Understanding Yoga: From Misconceptions to Mindfulness

By Bre K. Beachy (they/them)

Remote assistant, media management

Firstly, hello this is my first blog post, but you may recognize my name as I used to have a position at the front desk before recently moving to Chicago to gain residency for my doctoral program which I will start in 2025! 

A few months ago at Minnesota Integrative Health Studio, we started offering yoga classes led by Nadia Alsadi, E-RYT and I personally was really excited about it. Yoga had always been something that piqued my interest and had been part of my morning routine off-and-on throughout my adult life, but I had never attended a class until recently. This led to the question, what was stopping me or why was I subconsciously afraid to attend a class in person? What are stigmas that keep others from trying and most importantly what can we do to break those stigmas?

Stigmas

Common stigmas surrounding yoga often stem from misconceptions about who it is for and what it entails. Some individuals may believe that yoga is only for the highly flexible, fit, or those who subscribe to a specific lifestyle, making them feel inadequate or unqualified to participate.

Sophia Cantanoso, LAc adds, “ Yoga is often misconstrued as a form of movement only for "healthy" and "able-bodied" people. What I love most about yoga is that it truly can be for everyone and everybody. There are always ways to modify movements to make it accessible to all. There's also the idea that yoga is a high-intensity workout, which can be true! But there are so many types of yoga beyond a vigorous vinyasa flow.”

Additionally, the idea that yoga is primarily for women can deter men or other gender identities from trying it, fearing judgment, lack of “masculinity,” or simply feeling out of place. These misconceptions can create unnecessary barriers, leading people to shy away from yoga despite its numerous benefits for all body types, ages, genders, and fitness levels.

Lauren Wingdingstad, LAc states, “Yoga helps put us in touch with the parts of our bodies that we have "forgotten" or didn't even know were there in the first place. Yoga helps us to identify areas of tension, which is the first step in releasing that tension.”

Socioeconomic & Ethnic Backgrounds

Socioeconomic barriers to practicing yoga often include factors like cost, accessibility, and cultural perception. Many yoga classes, especially those offered in studios or wellness centers, can be expensive, making it difficult for people with lower incomes to participate regularly or at all. Plus if the studio does not offer gear such as mats or necessary equipment, it can also be prohibitive (Atkinson & Permuth-Levine, 2009). Accessibility is another issue; yoga studios are often located in more affluent neighborhoods, limiting access for those who live in lower-income areas or rural regions. Additionally, the way yoga is marketed can create a perception that it is an activity primarily for the wealthy or those who can afford a certain lifestyle, which can alienate individuals who feel they do not fit that image.

This perception is often reinforced by the portrayal of yoga in the media, where practitioners are typically shown as young, slim, wealthy, white women, further perpetuating the idea that yoga is not for everyone (Smith & Antecio, 2017). Plus, scholarly research that involves yoga typically does not include many ethnic groups or diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, so as a whole, the literature lacks in-depth qualitative examinations of beliefs surrounding yoga participation. These barriers can discourage people from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds from exploring yoga, despite its potential benefits for health and well-being. 

So, what can we do to help combat this?

Origins and roots

As someone with a background in psychology, especially in gender and ethnic studies, I firmly believe that learning and sharing history (good or bad) is a great tool to combat, prevent, and better understand the practices, behaviors, and events that we experience today.

Yoga has ancient roots in India, dating back over 5,000 years, with its origins in the spiritual and philosophical traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Traditionally, yoga was practiced by a select group of spiritual seekers and was not widely accessible to all. Over centuries, yoga evolved, incorporating various physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation practices.

Yoga's cultural roots stem from a recognition of its deep origins in the spiritual and philosophical traditions of ancient India, where it was developed as a holistic practice aimed at uniting the mind, body, and spirit. These roots are grounded in ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, which connected yoga to meditation, ethical living, and spiritual growth (Vaidya & Vaidya, 2023). The systematization of yoga in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras further shaped it into a comprehensive path to enlightenment, incorporating physical, mental, and spiritual practices. Hatha Yoga, which later emphasized physical postures and breath control, also played a crucial role in shaping what is now recognized as modern yoga. 

Emily Nyberg, DCM, Dipl. Ac., LAc elaborates on breath and spirit stating, “Practicing yoga impacts our intention and awareness of our breathing, and it invites us to slow down, which allows us to enjoy being in our bodies and being open to more spiritual/mental alignment (depending on your inclination for your practice).”

By understanding and honoring these cultural and spiritual origins, efforts to reclaim yoga focus on presenting it as more than just a physical exercise, ensuring that its practice remains inclusive and true to its diverse, ancient roots.

Nadia Alsadi, E-RYT believes, “yoga is a practice that can meet you where you are at, and that the time for yoga is always now. I always hope to honor yoga’s eastern roots and incorporate yogic philosophy into all of my teachings.”

What we are doing at Minnesota Integrative Health Studio and our Intentions

At Minnesota Integrative Health Studio we have recognized the need for affordable and inclusive healthcare and class options in our community. We also recognize there are health disparities and do not want location or finances to restrain anyone from seeking options to better their health.  This is why we have embraced sliding scale fees, flexible scheduling, and affordable options like community cupping, community acupuncture, and now our yoga classes. We are also offering an online option for our yin yoga classes where those who are unable to do stairs, travel, are located elsewhere, or simply prefer a virtual option can attend class at the same sliding scale from anywhere they please. Our core mission is to empower individuals to take charge of their health and well-being, regardless of their financial status.

We also invite anyone to attend: any gender, race, ethnicity, body-type, or skill level. Every yoga class we offer is inclusive and suitable for beginners. Nadia Alsadi, E-RYT values accessibility and connection in her profession and teachings. She believes that yoga is a deeply spiritual practice that is for everybody, and she aims to make sure all of her students feel welcomed and accepted.

Yoga is truly for everyone, and we will meet you wherever you are in your wellness journey.

For more information about our yoga classes click here!

To book upcoming classes click here!

References

Atkinson, N. L., & Permuth-Levine, R. (2009). Benefits, barriers, and cues to action of yoga practice: A focus group approach. American Journal of Health Behavior, 33(1), 3–14. [PubMed] 

Smith, S., & Atencio, M. (2017). “Yoga is yoga. Yoga is everywhere. You either practice or you don’t”: A qualitative examination of yoga social dynamics. Sport in Society, 20(9), 1167–1184. 

Vaidya, A. D. B., & Vaidya, R. (2023). A century of 'The science of yoga' (1921-2021): Revival, renewal and renaissance. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 14(1), 100613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2022.100613