I have heard from several yoga aficionados that their bodies are more balanced, their stress levels are lower, and they are generally happier after completing a yoga class. And as much hype as it has in the media, from movies to classes being sold on TV, you’d think there would be some truth to all of that. I think there is, too—or else why would so many people swear by it? My own doctor recommended it to me when we discovered that it was my work as a 60-hour week editor, rather than my weight, that was increasing my blood pressure.

But it turns out that it may not be as beneficial to all people as we had previously thought. Many people are coming forward with their yogic complaints, saying that years of practicing the mind-body connection have resulted in bodily injuries that are severe enough to require rehabilitation. A good number of these people are actual yoga teachers!

It turns out that the real problem may not be yoga itself, but the way people practice it—which is no surprise, since these complaints are surfacing now rather than hundreds of years ago. Modern yoga practitioners are rushing through the motions, failing to actually practice mindfulness while they attempt to make sure that they get their postures “correct.”

Glenn Black, the man who injured enthusiasts seek out with their pains, says that people need to know their own bodies and use their own thresholds, not their teachers, to measure what they can do and stop pushing their bodies into harm. He also says that it’s not meant to be a regular practice for the masses, but instead as a specific “range of motions for articulation and organ condition.” People need to know their own bodies, and if your body already has a weakness, that area should not be pushed into pain, but gently treated—and he claims that yoga is either for people with bodies in good condition or those who want to use it therapeutically.

Yoga isn’t about harming your body, yet with our Jillian Michaels/ Biggest Loser/ Weight Loss Culture, we seem to think that if it doesn’t hurt, it’s not worth it. Yoga should be a safe, enjoyable experience that causes relaxation and calmness, not anxiety and pain. If you find yourself experiencing the latter two feelings, perhaps you should slow down or even change your practice.