Yoga Requires Flexibility of Mind not Body

So often people tell me that they can't "do" yoga because they are not flexible enough. It makes me sad that yoga has evolved into a place of discrimination, magazine covers with people contorted into crazy positions that scream "look at what you can't do". Yes, those poses are yoga, but such a small percentage of it. Yoga is a practice of life, incorporating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual exercises to create a stronger, healthier, more connected life. We partake in the yoga asana practice, i.e. the physical practice of yoga, the yoga what we have come to recognize, with the intention of calming and focusing our minds while gaining control over our bodies. Flexibility helps, and so does strengths, but they are not prerequisites! What is a prerequisite? An open mind with the intention of building a practice that best serves your body and mind. If you go into your practice with the judgement of how inflexible you are, or how weak you are, then you are sabotaging your practice before you start. When you come into a forward fold, it doesn't matter if you touch your toes, it matters if you stretch your legs and back without injury. Similarly, if you come into a challenging balance pose, it doesn't matter if you physically fall out of the pose, because if you stay mentally calm and focused you will jump back into the position. If you fall out both physically and mentally then you'll be jumping and staggering trying to work back into it. 

So next time you practice, remember to allow your mind to be relaxed and open, always loving and accepting and just let your body do it's thing!