You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga.

But by practising yoga you will become flexible.

That’s a fact.

I’ve written about it on this blog before. I am living proof that it works and I’ve seen the effect on the people who come to my classes. The big question people ask next is, “How long will it take to get flexible by doing yoga?”

Let me tell you about what happened to me and then I’ll answer that.

Before I started going to yoga classes, and a long time before I decided I wanted to teach it, I wasn’t flexible.

Not at all. A typical male into running and weight training combined with little or no stretching. Short and tight muscles constrained me. I couldn’t touch my toes when I bent over. In fact I couldn’t reach any lower than my knees.

The first yoga class I did was an easy Hatha class. Basic poses and some deep breathing. I found some of them difficult because of my inflexibility. But the teacher was great. She told me not to over exert and to take it easy. I ached the following day, but stuck at it. After a few weeks I definitely felt more flexible. I still couldn’t touch my toes but I felt I could get lower. Even if it was only an inch.

I’ve now been participating and then teaching for nearly 10 years and do you know what? I can touch my toes now. With my legs dead straight with no bend at the knees. I’m not sure exactly when it happened.

But one day in a forward fold I suddenly thought, “Hey! I can touch my toes.” I was so happy. It felt like a great achievement.

What I can’t do however, in downward facing dog, is press my heels flat  into the floor like some more flexible people can. I probably never will be able to. I definitely won’t ever be able to wrap my feet behind my ears. Sometimes individuals are just not built that way.

But It doesn’t matter. You just go as far as is comfortable.

I wasn’t flexible before I started doing yoga but by doing yoga I have become much more flexible.Click to tweet this.

So going back to the question, “How long will it take to get flexible by doing yoga?” The answer is different times for different people. But that doesn’t matter either.

You will become more flexible than you currently are as soon as you start practising yoga. And you will become even more flexible, in whatever small or large degree, every time you practice again.

The complete journey to flexibility might be a long one or a short one. That’s not what is important. The important thing is making the first step on the journey.

Now it’s your turn:

Were you like me? Short tight muscles and no flexibility? How has yoga improved you? Are you looking to start taking yoga classes? Are there any other questions that you have? Please post a comment, or a question, or anything you like in the box below.

I originally published this article in May 2012. I've now updated and expanded upon the original.