Learning how to do yoga—and maintaining a practice—has a lot to do with unlearning what yoga is “supposed” to be. In fact, a lot of things that seem like fails in yoga, meditation, and beyond are actually very normal.

Yoga is an ancient practice, but it has taken up major space in the Western world for many, many decades. During that time, some of the more eye-catching elements of the modern tradition have become associated with a “good” yogi. Hyper-flexibility. Matching (and expensive) activewear sets. Challenging arm balances (often captured in tropical locations, or by a pool). Pristine studio spaces. You know what we’re talking about.

But the reality is that yoga is much messier than it looks on social media—and much better because of it. We asked ourselves and our Instagram followers about those less-glamorous aspects of yoga that are universal, acceptable, and, in fact, “very normal.” Yes, falling out of poses, moving through hard emotions, falling asleep during Savasana are all commonplace occurrences. Fortunately, so is practicing acceptance of self and situations.

Ahead, a laundry list of yoga moments that are very, very normal.

23 Things That are “Very Normal” in Yoga

1. Very normal to not clear your mind when you meditate. – YJ editors

2. Very normal to roll out the mat and be in Child’s Pose for quite some time… – @maj.yoga

3. Very normal to only have 10 minutes to do yoga. – YJ editors

4. Very normal to practice in a messy, “non-aesthetic” room. – @yoga_withmel

5. Very normal to do yoga and not be able to touch your toes. – YJ editors

6. Very normal to not have the desire to learn arm balances and/or inversions. – @chandra.kj

7. Very normal to feel sad while you practice and carry it through your practice, showing up. – @marmel_

8. Very normal to not spend $80 on what you wear to yoga. – YJ editors

9. Very normal to have gas at yoga. – @mrsmkwatson

10. Very normal to fall out of a balancing pose. – YJ editors

11. Very normal to not remember the Sanskrit name of every pose. – @moveyourbodyyoga

12. Very normal to drift away in your mind during Savasana and also very normal to fall asleep. – @annak68

13. Very normal to want to shrink when things become uncomfortable. – YJ editors

14. Very normal to be happy with where I’m at with yoga, and have no desire to be in a gym ever again. – @jordanw_deleted

15. Very normal to feel content in your own practice and body, also very normal to celebrate the small progress you can sense in your body with each practice. – @rootedwithsara

16. Very normal to stop rolling out your mat for months at a time. – YJ editors

17. Very normal to practice yoga and still have feelings of frustration and anger. – @gschutte

18. Very normal to give a few years break to yoga, even as a yoga teacher. – @tgctnks

19. Very normal to need an assist when doing balancing poses. – @bremlami

20. Very normal to use supportive props in every practice. – YJ editors

21. Very normal to want to stay in bed instead of going to class. – @heatherakb_

22. Very normal not to like Shoulderstand. – @eva.dias.k

23. Very normal to be in love with yoga. – @susaxxx