Yoga is often mistaken for just physical exercise, but it’s far more than stretching or flexibility. It’s a powerful system that improves physical health—regulating hormones, reducing stress, improving sleep, and boosting immunity, while also offering deep spiritual benefits.
Through breath, stillness, and awareness, yoga helps you connect inward, calm the mind, and live with greater clarity and balance. It's not just about what your body can do—it's about how your inner world begins to shift. “To truly understand yoga’s role in our lives,” says Anoopama Mukerjee Lohana, Experiential Wellness Consultant and COO Siddhayu Wellness Experience, Mumbai. “We need to root into its gnosis. Yoga literally means union. It’s the most ancient bio-hack designed for holistic alignment—not just physical agility, but also emotional intelligence, intellectual clarity and spiritual depth.”
At its core, yoga is a system of conscious living, breath, energy control, sensory withdrawal and meditative stillness. “For the modern human caught in a 24/7 ping-and-scroll existence, it’s a roadmap back to inner quiet and clear response.”
Lohana shares 8 yoga myths related to yoga:
It is only for the flexible: Wrong way round, mate. Flexibility is what yoga gives you—not what you need to start. It welcomes all body types and abilities to gradually unlock strength, space and mobility.
Yoga is mainly for women: Ancient yoga texts were written by men, and practised by all. Athletes like LeBron James and Virat Kohli swear by yoga for recovery and mental clarity.
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Yoga is too slow to count as a workout: Slow can be savage! Yoga builds strength through bodyweight resistance and dynamic control. It boosts stamina without the burnout.
Yoga is a religious practice: Yoga may be spiritual, but it’s not religious. “It’s a universal life-science of awareness,” explains Anoopama. “It doesn’t demand belief, just presence.”
You need a studio and fancy kit: No. All you need is a clean floor and commitment. Five quiet minutes on your bedroom carpet can recharge your entire nervous system.
Yoga is just stretching: Asana (postures) is just one eighth of yoga. Real yoga also rewires your nervous system, balances hormones, and builds deep emotional resilience.
It can’t help with weight loss: Plenty of research shows yoga regulates metabolism, reduces binge-eating triggers and supports sustainable weight balance, not crash results, but lasting ones.
You must practice it for hours: That’s not true. “Even 15 minutes a day can be life-changing,” says Anoopama. It’s about frequency, not fancy flows. Quality over quantity, always.
FAQs on yoga as a workout routine:
1. Is yoga an effective workout for building strength and flexibility?
Yes, yoga builds strength using your own body weight and improves flexibility through deep stretches. Poses like planks, warriors, and balances engage muscles just like traditional strength training.
2. Can yoga help with weight loss?
While not as calorie-burning as intense cardio, yoga supports weight loss by boosting metabolism, improving digestion, reducing stress (which can reduce emotional eating), and encouraging healthier habits.
3. How often should I practice yoga to see results?
Practicing 3–5 times a week is ideal for noticeable improvements in strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Even 15–30 minutes a day can make a difference over time.
4. Is yoga suitable for beginners or people who aren’t flexible?
Absolutely. Yoga is adaptable for all fitness levels. Flexibility is a result of consistent practice, not a requirement to start.
5. Can yoga replace traditional gym workouts?
Depending on your fitness goals, yoga can be a complete workout. It improves strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance. However, for muscle hypertrophy or high-intensity cardio, it can be combined with other workouts.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis
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