In the decade I’ve been working in the field of yoga for athletes, acceptance of yoga has grown exponentially. Once it was a hard sell to get athletes on the mat; now it’s mainstream. Some myths persist, though, and they are covered well in this piece at Stack.com that quotes me and several colleagues.
Yoga might be an athlete’s best friend. The practice can help you improve your mobility, recover from intense training sessions faster, and even improve your proprioception, i.e., your awareness of how your body moves in space. But some people feel apprehensive about yoga, thanks to some popular myths and misconceptions. Like: I’m not flexible enough to handle yoga. And: What’s with the chanting? And : Must I wear stretch pants?