02/01/2026
There's an old saying that 'thinking about starting yoga but worrying that you're not flexible enough is like thinking about taking a bath but worrying you're too dirty'... But 'will I be flexible enough?' is still the question yoga teachers get asked more than any other.
If you're in two minds, a quick practical exercise might be to take a minute to ask yourself what it is that you'd really like to achieve from doing yoga. How would you like a practice to work for you?
If your intention this year is to hold a headstand or finally reach the splits, a disciplined yoga practice can probably help you with that, sure.
And if your intention this year is to find it a little bit easier to reach that fork that you've just dropped on the floor, or walk down the stairs with less creaky knees, or get up from a chair without making 'that' new weird noise, or drop off to sleep a tiny bit quicker or to find focus and take a moment just to breathe and pause and centre yourself when things get tough... yoga can probably help you with those things too.
The a-ha! moment is realising that none of those intentions is 'better' or more important than another. Flexibility really isn't the sole goal.
After 30+ years of yoga, I still make the same resolution to master crow pose every year, and it's still a work in progress. But I also give gratitude to my practice every time I bend down to tie up my laces or pick up a heavy bag or grab something from a high shelf with ease. I thank my practice every time I can smile and breathe my way through a setback instead of flying into a hot red mist, and every morning I that wake up less creaky than I went to bed.
If you're thinking about starting a yoga practice, you're already more ready than you might realise. Feel free to get in touch and talk it through 🙏✨
