Here are some common yoga misconceptions. All of these are things I’ve heard before. And I’m going, to be honest: 95% of these are excuses for not trying it or getting started.

1: I NEED ALL THE TOP YOGA GEAR AND IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE

You know what to expect. Skiing is an expensive sport that necessitates the purchase of expensive equipment. And a lot of it. Yoga, you don’t need anything, and you can do it, just watch. I’ll take a deep breath. That’s yoga. There you have it.

2: YOU NEED FANCY CLOTHES TO DO YOGA

I’ve done yoga in jeans and a collared shirt before, and you can stretch while standing in line at the supermarket.

3: YOU NEED TO BE VEGAN TO DO YOGA

I had fish today, and it was delicious. It’s not so much what you’re eating as it is that you’re aware of what you’re eating. Let’s get to that point. So whether you’re having a steak and being mindful, or eating a piece of lettuce and being mindful, it has nothing to do with being vegan. If you’re a vegan, that’s fantastic. I’m also 95% plant-based.

4: I CAN’T TOUCH MY TOES SO I CAN’T DO YOGA

I couldn’t even touch my toes. When I first started doing yoga, I was hunched over at a desk like this, clicking at the mouse. With time and practice, I was able to stand tall through the spine and begin to touch my toes. Nice try.

5: YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BE HAPPY IF YOU DO YOGA

You are expected to be upbeat. Since we’re human. Just because we practice yoga doesn’t mean that all of our problems will vanish. What matters is that you learn different ways to breathe in order to relieve some of the stress.

6: YOGA ISN’T A WORKOUT

Actually, I began yoga as a form of exercise. And then it grew into so much more over time, as I realized how I began to heal a lot of my mental issues and began to appreciate my body. In addition, consider taking a yoga class. You tell me what you think if it’s a workout; to be honest, it depends on what you’re doing.

7: I ALREADY HAVE A RELIGION

I’m not going to discuss religion because it’s a very sensitive subject. Spirituality is a connection to one’s self, in my opinion. So, no matter what God you’re praying to, Yoga is spirituality. It is a connection to yourself. That’s how I define yoga.

8: I TRIED A CLASS AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT

That’s like saying how you don’t like apples because you only tried one. Maybe it’s just the apple you tried. You might like other types of apples. If you don’t like one class, try different types of yoga and different teachers until you find one with whom you truly connect. You have to try it out. It’s similar to dating; give it a shot you need to kiss a lot of frogs before meeting the prince.

Have a myth not on here? Try me. Drop it in the comments below.