with you may help ease some of your fears and make the experience a lot more enjoyable for you. 
 
And for those who are convinced yoga is too feminine, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yoga is done by people of every gender, age, shape, and size. Celebrities like Adam Levine and Jared Leto embrace the Yoga practice. You, too, can use it to become a much healthier, manlier you! 

No matter what your fear is, one sure-fire way of helping yourself overcome it is by focusing only on the benefits that yoga can bring into your life:
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• Improves brain function
• Enhanced physical health
• Promotes mental health
• Increases body awareness 

As you can see, although it may seem like some people were born to be awesome yogis, they were also beginners once upon a time. If you’re considering getting started with yoga but have some fears that are holding you back, then use the tips outlined above to help you overcome those fears so you can start to reap the benefits of yoga right now. 

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Written By: Morgan Taylor