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.
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