Is Yoga Hard?

Many people have the mindset that yoga would be difficult for them to perform due to their lack of flexibility. However, the difficulty of yoga varies by individual and intensity of the class. Most instructors give students the opportunity to increase or decrease the challenge of their practice depending on their skill level and preference. If yoga is being practiced in addition to other strenuous exercises, it can be helpful to practice at a less intense level than recommended by the instructor. If yoga is the sole form of exercise, when skill and practice allows, it is helpful to increase the intensity of the work out to reap the full benefits.

Since yoga is most commonly practiced in a group, it is necessary for the instructor to give students the option for various skill levels. The instructor first introduces the pose and then gives recommendations to increase or decrease the difficulty of the pose by attempting an additional balance, change in posture, or exclusion or inclusion of props. Props are helpful in easing the difficulty of certain poses and are recommended for beginners. Even advanced students might find using props helpful for increasing the benefits and intensity of certain poses. For example, in seated spinal twists, it can be helpful for beginners to forgo props completely and do a seated twist. However, for a moderately skilled student, it might be helpful to include a robe to aid in the transition or intensity of a seated bind.

While it is often a challenge to start any new activity, yoga is especially accommodating to beginners. Yoga instructors are well versed in the different levels of yoga, and how to incorporate appropriate challenge. At the beginning level, it is important to take all the accommodations and props for beginner’s, and as skill develops, trying higher intensity positions and adjustments can be an enjoyable challenge.