11 Myths And Facts: Finding Truth In Yoga’s History

With the rise in interest and popularity of yoga, especially in the last decade or so, yoga studios are now just as easy to find as local restaurants and cafes. Often referred to as the latest "workout, trend or fad”, with yoga’s rise to fame came misunderstandings, misconceptions, and false information that has been widely spread.

And why is it that? What is it about yoga that has many so confused and often, even skeptical?

It might be because of yoga’s somewhat mysterious origins and beginnings, or simply for the fact that, yoga is an Eastern practice and we don’t fully understand its complexity.

We strive to put a name to it, to simplify it for ourselves to prevent feelings of overwhelm. But the truth is, yoga is profound, challenging, beautiful, and complex. It is not easy to describe as it can mean something different to each person who practices it.

"Yoga is a journey, just as life is. Yoga never ends. It is a state of being, not simply a workout."

Instagram as well as other social media platforms have lead us to believe that we need to look and act a certain way in order to practice yoga. But that cannot be farther from the truth.

Yoga is for everyone and anyone. Yoga doesn’t choose favourites. It is created to support all individuals in finding better versions of themselves, yoga provides tools that help us cope with life and our daily obstacles and hurtles.

"Yoga is a life long companion, therefore, it’s worth investing the time to learn the truth about it."

In this article we will cover a brief history of yoga and its origins, as well as debunk 11 myths about yoga. Misconceptions about yoga not only hold seasoned yogis back from developing a deeper, more mindful practice—they prevent some people from ever stepping foot on the mat to begin with.

So whether you are brand new to yoga or you are already a dedicated yogi with a daily practice, learning the truth will only benefit you, giving you more knowledge and insight, or it might just give you the right confidence to finally give yoga a try!

But before we discuss the myths and facts surrounding yoga it’s important to examine its history to understand how yoga became what it represents in Western society today.

A Brief History of Yoga

Yoga arrived in America in 1893 when Swami Vivekananda (b. 1863, d. 1902) was told to leave India and bring yoga to the West. Upon his arrival, he was invited to be a key speaker at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago,1893.

What was truly revolutionary about his speech was, unlike the others, he did not attempt to defend or justify his beliefs but rather, he began his speech by addressing the gathered audience as “my dear brothers and sisters”. By doing this, he immediately made it an inclusive experience for all, understanding that everyone in the room wanted the same thing as he did.

What we know today as asana, or our physical yoga practice, comprised of poses or postures, is relatively new, as asana was created in the 1900’s when the British were occupying India. Due to the oppression of Indians and their culture, the king of Mysore asked Krishnamacharya (b. 1888, d. 1989) to develop something for Indians to be proud of, something to help them preserve their culture, to give them something to identify with.

The British had nationalism and a big army, but what did Indians have that could show their strength? Krishnamacharya drew inspiration from gymnastics, wrestling, and was inspired by the British army's warm up drills.

The army men had a warm up that consisted of burpees, which Krishnamacharya adapted to create what we now know as our Sun Salutation, which we still practice today. Just as the British army men would rise with the sun, saluting in the name of the day, when we practice yoga we offer to the day our power and dedication with our sun salutation. Therefore, it wasn’t until the early 1920’s that asana was practiced.

When Patanjali writes about asana in the Yoga Sutras, it translated to seat, rather than pose or posture as we most commonly translate it today. Patanjali poses the question; what can we do to allow us to sit better? Physically speaking, how can we find stillness and presence, but also, how can we sit, as in, occupy space in the world via our being, divine existence, and through our actions?

In the early 70’s Westerners went over to India to study yoga and asana. Upon its arrival to the West it became incredibly popular. Why you may wonder was yoga, as asana practice, brought to the West? Well, it's because it helps us feel better, feel stronger and fitter, it alleviates pain, reduces stress, and it is a physical act that you can participate in.

The truth is, modern day asana is still very much a work in progress. We are still developing and creating it as we go along. This process is what keeps yoga relevant and this is how it continues to serve us and challenge us.

Yoga is in this way, reflective of the times. Of course we know that there are many different styles of yoga, and depending on your needs, you may choose to take a restorative or Yin class, Hatha, Vinyasa, or Iyengar, or various other classes to fit your goals and interests, but regardless of your goals, there will always be something for everyone.

You’ll know when it feels right and you'll know when you have found the right fit for you. Feeling good is somewhat of an addictive feeling, and if yoga happens to help you feel good, you’ll find yourself coming back to the mat over and over again.

11 Myths About Yoga- Debunked!

First of all, what is a myth you might be wondering and how are they spread? The definition of a myth is: a widely held but false belief or idea, and there are countless that pertain to yoga.

Mentioned earlier in this article, this might be due to the fact that we know so little about yoga in respect to its profundity and when people do not know enough about something, it often leads to an unclear picture, contributing to misconceptions.

So now, without further ado, a few of the most common myths surrounding yoga and those who practice it.

Myth: You have to be flexible to do yoga

Fact: although yoga attracts the flexible, you absolutely do not need to be flexible to practice yoga. More flexible individuals who practice yoga have just as much work to do as those who have less mobility or range of movement.

Common injuries in yoga include over-stretching the hamstrings, especially when practicing in a heating room, as well as injures to the wrists and shoulders due to incorrect form and a lack of strength in the core muscles. Execution of yoga postures requires a balance of both openness of body and mind, coupled with strength and correct alignment.

So, physically speaking, whether you come to yoga to gain strength or flexibility, yoga will provide you with all that you need. Also, never forget that yoga isn’t about bending yourself in every direction, yoga is about transformation, self discovery, and discipline. If something you encounter in class doesn’t feel right for you, trust your intuition and take a step back. There is so much power in knowing when to say yes and when to say not today, maybe tomorrow.

Myth: Yoga is 5,000 years old

Fact: Is yoga an ancient practice? The short answer to this question is yes! Yoga as a spiritual practice, philosophy, and a state of being, yoga in the form of mantras, cleansing practices, and meditation are all, in fact, 5,000 years old. However, the yoga that is most commonly practiced in the West, our physical asana practice is not nearly as old.

Mentioned previously in this article, asana wasn’t practiced until the 1920’s after it had been developed by Krishnamacharya, gaining popularity and traction in the 1970’s, asana has since evolved and continues to do so in order to fit our Western needs. In terms of yogic history, exact dates are far less important, the mythology however is the true gem of yoga’s historic relevance.

With that said, we can officially trace yoga back to the 4 scared and spiritual texts called the Vedas, meaning light or knowledge. We do not know exactly who wrote them, however, these texts outline the culture of the Indus valley, which predated India, as we know it today.

Here we see evidence of fire ceremonies, chanting, meditation and the use of mantras, therefore, the elements of modern day yoga that are in fact 5,000 years old remain; meditation and certain ritual practices, as asana had not yet been created, these practices did however serve as the pillars and foundation of the asana we practice today.

Myth: Doing good gives you “good” karma

Fact: We cannot manipulate the universe, sometimes things just happen that are out of our control. Over time, karma has become a concept in Western society, used to find some sort of comfort in the way life works. It is often said that, if someone does something bad or wrong that they will “get theirs in the end”. That the universe will strike them, that karma will act as if it were a lighting bolt sent from the sky to spite the wrong doers. (metaphorically speaking)

However, this is not the case, this is an adapted concept to suit the Western need for revenge and closure. Karma, simply translates to action. We first hear of karma as it is one of the 4 original and first practiced forms of yoga. Karma yoga or the yoga of selfless service focuses on perfection of action through selflessness.

Karma means simply to act. Karma itself does not have any quality, connotation or identity. It cannot be good or bad. The idea that we create good or bad karma via our actions is false. We can however, work towards freedom or remain bound to our experiences.

Everything we say, think, and do, these are all actions, as they all influence each other and play off one another, and if karma has no quality, and will not provide us with rewards, we should strive to act in such a way that we are completely detached from the objective and results of our actions. We don’t want to do good only because we want to receive good.

Karma is not a reward system, there is no such thing as putting in the time and effort to open ourselves to the gifts of the universe in the form of “good karma”. We must however connect to doing - just for the sake of it because absolutely everything we do produces both good and bad outcomes. Let go of the need to reap the fruits of your actions and labour. Our goal is to simply exist unattached to these “karmic loops” and practice genuine and kind actions and habits that speak to our true intensions.

Myth: Yoga is just stretching

Fact: Yoga is not just a workout, and therefore it cannot be, “just stretching” either. So what is yoga then? The word yoga was originally derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” pronounced “uge” meaning “to yoke”. This was first seen in the Vedas (a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts contain the oldest of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. There are four Vedas: the Rg veda, the Yajur veda, the Sama veda, and the Atharva veda)

The term however, was originally referencing, pairing two oxen together to pull a cart. Essentially, to put two opposing forces together, to work alongside each other in unified direction. Over time this term evolved, often meaning the unifying or union of two particular things.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the unity of the mind and body, nor is it the union of body and spirt that yoga works to unite. This is largely due to the fact that the body and mind are already connected, therefore it is not possible to separate the two. We have scientific proof that the body and mind are already connected through study of our anatomy and though concepts such as muscle memory and our proprioceptive ability to know where we are in space in any given time.

The brain or the mind is an active participant in our body’s ability to perform tasks. The body does not operate on its own. They are always connected, for good and for bad, whether we like it or not. So despite the fact that our asana practice helps us to become more self aware, this is not what yoga is, this is just one of the many elements or facets of yoga.

What yoga is however, at its core is one of the most basic concepts in Hinduism.

The universal self, or the Atman, (Sanskrit: “self,” “breath”) identical with the eternal core of the personality that, after death either transmigrates to a new life or attains release (moksha) from the bonds of existence. https:// www.britannica.com/topic/atman

The universal self is the part of us that is changeless, deathless, something that is greater than us. So the union that yoga works towards is actually the union between the small self and the highest self.

Myth: Yoga is only about the physical body

Fact: Yoga is so much more than just a physical practice, in fact, yoga can be described as the psychospiritual union of your highest self and something greater than you, and that thing that is greater than you is non definable.

Psychospiritual: (Adj) The integration of the psychological and the spiritual. Used mostly in the fields of transpersonal psychology and holistic (mind/body) counselling, the term “psychospiritual” acknowledges the overlap between psychological and spiritual disciplines.

Physically speaking, asana can help us to see what really is, to see the truth about things. Yoga teaches us that we do not need to gain anything from the outside world or from the external, but rather the opposite, to learn to access what is already within us.

We want to work to find a way to stay connected at all times, to never leave the state we enter when we are fully integrated. Yoga is a state of being, it is always there, just waiting behind our conscious awareness.

Yoga is just like sleep in that way. If we create the right environment to induce deep relaxation, sleep can then be possible. Sleep won’t just happen on its own, or at least on a consistent basis without creating a routine for optimised sleep. Likewise, yoga will not just happen on its own. We need to cultivate the right circumstances to set ourselves up for success in entering and remaining in a state of yoga.

Once we arrive in such a place its important to remember that we ARE already everything that we need to be.

"It's always going to be a game of peeling back the layers, not a game of putting more on."

To further demonstrate that yoga is not just simply for the physical body, let’s examine the 4 earliest types of yoga:

Jnana Yoga:

The Yoga of Knowledge, is the oldest record we have of yoga and it is the intellectual pursuit of yoga. It is the thinking and meditating yoga that focuses on critical inquiry into the nature of the Self. It is the ability to sit and think about who you really are via a process of eliminating what we are not.

For example, our name, our religion, our job, our relational status, our career or job title, these are things we are involved in, however, these things are not who we are. All of these things can be changed, as does our physical body and our looks. When you are having trouble understanding who you are without these things, ask yourself: who would I be if I lost my job? If I dyed my hair, or if I changed my opinion about something? Would I no longer be me?

Of course not, you simply are. All else will act as accessories that decorate who you are at your core.

Karma Yoga:

The Yoga of Selfless Service is the second form of yoga we can trace back, and it focuses on perfection of action through selflessness. We will remember that, karma means simply to act, it in itself cannot be good or bad. So though selfless efforts and action with complete detachment from reward is how we practice Karma yoga.

Raja Yoga:

The third type of yoga that we encounter in the Upanishadic texts means king or Patanjali’s yoga. The yoga we find written out in the Yoga Sutras. The great body of wisdom we use as a guide book or blue print for our current practice.

The original ashtanga yoga and the 8 limbs, or branches of the yoga tree are found in the Yoga Sutras.

If you would like to know more about Patanjali’s the Yoga Sutras and other books that will deepen your knowledge and understanding of yoga:

Click here.

Bhakti Yoga:

The Yoga of Devotion, is actually the most popular form of yoga in the world today, as well as the newest form. It focuses on attaining blissful states through rituals and chanting. Kirtan is a practice of chanting in order to bring a god or deity in front of you. Kirtan is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. Devoting oneself in body, soul, mind, and entity to the god or deity of your choosing.

Myth: Yoga will make you happy

Fact: Yoga itself will not make you happy. Yes its true that after you practice yoga you do feel better and many report experiencing what has been coined the “yoga buzz” post class. This buzz is a mixture of emotions and hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, and of course a sensation of connectedness.

Yoga however, is about far more than just what you practice on the mat. It’s not about what you did or didn’t do in class, its the showing up that counts. It's the effort and the consistency, no different than life, life is a series of events, at times mundane, but we need to keep showing up and putting in the time.

The road or journey to bliss is certainly the path we strive to take in yoga, but this road is not free of obstacles. Becoming more self aware and taking a critical look into the self can be daunting, and it’s a job only you can do. Undoing the knots in the body and setting free what is stuck in the mind takes strength and courage, but this is how we find freedom.

Our job as yogis is to bring what we learn and find on the mat, into the world with us. Yoga itself doesn’t make life better, but makes us better at handling life’s obstacles. It is important that we use our voices to make change, fight against injustices, and be at service to others.

"Be at service to others and bring them along for the journey. This is how you make your path to bliss less lonely."

Myth: The more advanced you are the better yogi you are

Fact: This sentence has been said by many a new yogi: “I love yoga but I'm not very good at it". Why would someone think or say this? Is it because we are accustomed to seeing photos of flexible yogis practicing complex postures? This can certainly be an immediate turn off or moment of discouragement for people. Though this lens, yoga seems out of reach for most.

Yet, as described in this article, yoga is so much more than just a physical practice, and yoga as a philosophy finds its origins in anything but the physical body. Yoga has a way of giving you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. No matter where you are in your journey, yoga will meet you there. Don’t shy away from it before you know anything of it.

Myth: You have to be vegan to be a yogi

Fact: Yoga is for everyone and anyone, regardless of one’s diet and lifestyle choices. Yoga is inclusive, not exclusive to those who can afford to eat all organic, to those who buy the right yoga clothes, nor is it only for vegans.

But where does this myth originate from?

Found in the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali outlines the foundations of yoga, creating somewhat of a guidebook for us to follow in order to find bliss. Found in the Sutras are the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga, each limb representing an aspect or element in our path. The first of the limbs talks about the “Yamas”, which act as our morals or values.

The Yamas demonstrate how we can become the best version of ourselves, and how we can serve our highest selves. The Yamas come first in the eight limbs because, we must change ourselves before anything else.

The Yamas are:

Ahimsa – ‘Non violence’ This is where the idea that you must be vegan or vegetarian to practice yoga comes from. In India, the path of Ahimsa or non- violence means that in most cases, you will have to give up meat, fish, and poultry, however, here in the West, that is not the case.

You can choose to eat whatever you like, the importance is placed in how you feel. We want to feed our bodies with the food that makes us feel good, strong, and that allow us to enjoy life. That might be a vegan diet for you, that might not be for someone else. Honour your body, your culture, what you body tells you it needs and it will thank you for listening.

For reference, the other Yamas are:

Satya – ‘Truthfulness’ Asteya-‘Non-stealing’ Brahmacharya- ‘Continence’ or ‘Right use of energy’

Aparigraha- ‘Non Greed’ or ‘Non-attachment‘

If you would like to know more about the eight limbs found in the Yoga Sutras, click here.

Myth: Yoga is a religion

Fact: Just as it has been previously mentioned, yoga is a philosophy, a state of being, a physical practice, but among the things it is, a religion is not one of them. Yoga and Hinduism are two different things, even if they were born in the same “house”. Think of yoga and Hinduism in this way, that two children were born of the same parents, grew up in the same household, yet became very different people with their own personalities and identities. Despite their upbringing together, they are their own separate entities.

Yoga and Hinduism have different trajectories, objectives if you will. Yoga is an inward practice, a process of peeling off the layers to find one’s purest self. We work to remove our own obstacles, rather than praying to a god, asking them to remove these obstacles for us, yoga gives us the ability to find everything we need inside of ourselves, showing us that nothing needs to be gained from the external, everything we need already lives within us.

Myth: Yoga is just a fad/trend

Fact: Yoga is not a fad nor is it a trend. Before explaining why, let’s look at the definition of a fad/trend. “A fad, trend, or craze is any form of collective behaviour that develops within a culture, a generation or social group in which a group of people enthusiastically follow an impulse for a short period."

We already know that yoga, as a philosophy is approximately 5,000 years old and as a physical practice in the West, yoga has been participated in since the 1920’s, popularised in the 1970’s. So it is important to differentiate between things that are new and things that are new to us.

Being unfamiliar with something, or just finding out about it, does not make something new. Yoga is timeless, and it continues to grow with us as a society since its birth in the West. Yoga does not exist as a quick fix for anything, nor does it provide us with shortcuts. Rather, it instills in us, passion, love, and endless challenges, making yoga quite the opposite of a short lived craze.

Myth: You always have to be positive to be a yogi

Fact: No one is happy all the time, that is simply not possible, nor is it healthy to deny our emotions, be it good or bad, yoga encourages us and urges us to feel and experience everything.

To address this myth properly, it is crucial that we define the difference between happiness, contentment, and toxic positivity. Happiness is fleeting, it is not a constant state. Yoga teaches us that, bliss is our ultimate goal, but we need to move through many obstacles and overcome hardships and challenges allow the way.

So what is toxic positivity?

Toxic positivity is the presence of an excess of ineffective and falsely generated displays of happiness, optimism, and blissfulness, as a constant across all situations. The most common consequences of toxic positivity are; denial, minimisation, invalidation of the authentic human experience with all of its ups and downs.

In order to be healthy, everything must exist in balance, and work harmoniously. Exercising too much will be just as detrimental as eating too much, even though society glorifies one and shames the other. Likewise, even something like happiness and positivity, if used in excess and for the wrong motivations, will quickly become toxic for all parties involved.

By remaining in a state of denial that certain feelings are present, such as sadness or lack of fulfilment, we are allowing a vicious cycle of repressed emotions to continue to spiral. The goal is to be in a state of full immersion, not to detach one’s self from reality. Yoga teaches us to know more, not to know less.

We are only human; we all make mistakes, have highs and lows, we hit rock bottom, we are flawed by nature, but in order to rise from the ashes, we need to first acknowledge that we have in fact, hit rock bottom. Without knowing what the problem is, we will never be able to move past it.

Displays of toxic positivity will affect our relationships with others. In order to interact and relate to one another in an honest way and with good intention, we need to hear each other out, allow others pain to be seen, sometimes that’s all it takes.

If we respond to someone who has expressed their sadness with “no bad vibes here”, we deny that person of a genuine human experience, and deny them the opportunity to be heard while seeking help or a listening ear.

If you are still not sure how to recognise toxic positivity, here are a few ways to spot it:

• Someone seems to be repeatedly hiding their true feelings

• Says things often like “just get over it” or “move on” or “it is what it is” even when facing a serious or traumatic event

• The person feels guilty for not appearing as happy as usual, feels the need to fake it

• The person routinely avoids or invalidates other people’s negative experiences

• Always responds with a Law of Attraction or feel good quote to gaslight or manipulate your experience

• Comparing experiences and using sayings like “it could be worse”

• Shaming others for expressing anything other than positivity

• Calling someone “such a downer” or “such a negative person”, making them feel like they are a burden for opening up

Concluding thoughts

The best, and frankly the only way to form an opinion is from first hand experience. We should never let hearsay, rumours, myths, or gossip dictate whether we try something or not.

So take that step, give yoga a try, see what it’s really all about, and most importantly, what it can add to your life.

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Jasmine Melrose

Director & Founder of DECO the Blog

Jasmine Melrose is a Toronto native living in Amsterdam. Once a professional dancer, her passions include movement, fitness, yoga, healing, and all things vegan. Jasmine is a 500-hour trained yoga teacher, who loves to get you deeper into your practice. She is also a certified barre teacher who loves making raw vegan, guilt-free and good-for-you treats. Check out her recipes and articles on everything from fitness to yoga, to notes on a journey towards healing.

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