What makes yoga accessible to us all?

A weekly yoga class isn’t going to suit everyone, not least of all because a class might be unable to meet 100% of the needs of every person present. Some arrive on their mats in search of a rigorous, physical work-out, others seek relaxation or a means to de-stress away from life’s challenges, whilst some feel that yoga provides them with a means to explore the spiritual aspects of their world, their energy, their consciousness in the present. This is before even considering that individuals in a class may have changing personal preferences in terms of where they would like the focus to be (balance, flow, flexibility, stretching, toning muscles), based upon what they feel is more accessible to them or more needed.

However, whilst a class may not be ideal for everyone, it’s a starting point where you can explore your understanding and knowledge of the practice and hopefully develop your ability to make informed decisions about which approach to yoga suits you best (highly likely to change over time too), how to practice safely, and whether you might be able to incorporate this into your everyday life.

It’s worth pointing out here that while many people take Yoga to mean the various forms of movement or posture (āsana) that might be built into a lesson, the ancient practice was seen (and still is by many) as part of a larger picture – the fourth stage, in fact, of eight ‘limbs’ towards enlightenment, where the other limbs or stages include such things as attitudes, observances, extension of the breath, withdrawal, meditation and so on.

It’s easy to understand why some people might feel discouraged by what they hear around or see online. Practice and approaches are so varied that it can be hard to get a coherent understanding of what yoga actually is, making us reluctant to engage or to investigate any curiosity, for fear of 'getting it wrong' or not being very 'good' at it. If we don’t feel particularly inclined to investigate spiritual aspects, then the philosophies underpinning some yoga can be a deterrent. It can be off-putting when we see images of people in poses that we haven’t had the flexibility for since we were toddlers, and we find it hard not to be competitive or to aim for that final shape. We wonder if we’re going to be challenged over the fact that we still might want to eat meat, drink alcohol, smoke or simply be a bit moody or selfish at times. We might not want to invest in the latest gadgets, props, mats, outfits, not to mention the time taken to drag ourselves to a class regularly when ‘exercise’ might not feel very appealing.

However, I would encourage everyone who is curious or reluctant to delve a little deeper, to take the brave step into the unknown, or to challenge any preconceptions they may have around the practice. Try a class or look online at some information and keep an open mind so that you allow yourself to be open to seeing it in a different way. Bear in mind that there are many self-proclaimed experts out there, but we don’t all have to share the same views and there is room to challenge – it’s a hugely personal practice and it can take on whatever approach you feel is right for you, at whatever pace…nobody has ownership of a ‘rule book’.

I’ve set out below five reasons that I feel mean that yoga can be of benefit to us all, and I hope that there’s something there that might reach the reluctant practitioner who might have a little curiosity and whose interest can be piqued…

1. Anyone can practise yoga in the way that suits their own body shape, size, age and mobility – it’s not about attaining the peak posture and creating a shape as you might see in a text book or online, but it’s about finding out what your body can do safely, working within your comfortable limits, challenging yourself to the point that is kind and honest with your body, and acknowledging that how you work on your flexibility, balance and strength are personal to you. Holding a posture for 3 breaths may be just as beneficial and challenging for you as someone else choosing to take 6 breaths in the pose. Similarly, a gentle back-bend will be just as beneficial physically for the muscles of some people as a deep, strong spinal extension will be for someone else.
2. You can practise yoga anywhere; in a class with like-minded people and a teacher who facilitates an interactive and social space in which to share; in a class where you are given quiet space and time to engage quietly in your practice whilst being guided by a teacher; walking around town and bringing attention to what we notice and feel and how we walk, turn and move; in your home where you can dedicate time to your yoga or where you can snatch moments here and there to introduce some simple stretches and breathing; even seated at your desk by mindfully bringing attention to your muscles, breath, posture and movement.
3. Whilst your body might experience a few aches and pains as your body adjusts to regaining some of the motion that it may have un-learnt, if you can find teaching for your āsana practice which is based on sound knowledge and safety, then yoga doesn’t carry with it the same risk of damage or injury that more high-impact exercises can have on your joints or muscles.
4. The practice with which you engage can be tailored to suit your own needs - when you acknowledge that your practice will be influenced by so many variables, you can accept your practice without imposing self-judgement around the outcomes of any session. The factor may be your physical starting point (if you’ve had an awkward night’s sleep, you’ve been sat at a desk all day or are feeling relaxed and agile); your emotional starting point (if you feel calm, enthusiastic, irritable or depleted of energy); the time of day (which may depend on your own routines, a time of day when you may generally feel more ‘in your element’); external factors (like what is going on in at this stage of your life, or what you’ve experienced during the day); the seasons (which may, for example, make you feel as though you need a comforting and reassuring practice as you resist the temptation to go into hibernation, or as though you feel the surge of new life and energy as the natural world begins to bloom and grow around you).
5. Whatever your initial objective for taking up yoga (e.g. I want to be more flexible but I’m not interested in the spiritual side of things), you’re likely to find that if you engage with it wholeheartedly, dedicate yourself to the minutes or hours of your practice, and look closely enough you’ll start to notice other benefits you hadn’t anticipated. By taking the time to be present in your practice you’ll start to notice that decision-making becomes easier and you’ll gain clarity around what is intuitive.

There really is a time, a space and an approach for everyone to introduce a little yoga into their lives in a way that meets their needs and is likely to bring with it a heap of rewards. Sometimes we just need to try something out a few times...