Man Yoga – 5 Reasons Why Guys Should Get Into Yoga

Centuries before Lulu Lemon sold trendy yoga pants and designer yoga mats were must-have accessories, people practiced yoga. And odds are, the earliest practitioners were priests (men) who incorporated early yoga poses (asanas) in their spiritual and meditative practices. Let’s fast forward to the 21st century: Yoga in the U.S. is a wildly popular exercise class, primarily attended by women, that helps them get limber, de-stress and socialize.  However, this means men are missing the many benefits of yoga, which go far beyond flexibility and a chance to go out for a post-class tea. Read on to discover why you should encourage the guys in your life to check out yoga and why it should be at the top of their wellness lists.

Real Strength­–Not Just Biceps

According to MindBodyGreen, yoga is seen as fitness-light, great for women who want to get flexible and not bulk up. And while the flexible part is true, many guys are missing out on a key fact: Yoga is highly effective in increasing overall strength and building muscle. Men typically focus on building muscles on specific parts of their body. (You’ve probably heard the drill–Monday is upper body, Wednesday is quads.) However, segmented bodybuilding ignores certain muscle groups while yoga is effective for overall strength.[1]

To put it another way: Yoga exercises parts of the body that men may not use and strengthens the parts they do. And a yoga-strong body helps your guy hit the ball harder and run faster.

Keeping it Supple

Sports like golf, tennis and racquetball–or jogging and running–are great fitness activities. However, turning in one direction over and over to swing a club or racquet can lead to injuries. Yoga helps balance your spine and muscles and keeps your body supple. It also is a good antidote for the negative effects of gravity and stress injuries runners can experience.

His Aching Back

Unless your guy is a forest ranger or professional surfer, he’s probably tied to his desk and computer. All that sitting and slouching leads to upper and lower back pain, not to mention phone neck and injuries from repetitive motions. Yoga aligns muscles, reduces tension and alleviates pain in general. In addition, his enhanced muscle tone and flexibility mean better posture–and that’s a good look.[2]

The Stress Antidote

We  read (and write) a lot about the negative impact of stress on women.  But it’s not surprising that men are also stressed–they just don’t talk about it as much. In an article in WebMD, Robert Bulgarelli, DO, FACC, notes, “….yoga has the potential to prevent and even manage heart disease (and) is a good antidote to depression. Yoga gives men the opportunity…to quiet yourself, to just really ‘be.'” [3]

More Yoga, Better Sex

And we have to point out, a study of men ages 24 to 60 shows yoga improved all aspects of sexual function in men. The theory is that the breathing techniques and concentration taught in yoga can help men channel their energy.[4]  Just saying…

[1] MindBodyGreen.com, “12 Reasons Why Men Should Do Yoga Every Day,” Patrick Banks
[2] MindBodyGreen.com, “12 Reasons Why Men Should Do Yoga Every Day,” Patrick Banks
[3] WebMd.com, “Yoga for Men,” Carol Sorgen
[4] “Man Up: Get Over the Idea Yoga is Just for Women,” Johnny Adamic