Most of the known founders of yoga were men, however nowadays many classes seem to be made up almost entirely of women. I want to break the stigma and misconception of men practising yoga and provide everyone with a space in which they feel comfortable.
Men often have distinct physical needs in yoga – typically tight hamstrings, hips, shoulders and back. Over the years I’ve worked with hundreds of men to help target these problematic areas – these sessions are designed specifically for men.
“I’m too inflexible to do yoga”
That’s like saying I’m too weak to lift weights or too unfit to start cardio work. That’s the whole point! Yoga isn’t performance based. It’s not in the Olympics. It’s not about how easily you touch your toes or if you can do a handstand. It’s about bringing your body to a healthier state of balance…if you are tight it loosens you up, if you are weak it strengthens you, if you are sluggish it livens you up, if you are stressed it teaches you how to breathe better and ease tension.
So if you’re worried your body won’t suit yoga, think again. There is always a way to modify a pose to suit your level of fitness, strength, shape and flexibility level so that you get the same benefits as everyone else out of every pose.
Men who do yoga
It is increasingly common for male athletes from various disciplines to practice yoga to help them stay strong and injury free through years of training, performing and competing. It’s the combination of strength, flexibility, stability, balance and mental control which is so valuable.
Men I work with often fall into one of two categories:
1. Men who have been pretty sedentary for years – their body feels stiff, achy and often have back pain
2. Men who have worked out for years or have a physical job – which has resulted in a strong body, but one that is imbalanced which eventually causes problems and injuries
What don’t I know about yoga?
- Yoga is a form of resistance training (in addition to many other things) using controlled movements, expert alignment, biomechanics and breath. It is really well-suited to men who want to build muscle strength and resilience as well as those who want to stretch out and feel looser
- It is tough. As tough as you want it to be. There’s always a way of making a pose harder/easier, as desired. Trust me, I can make you sweat
- We don’t sit in a circle looking at a candle
- During yoga, your mind is so focused on what you’re doing that it is impossible to think about your job, bills or anything else. Afterwards, you feel grounded & relaxed
Why should I do yoga?
Yoga teaches you to challenge yourself intelligently and completely without being overly aggressive. The slow and steady techniques decrease your injury risk in other sports and day-to-day life. Regular practice trains you how to move and train without overloading your muscles and joints. It stretches out important muscles in your back, legs and arms that can help ease chronic pain. It works your body hard, without wrecking it.
I’m in
To get the most out of your yoga practice you need to feel at ease. You are very welcome to attend any of the mixed yoga classes (all of which have a couple of men attending) or if you prefer, you can come along to this Male only yoga class, to allow men who may not be used to yoga to train without the worry of feeling self-conscious or inexperienced
Thursday 7th September
7.30pm – 8.30pm
The Emmaus Centre, beside St James Church, Thorley, Bishop’s Stortford
Your first class is free and if you decide to join for the month you pay only £30 for four sessions
To book or for more info email TowardYoga@gmail.com
If you would like a tailored programme and to work with me on a 1:1 basis email me for further info
Don’t take my word for it
“As a bloke it can be quite intimidating to walk into your first yoga class, especially if it’s otherwise full of women! Unless you’ve done gymnastics in your youth then you’re going to find that you’re less flexible than most of the women there, irrespective of whether they’re older or younger than you (prepare to be shocked when a number of ‘older’ women touch their toes then do a handstand without breaking a sweat). Thankfully for us, yoga is not a competition sport – it’s all about improving your own mobility, irrespective of what level others are at. I’ve studied yoga with Sarah for several years now – I’m working towards addressing a range of common ‘man ailments’: lower back pain, stiff shoulders, tight hamstrings, poor hip flexibility, and my yoga has helped me make progress in all of those areas, keeping me more mobile and better able to continue to do the other sports I enjoy, and just feel better generally. I’d encourage any bloke to give it a go – it’s not as easy as it looks but you’ll feel so much better for it!” Nick