Karen Repassy: Busting the myth that you have to be flexible to do yoga

Come October 2015, Winter Garden Yoga will have been in business for five years, and over those years, the most common phrase we’ve heard is, “I can’t do yoga, because I am not flexible.”  

The answer to this has always been, “Perfect! You are in the right place!” 

I’m also a nutritionist, and I was recently working with a client on nutrition. She had her food down perfect, but she felt things had become stagnant regarding her body transformation.  

Her stress levels were through the roof 24/7. Although she has a huge part of puzzle in place by eating well, she was missing other very important pieces — and I knew yoga would help fill that void. 

The success formula regarding overall health and wellness is 80% nutrition, 10% exercise and 10% rest. It is important to address all of these. I have seen it time and again that the potent combination of doing yoga practice at least twice per week, along with a fat-burning nutrition plan, can get people amazing results that last.

Meeting after meeting, I encouraged this client to try a yoga class. I could sense fear was holding her back; I was right.  

She told me she was extremely stiff from all the stress and other negative health issues she was experiencing. She did not think she was flexible enough and could keep up with the class and would be the only person not able to do anything.

I knew the yoga images she had in her head — you’ve seen them, too: 20-year-olds, size zeroes in cute yoga clothes in pretzel-like poses.  

And she confirmed that for me. 

She finally came to class and, afterward, she said: “It was a good experience. It was so calm and peaceful. I didn’t want to step outside when class was over.”

Flexibility (I prefer to use the word “mobility”) is a beneficial side effect of a consistent and proper yoga practice. Focus on accurate alignment and correct movement — when those two elements are in place, true flexibility develops naturally.  

Here are three quick tips that can help you improve your flexibility right now:

1. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated has many positive side effects including, but not limited to, increased flexibility and increased energy.

2. Get up and walk around throughout your day. A big reason that so many of us are stiff and immobile is our sedentary lifestyle.

3. Get started! Give us a call, mention this article, and we’ll offer you a complimentary class to help you get in the game.

Karen Repassy is a professional nutritionist and certified yoga instructor at Winter Garden Yoga, located at 12 W. Plant St. in historic downtown Winter Garden. Karen is certified in Functional Yoga Instruction and Metabolic-Effect Nutrition. You can learn more about Karen and the classes offered at Winter Garden Yoga by visiting wintergardenyoga.com, calling (407) 579-9889 or emailing [email protected].