Yoga Is for Men

Why is it that men thinks yoga is only for women?

Is it because men assume you have to be flexible to do yoga because everyone knows women are inherently more flexible than men? Or is it because men think that doing yoga requires sitting quietly in some awful cross-legged position to contemplate their navel? Or is it because men think they would have to adopt someone else’s religion?

Well, if that is what yoga is, forget about it! No way! Guys wouldn’t want any part of it. They want to do things—they want to run, play ball, work on the car, or watch sports on TV. Heck, men would rather go shopping than practice yoga. You would naturally think that yoga isn’t active enough for guys, right?

Wrong.

I am here to tell you that yoga, when practiced appropriately, is one of the most demanding and physically challenging activities there is. Let’s take a closer look at what "yoga" really means. The word literally translates to "balance" or "union." First of all, a man absolutely does not need to be flexible when he begins. When men become proficient with yoga, they move toward a balance between their strength and flexibility. In other words, yoga is about creating physiological balance, which is far more challenging than one might think.

I am also here to tell you that once the initial learning curve is behind you, an appropriate yoga class can challenge a man in ways he never thought possible. Yet even when demanding, yoga is practiced in a way that minimizes the propensity for injury. In fact, an appropriate practice actually helps the body to heal older injuries and correct chronic imbalances.

What most guys don’t realize is that yoga was developed thousands of years ago by men, and for centuries, only men were allowed to practice it. It wasn’t until relatively recently—perhaps the last hundred years or so—that women were even permitted to practice. When yoga was brought to the West, because women are inherently flexible and could do the classical yoga exercises, they became the predominant practitioners. (Here's why, guys: a woman's pelvic and ligament structure is genetically designed for childbirth, giving women a natural flexibility that men inherently lack.)

In any event, through its balancing effect on soft-tissue structures, men who practice yoga find that their athletic performance dramatically improves. There is no magic to it: a well-balanced body, that is; a balance of strength with balanced flexibility simply allows the body to operate with greater control and lower risk of injury.

In addition, beyond physical balance, a regular practice cultivates mental balance—giving you greater self-control and a far more effective way to manage daily stress.

Lastly, guys, here is the honest truth: building a disciplined practice isn't easy. Yoga is very much the opposite of falling in love—it’s tough to get into, but exceptionally easy to get out of it.