Mayurasana and other yoga practices that may not suit women, according to Sadhguru

You might've noticed something about a lot of yoga classes these days. Everyone's doing the same poses, following the same routine, like there's some universal formula that works for all bodies. But here's the thing: there really isn't. And Sadhguru's been saying this for years—what works for your friend who's been doing yoga for decades might actually mess you up if you've got a different body entirely.The reason? Most yoga wasn't designed with women in mind. Historically, yogic practices developed in caves, in mountains, in places where women just couldn't go. So around ninety percent of the classical yoga system got built around the male body. That's not some judgment call, it's just what happened back then. But now we're teaching the same practices to everyone, and some of those poses can genuinely cause damage if you're not careful.Take the peacock pose, or mayurasana. Sadhguru's actually pretty funny about it, he'll laugh and say it's a peacock asana, not a peahen asana. The point being that certain postures put strain on a female body in ways they weren't originally intended to. And it's not just the obvious ones. There are subtle things too, some physical, some more energetic, but they all matter if you're actually serious about practice.Inverted postures and certain heavy breathing techniques, like kapalabhati, these are the kinds of things women need to be extra cautious about. It's not that you can never do them. It's that timing and intensity matter in ways people don't usually talk about. But again, most studios don't get into this because it's complicated and you'd put half the class to sleep explaining the nuances.The practical reality is that most practices being taught in regular Isha Yoga programs are fine for women, except kapalabhati. That's the main one to avoid unless you've got specific guidance from someone who knows your body. Beyond that, there's flexibility depending on where you are in your cycle and what's going on with your body. If you're particularly sensitive, yeah, maybe a few other things need tweaking. But generally you're covered.The bigger point? Just because everyone's doing the same yoga class doesn't mean it's the right move for you. Your body deserves practice that actually fits how it works. That's not being difficult, that's being smart about your health.