Why men should do yoga
Yoga for men? Isn’t yoga just for women?
Yoga is seen by many people as something typically feminine. After all, men only do real male sports like soccer, basketball and martial arts.
Exactly!
Uh, no. In fact, yoga used to be practiced only by men! Nowadays, it is used by both men and women.
It’s true that until a few years ago, yoga in the Western world was mainly practiced by women, especially slightly older women.
However, in recent years, this is no longer the case at all. Yoga is totally hip and we notice this in our courses as well. The people who attend our classes are very diverse, from young men and women to people over 65 and everything in between.
So yoga for men at yoga school in Rishikesh isn’t that outlandish and can actually bring you a lot of benefits.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly what yoga for men entails. You’ll find out:
- What yoga for men looks like
- Whether yoga for men is comparable to other sports
- 7 reasons why men should do yoga
Are you reading right now?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1.Is yoga for men different from yoga for women?
Everyone experiences yoga differently and everyone does yoga for their own reasons. Whether you are male or female doesn’t matter!
2.Do you have to be limber to do yoga as a man?
No. You don’t have to be limber to do yoga. You can become more flexible through yoga, but that’s different.
Misconceptions about yoga
If you are reading this as a man and have never done yoga, believe me men, I know exactly how you feel.
In fact.
A few years ago, I was thinking the exact same thing!
Yoga is fluid. Yoga is weird. You have to be borrowed to do yoga. Yoga is only for feminine men, yoga is only for women. Right?
(You are probably nodding your head in vehement agreement to the above points now).
But I will tell you that you are wrong. The above points are misconceptions about yoga. And I speak from my own experience.
Yoga has changed my life in a positive way. And it can do the same for you.
So go sometime with your wife/girlfriend/mother/sister or whomever (or just secretly go alone), keep an open mind and be surprised by the positive effects of yoga.
Yoga can be practiced by anyone, regardless of whether you are male or female, what age you are, how you feel, where you come from, or what you believe in.
Wondering if yoga is different for men than it is for women? Wondering if yoga is different than other sports? Or are you curious why it makes sense for men to do yoga? Then be sure to read on!
Is yoga for men comparable to other sports?
First of all, yoga shouldn’t really be considered a sport. Although power yoga, for example, can be very intense, yoga is more about breathing and balancing the body and mind.
Unlike other sports, yoga is not about performance. There is no competition and everyone does what they can.
Isn’t that boring then?
Absolutely not! We find that men actually enjoy practicing yoga alongside their “regular sports.”
Unlike strength, fitness and adrenaline, you can relax and unwind without reaching for your phone every five minutes.
Yoga for men is therefore a great way to complement your normal sport or to unwind after a hard day at work.
Read More: What is the purpose of yoga anyway?
So what does yoga for men look like?
Even though you learn to relax, yoga for men can be quite strenuous. Especially in the beginning, you will learn exercises and postures that your body is not used to. This can lead to muscle pain.
Also, of course, you make your body more flexible and need some strength and endurance, for example, power yoga.
Yoga for men is otherwise exactly the same as for women (with the exception of pregnancy yoga of course ;-)).
A class often consists of various standing, sitting and lying exercises that focus on strength, flexibility, breathing, balance, concentration and relaxation.
7 reasons why men should do yoga
Still not convinced? Then read below the reasons why men should start doing yoga!
1. It is a good workout
Okay, yoga is much more than just a workout.
But that’s the reason people take a yoga class in the first place. Later, they often find that it’s much more than just working up a sweat.
Yes, there are also very gentle forms of yoga. But you may want to try a more active form of yoga first. Bet your mat is soaking wet by the end of a power yoga or vinyasa flow yoga class.
2. Makes you more flexible
Do you have a lot of tension in your body or is your body stiff as a board? All the more reason to try a yoga class!
You don’t have to be limber to start yoga: Stretching different muscles not only makes you more flexible and stronger, but also improves your posture.
Better posture = more confidence.
3. You prevent injuries.
Chances are, you’ll be playing a different sport. For example, playing a team sport like soccer or basketball. Or maybe running or fitness.
Either way, yoga helps you play other sports. As your body becomes more flexible and stronger through yoga, you are less likely to injure yourself while playing sports.
Through yoga, you become more aware of your body. You pay attention to your posture, observe how your body moves, and explore the limits of your physical ability.
As a result, you have more control over your body and are more aware of what it can and cannot do. This means you are less likely to injure yourself.
4. Helps you sleep better
As a man between the ages of 20 and 60, you are in the prime of your life. You are strong, healthy and want all sorts of things. Pursue dreams and create memories.
For that, of course, you need a strong and healthy body. But sometimes it can lead to wanting too much.
You want to do so many things in your life at once and make the most of them that you start to worry if you’re making the right choices.
This brooding not only leads to stress, but it can also cause you to lie awake at night.
You know the feeling.
That feeling when you can’t sleep and you have a thousand things running through your mind that you still want and need to get done. It prevents you from falling asleep.
As the yoga postures and techniques also lead to more relaxation and calmness, you also learn to calm your thoughts. To clear the clutter in your mind.
With some practice of these techniques and exercises from yoga, you will be sleeping like a little baby again in no time.
5. Your mental resilience grows
As a man, everything and everyone around you demands a lot from you. Sometimes a little too much.
People expect a lot from you. And not always rightly so. If you have trouble dealing with this, it can lead to a lot of frustration. Sometimes it can even lead to depression.
Yoga teaches you to become more and more aware of yourself. By turning your attention inward and observing what is actually going on in your busy mind, you create more mental peace.
You are better able to handle pressure and change in your environment. You are just that little bit stronger.
6. Meditating is the new fitness (just for your brain).
People are slowly starting to realize that they need to keep both their bodies and minds fit and healthy.
This can be done through meditation. There is nothing wrong with that. I know you probably don’t want to start meditating right away. However, there are very many benefits of meditating to mention.
What if I told you that the New York Knicks NBA basketball team uses meditation as a secret weapon?
Cool, right?
I think we will see this more and more in the future. Achieving peak performance is not just about your body, it’s also about your mind.
Staying calm and focused when things are uncertain and exciting. This is one of the things you can learn through meditation.
7. You invest in yourself
Yoga is an investment in yourself.
Instead of constantly running around like a headless chicken with no destination, you create some awareness in your life with yoga.
You can better reflect on yourself and the things you do. Your goals, the things that are important to you, the experiences you want to have, and the people you want in your life.
There is no reason not to try yoga.
Contact Us: Rishikesh Yoga Gurukulam, Tapovan, Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249192, India
+91-9300987000 [email protected]
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