Not All Yoga Is Alike

I always smile when people tell me, “I tried yoga, but I didn’t like it.” To me, that sounds a lot like saying, “I went on one date, but they weren’t my type, so I stopped dating altogether.”

I am less amused, however, when people say, “I stopped going because I wasn’t flexible enough.” But the response that concerns me most is: “Yoga hurt, so I quit.”

Historically, classical yoga was developed in India thousands of years ago by extraordinarily flexible practitioners. While those early pioneers could accomplish astounding physical feats, much of traditional classical yoga is simply inappropriate for modern Western bodies and lifestyles.

When yoga arrived in the West about a century ago, it began to evolve into many distinct approaches. Some forms remained strictly traditional, while others adapted to incorporate the tenets of modern exercise physiology. Today, yoga spans a vast spectrum:

Yoga Styles: Certain practices are purely physical, while others are entirely spiritual. Some styles are so aerobically intense that only the fittest survive, while others are so slow and meditative that students quit out of sheer boredom.

Teaching Styles: In "follow-the-leader" classes, instructors demonstrate poses while practicing alongside the class, leaving students to keep up as best they can. Other instructors demonstrate a pose first before guiding students into it, while some don't demonstrate at all—relying solely on verbal cues to talk students through the movement.

Instructor Expertise: Some instructors teach strictly what they were taught, regardless of whether they can comfortably perform the exercises themselves. Others teach only what they personally can do. In these environments, students who thrive are those able to adapt to their teacher's body; those who can't often quit.

Training Backgrounds: While most instructors today complete a formal teacher-training program, these courses vary wildly—ranging from a single weekend to several months or even years of intensive study.

The core issue is that well-meaning instructors typically teach the single style they were trained in. When a style is designed for athletically supple individuals, it creates a major barrier for someone who is middle-aged, out of shape, naturally stiff, recovering from an illness, or dealing with a past injury. For these individuals, a standard class is often either far too demanding or completely ineffective.

Because yoga varies so wildly, prospective students must choose their instructors with care. I have made yoga my life’s work for fifty years. Throughout my journey, I have practiced as a fit athlete, but I have also practiced as a chronically ill and injured individual. To understand how yoga can be tailored to the full diversity of Western bodies, I studied kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, and numerous yoga disciplines across the United States, Europe, and India. It was through my time in India that I learned firsthand why classical yoga must adapt to fit our modern lives.

To bridge this gap, I developed ExTension Yoga which is designed to accommodate all normal levels of fitness, flexibility and strength and Recovery Yoga which is specifically designed for anyone who is out of shape, managing chronic conditions, aging, or recovering from injury yet is eager to rebuild their physical well-being.

Ultimately, yoga is not a rigid, one-size-fits-all discipline, nor should it ever cause harm. The key is not forcing your body to fit a specific style of yoga, but rather finding a style of yoga that fits your body. With the right approach and proper guidance, yoga can safely build strength, endurance, and flexibility—helping you reclaim your mobility and vitality without risking injury along the way.