2 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Practicing Yoga

Whether you've just taken your first class or you've been practicing yoga for years, Yoga For Bad People co-founder Heather Lilleston believes that revisiting the basics is one of the most important things you can do in yoga. Because between the gorgeous leggings and perfect poses, it can become easy to lose sight of why you're hitting the mat every day.

No matter what your skill level, here are two commonly held myths about yoga that Heather wants every yogi to stop believing.

Instead, they add in the playfulness to the practice (which is something I highly encourage), but it doesn't work without a solid foundation.

The first step to yoga is about doing basic good—not lying, stealing, harming, taking more than you need, or using your energy in too many directions. Without an emphasis on that practice, very little yoga can be attained. All schools should teach this as the foundation while at the same time being completely honest about their humanity and imperfections.

Yoga's popularity has placed a lot of emphasis on nailing specific poses. But don't worry if you're not there yet! Sometimes the kindest people who touch a lot of hearts can't even do a downward-facing dog.

Be the yogi who brings joy and lightness and honesty into the room, even if your poses aren't perfect. There's a lightness that comes with honesty, and through that, joy.