Ok guys! You’ve been putting it off long enough. You’ve been telling yourself, “yeah, I should try that sometime,” or “I need to give that yoga thing a try.”
Not Just For Women
In this modern era, practicing yoga has transitioned from being a fad to a way of life for many people. Yoga classes are popping up more in local gyms, community centers, and stand-alone studios.
But Yoga isn’t brand new. It’s been around for thousands of years. Yoga has certainly evolved over the years and there’s also been a change in who actually practices this ancient art.
Guess what?
Back in the day….men and boys practiced yoga (at least the ancient texts suggest that men and boys engaged in this enlightenment seeking practice.)
Women were probably practicing this art of breathwork and body movement, and if they were, they were not doing it with the men.
The moving exercises were designed to help young boys become limber, agile, and strong. The flexibility that these young men attained allowed them to sit comfortably to meditate without physical distractions (i.e. stronger core, opened hips, and a straighter spine allowed for comfortable sitting for longer periods of time.)
With continuous and consistent practice, these boys grew into productive, well-rounded, self-aware, strong men.
So what happened? Aren’t these great traits for any man to have? Why did men stop practicing yoga? When you walk into a yoga class these days, you mostly see women.
Well, along this evolutionary timeline, yoga made it’s way to the west and was seen more like an aerobic exercise as it hit the fitness scene. Women gravitated to the exercise and they immediately benefited from the physical practice.
Guys! It’s time to get back into the game! It’s time to return to the yoga mat. Don’t worry…it’s not too late. If youre’ stiff as a board and as enlightened as a dark room, you can still make strides as a new yogi.
Here are some reasons why you should start now.
Reason 1: Flexibility & Mobility
Many people step into a yoga class for this first time knowing that they are already stiff and have heard that yoga can help them regain flexibility.
That is true!
Flexibility is a great benefit of practicing yoga. The misconception that keeps some men away from a yoga class, is that they think they already need to be flexible in order to do yoga.
That is NOT true! Come as you are, guys!
Like I said, if you’re stiff as a board, then a yoga class should be high on your priority list. Don’t worry that you’re not flexible right now.
In fact, yoga may come a little easier to you when you’re on the stiffer side.
Why, you ask?
Let’s use the example of a trained female ballet dancer. She probably is very flexible; her range of motion is much farther than the average person. When she goes to a yoga class, doing certain poses, like a standing forward fold, she can probably touch her toes with no problem.
Because her hamstrings are already stretched out, moving into a posture like this has no substantial significance (except maybe to maintain her flexibility.)
Now…when YOU, the stiff board, move into a forward fold, you may feel your hamstrings light up the second you bend 30 to 45 degrees. If you stayed in this posture (and I would suggest putting a bend in your knees and resting your hands on your thighs) and continued to breathe deeply (something your yoga instructor will instruct you to do), guess what?
You’re doing yoga! That’s it!
You’re gaining the benefit of this simple pose without needing to touch your toes. The ballerina, on the other hand, has to work much harder in order to feel a stretch in her hamstrings. Bottomline, guys, come as you are to a yoga class. It’s actually great that you’re not already flexible.
Reason 2 : De-Stress / Clear Your Head
You’ve probably heard, too, that yoga can help you relax, think more clearly, and relieve you of stress.
These are also true benefits of practicing yoga.
But another misconception of yoga is that you’re gonna sit around on pillows in an incense-filled room chanting and breathing for hours on end.
Of course, there are styles of yoga where sitting and meditating is the general practice which can lead to the benefits listed above.
But what if that’s not your cup of tea?
Find a yoga class that fits your personality.
- If you’re a laid back guy and wouldn’t mind engaging in some breathing techniques to soothe your mind, then perhaps a mindful meditation practice is right up your alley.
- But what if you’re an active chap and you cringe at the thought of sitting still for too long? Try another style: Power Yoga or Hot Yoga – these more physically demanding practices not only focus on the flexibility you’re looking for, but imbedded in the moving practice is mindful, meditative techniques that create that sense of clarity that you’re also looking for.
I think this is a very cool feature of yoga: you go to a hot yoga class to get your sweat on, but you leave feeling relaxed and clear-minded.
How did that happen? My answer to that: don’t worry about it!
What I call the intangible results of yoga – mindfulness, clarity, enlightenment – are byproducts of the physical practice of yoga: they happen automatically.
As Pattabhi Jois one said (an Indian yoga teacher who designed and conceptualized the style of yoga called Ashtanga back in the late 1940’s): “Yoga is 99% practice, 1% theory.”
One interpretation of that statement is to accept the invitation to come practice yoga, but don’t worry too much by what it all means. “Just do it!” (Nike).
Reason 3 : Yoga Compliments EVERYTHING
Yoga is for everyone. It can be seen as a complimentary activity to every other thing you do in your life.
If you’re a gym rat, getting those muscles pumped and ripped, yoga is going to help you stretch out those muscles and help you recover more quickly before your next assault in the gym. Yoga is for the athletic as well as the stationary person.
If you’re a nine-to-fiver, stuck in the office cubicle all day, then yoga is definitely for you. Yoga will not only improve your posture from sitting all day, it may even make you like your job even more!
And it goes without saying (but I’m going to say it anyway), yoga can improve your sex life! You’ll be more agile, flexible, have more stamina, and your blood flow increases. (Google “yoga studios” now.)
By and large, there really isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t start a yoga practice. In addition to the physical benefits, distressing your anxious mind, and enhancing what you do behind closed doors, you also form great friends and bonds with people in this inclusive community who are just like you – in search of a little happiness in this big ol’ world.
Namaste.
The yoganum family
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