Why Yoga Sucks, According To A Yoga Teacher

Yoga’s great, except in the ways it isn’t:

These ideas might meet with some resistance

Fun fact: around 75% of yoga practitioners worldwide are female, and 81% of them are over the age of 30.

Fun fact: women over the age of 30 experience sarcopenia, the gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, and osteoporosis, the thinning and weakening of bones.

…which is a pain in each part, because:

• Muscle is metabolically active tissue, so declining muscle mass slows metabolism and lowers calorie needs, contributing to weight gain if eating habits don’t change.
• Reduced bone density increases the risk of fractures, stress injuries like shin splints, loss of height due to spinal compression, and serious injury from falls.

Happily, these age-related changes can be slowed or even prevented through correct fitness choices.

Good news: resistance training involves working against progressively challenging external loads that create mechanical stress to stimulate muscle and bone growth.

Bad news: yoga is not resistance training and doesn’t meaningfully build muscle mass or increase bone density for most practitioners.

To be clear, yoga can increase strength and benefit beginners initially, but it quickly plateaus and doesn’t provide enough stimulus for bone density improvements.

In summary: yoga is valuable for flexibility, mental health, and enjoyment, but it should be combined with meaningful resistance training for health, longevity, and resilience.

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Take care!