Yoga is for Men

Why is it that most everyone thinks yoga is only for women? Is it because you have to be flexible to do yoga and if so, everyone knows that women are inherently more flexible than men? Is it because men think that in order to do yoga, you’ve got to learn to sit quietly in some awful cross-legged position and contemplate your navel? Is it because you have to learn someone else’s religion? Well, if that’s what yoga is, you can forget it: No way! Guys don’t want any part of it. They want to do stuff; they want to run, or play ball, or work on the car. They’d rather go shopping than do yoga. You would think that yoga isn’t active enough for guys. Right? Wrong.

I’m here to tell you that yoga, when done appropriately, is one of the most demanding and physically challenging activities there is. Let’s take a closer look at what “yoga” really is. “Yoga” literally means “balance” or “union.” This means that in order to become proficient with yoga, he needs to be as flexible as he is strong. In other words, yoga is about creating physiological balance, which is incredibly harder than one might think.

I’m also here to tell you that after the initial learning curve is achieved, an appropriate yoga class can challenge a man in ways he never thought possible; but even when challenged, yoga is done in such a way that minimizes the propensity for injury. In fact, yoga can actually help your body heal its many older injuries and imbalances. What most guys don’t know is that yoga was developed a couple of thousand years ago by men and that only men were allowed to practice.

It wasn’t until recently; maybe the past hundred years, that women were allowed to do yoga. This happened when it was brought to the west and for a number of reasons; primarily women practiced yoga. And it didn’t take long for yoga to adapt to the special propensity of women’s inherent flexibility. (The reason guys, is that a women’s overall ligament and pelvic structure is genetically designed for childbirth and as such, generally affords them a natural flexibility that guys inherently don’t have).

In any event, through yoga’s balancing effect upon soft tissue structures, guys who practice yoga find their performance in sports dramatically improves. There’s no magic as to why: a well-balanced body has more control and less susceptibility for injury. The other major benefit to a regular yoga practice is a reduction in stress; both physical and mental. However, there is something guys need to know: Getting into yoga and making it a disciplined part of his life isn’t easy. It’s much like the opposite of love; yoga is hard to get into, but really easy to get out of.

Article by yoga instructor Sam Dworkis, auther of Recovery Yoga and ExTension. Visit his web site at www.extensionyoga.com .

The above article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before beginning ExTension or Recovery Yoga, or any exercise program. Read the rest of our disclaimer and terms of use.