Haha more proof that Yoga isn't for everyone, but I love it!! Don't knock it 'til you try it!!

I need to try it. I just dont like the people who are obsessed with it, who think yoga is their religion almost. If I dot meet someone like that at the yoga place I might find to like it.

Yoga helps with chronic back pain? Every time I tried it I hurt myself.
(Maybe I'll try again after my next chiro appointment)

i used to think i would never like yoga. i love running and i usually don't like slower paced activities. i went to a bikram class and fell in love. i've tried ashtanga yoga and love that as well. it's something that you just don't understand until you try.

I used to HATE yoga, but then I went to a different class (same type of yoga, different instructor) and LOVED it. I know now what a difference the instructor can make!

Well, I'm in the minority. Yoga is not for me. I practiced yoga for a year (to give it a really good try), and it didn't stick. I tried a few different instructors, too.

It's too slow-paced for me. I almost fall asleep most of the time. I end up leaving the studio more tired than when I came in.

I prefer more active workouts like attending dance studios, trail jogging, and weight training. One can get really fit with these exercises, too. Yoga is NOT the only way.

Acting sanctimonious and preachy isn't the way to get people to start doing yoga. I tried doing it for a while, and it bored me to death. I'm still active and healthy, though, so yoga isn't the only exercise out there.

I still hate regular yoga, but I love Bikram and Ashtanga, probably because I feel like I'm actually getting something out of it. Being told to find my inner stillness or some other such nonsense makes me stabby, which I'm pretty sure counteracts the whole point of yoga.

I'm on Team Pilates. The majority of Yoga disciplines are far too boring and easy for my taste. People who "practice" more meditation-based yogas as a means of exercise drive me crazy.

Oh, and that Huffington Post piece? Shameless self-promotion on Sadie Nardini's part. Every one of the ten points she brings up is concluded with a link to her YouTube channel and a suggestion to "Try her videos!"

im on team pilates also

I love both Pilates and yoga. I tried Iyengar Yoga years ago, and while it made me feel much calmer and more relaxed I wasn't really sold on the idea of yoga. Then recently I realised different types of yoga are completely different from each other. I like Ashtanga best, but I have a feeling the people who said yoga is too easy or boring probably haven't tried Vinyasa - moving from one posture to the next doesn't leave you time to get bored! And trust me, my body ached for days (in a good way), def not easy..

Yoga isn't supposed to be exciting. If it raises your heart rate, then it's aerobics or Pilates, not yoga. If you're looking for something to calm your mind, then it's for you; if you're not a meditative person, and you're just looking for some exercise, then you're better off working out.

Anyone who says yoga is too slow, boring or easy of a workout has obviously never tried Vinyasa flow/Ashtanga yoga. And yes, it makes me sweat and raises my heart rate. Yoga is a work out. I also run, dance and do other aerobic exercise. Iyengar yoga bores me to death.

bigestivedicuit: I said meditation-based yogas bore me to death. Bikram Yoga, for instance, is insanely intense! I can hardly get through the 90 minutes. However, in my experience, whenever I have looked into yoga classes at anything other than a proper studio (i.e. normal gym), I only ever see watered-down Hatha offered.

My parents won't do yoga because their church tells them it's evil. (huh???)

It's so sad. They both would really benefit from it.

i agree with many of the above posters..yoga when practiced as a workout must be bikram or vinyasa/ashtanga flow..the latter which i practice. Meditative yoga though good for the soul is entirely different and shouldnt be promoted as a means for anything other than inner health. I understand many who have hesitations trying yoga but i suggest seeking out "active" yoga classes and trying different instructors. After practicing i off and on for 9 years (im only 25) i trully recommend it. never ever feel as good as when i have been consistenly doing it. and who knows maybe that is why people always guess my age at five years younger

@Chantnoir: I really hope I don't offend you, but you just made my day. That is the funniest, yet most ridiculous, thing I've heard in awhile!! Is it a super-conservative, born again-type church?

chatnoir - I know a lot of conservative religious types who feel that way about yoga. There's actually a facebook group of religoius conservatives who rant about yoga being a sin - THEY TYPE ANNOYINGLY IN ALL CAPS. Accidentally found them when searching yoga groups and it made me laugh.

I do Ashtanga/Vinyasa flow yoga. Liking yoga truly is dependent on finding which version works for you: ashtanaga/vinyasa/bikram if you want a fast paced physical workout, and yes it will raise your heart rate, make you sweat (when done correctly) and make you sore (not just from stretching but from strength training too). If the fast pace yoga is intimidating, especially until you learn the asanas, I recommend trying Iyengar, or a beginner ashtanga class.

Glowingmoon, I commend you for giving it a full year before giving up on it. It sounds like you were doing Iyengar, hatha or another slow paced yoga. I think had you tried Ashtanga/Bikram you would have found it more physically demanding and maybe enjoyed it more. But you're right, yoga is not for everyone. I get bored/impatient in hatha, iyengar classes too.

The teacher makes all the difference and for me a hands-on teacher works best. I go to a yoga studio instead of one at a gym and I find the teachers to be more hands on. My teacher pushes me deeper into stretches and corrects alignment. After years of practicing yoga in classes that were not hands on, I never realized that I sometimes drop one hip forward or don't have my hips facing the correct direction. I definitely have found the instructor makes a world of difference.

Try dropping in on a beginner class if you are new, try different types of yoga, and try different instructors. Even if you think you'll never like yoga, you may find one class/instructor combo really works for you and may motivate you to try more of it.

It does have a tremendous benefit on your health. I have two slight twists in my spine - one at the shoulder blades, and one in my lower back. I have to go to a chiropractor regularly to keep my spine aligned otherwise I start to have a lot of back pain that affects me to the point where I can't sleep, can't sit in a chair, and I'm just generally uncomfortable no matter what. I now complement my chiropractic treatment by practicing ashtanga yoga and it's amazing - I sleep better, I feel better, and my back pain is mostly gone. The only time I feel back pain is when I go a couple of days without practicing yoga and my spine begins to twist again as the muscles tighten up. I went from seeing a chiropractor a few times a week to now where I'm getting ready to do a once a month maintenance. My chiropractor told me as long as I keep the yoga up, I should be mostly self-sufficient on maintaining my spinal alignment. It really does do wonders for those with chronic pains.

Sorry for the ultra long post. I kept getting distracted and didn't realize I typed so much! So sorry!

Ugh. Those reasons are so snooty and condescending it makes me want to stop doing yoga...

Yogaforlife - I couldn't agree more about the teacher! One of the teachers at my yoga studio is *amazing*. I realised that when I go to a different class, I keep getting distracted and start thinking about food or work, whereas if it's him teaching I'll be completely focused on what I'm doing and feel much better afterwards.

Jesus, pass-agg much? I just don't like yoga, guess I'm going to die early but I'm already going to die early, everyone so helpfully tells me all the time, thanks to the diet pop, lean cuisines and sunshine I take in so doesn't matter anyway!

this is stupid! i thought these were going to be legitimate reasons like, for example, "can cause some serious back problems if not done correctly (not all instructors can be trusted!)"

I

What happened to my post lol....Anyhow I love yoga and vinyasa flow is the way to go. I sweat as much as I would doing the elliptical / treadmill

I like some yoga but I need a faster pace workout. I just can't do slow things they make me anxious. & all the yoga I have tried is so slow to me.

this piece is written to make people who do yoga feel better about doing yoga.

I read the comments with interest. I suggest that for those of you who are ONLY looking for a 'workout,' yoga may not be the best option for you, because most yoga is MORE than a workout. Please don't denigrate the practice because it doesn't live up to your expectations of 'exercise.'
Also, those who comment that they just cannot sit still or have difficulty finding stillness are probably exactly the people who NEED a good yoga class. If you are not able to be still with yourself, your 'workout class' is not going to do anything for you in that regard other than play into what appears to be a hyperactivity and over-competitiveness (in general - I know none of you, but I see this all the time as an instructor).
If you can give it time and learn to be still, you will see what a beautiful adjunct yoga practice is to your regular 'exercise' program.