Social media is often plastered with perfect models who participate in yoga. As you may have noticed, many of these yogis are women.
Not to mention, if you have ever attended a yoga class, you might have observed that the classes are made up primarily of women.
This raises the question of whether men participate in yoga. Men are rarely seen participating in the activity.
Yet, lots of men do yoga. Plus, it can be a beneficial activity for all genders.
What stops men from doing yoga? How can yoga benefit men? We’ve got the astonishing answers below!
Do Men Do Yoga?
The truth is that loads of men across the globe participate in yoga. Though it tends to be a female-dominated activity, there are actually large numbers of men who participate in it.
Often, male yoga practitioners are overlooked. But that does not mean that men do not do yoga as they could simply be less visible.
Male yogis are less likely to join classes and may instead focus on at-home yoga.
There is also more of a social media focus on female yoga influencers than males.
The reason for this is unclear, but perhaps there is simply a larger market for this content.
Why Should Men Do Yoga?
Yoga can benefit everyone, including men. Here are some of the main reasons why more men should be getting involved in yoga:
- It builds strength: You don’t just have to lift weights to improve your muscle strength. Yoga poses, such as warrior 2 or the side plank, can be utilized for stronger muscles. Just like different gym exercises, yoga poses strengthen different muscles. Therefore, you can introduce yoga into your workout regime.
- Stress relief: if you have been feeling stressed lately, yoga can help you to relax. Pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation are especially helpful for reducing a person’s stress. This can be beneficial for men who have stressful lives. Toxic masculinity has meant that many people bottle up their stress so yoga can be a great way of releasing it.
- Weight loss: there are lots of different exercises that can contribute to weight loss. This includes yoga, especially more intense forms of the exercise such as power yoga.
- Better mental health: poor mental health is prevalent among men, who often feel as though they cannot express their mental state. Yoga can reduce stress and increase endorphins, potentially enhancing one’s state of mental health.
- Reduce the risk of injuries: many yoga poses are aimed to stretch one’s muscles. By properly stretching before exercise, you can reduce the risk of developing injuries. This can be beneficial to everyone, particularly people who participate in lots of exercises.
What Stops Men From Doing Yoga?
Perhaps the main reason why men do not feel comfortable doing yoga is that it is perceived as a feminine activity. This is nonsense. Yoga does not have a gender.
Interestingly, some forms of yoga, such as Hatha, emphasize the sexual sides of the body and focus on preserving semen. Nobody could argue that this yoga excludes men!
Men might also feel uncomfortable joining in with the activity because it is female-dominated.
This is a valid concern. After all, most yoga spaces are primarily populated by women. Yet, yoga classes are not female spaces.
They are intended for everyone, no matter their gender.
Lots of men also say that they can’t do yoga because they are not flexible.
Though many yoga exercises are based on flexibility, many poses do not require flexibility. This includes breathing exercises.
Not to mention, yoga can enhance your flexibility, so you don’t have to worry about starting if you’re inflexible.
How Can Men Get Involved?
If this guide has encouraged you to get involved in yoga, here are some helpful tips to get started:
Don’t Feel Overwhelmed
Starting a yoga class can be hard for anyone. After all, you will be surrounded by strangers, many of whom may be more experienced with yoga than you.
Many men will feel intimidated when joining a class, especially if they are brand new to yoga.
But they shouldn’t feel intimidated. After all, participants will have different levels of experience.
Plus, you shouldn’t feel intimidated if you are the only man in the room. After all, what difference does it make?
Try At-Home Yoga
If you are reluctant to start a yoga class, you can try at-home yoga instead.
Many people find doing yoga on their own is preferable to group classes as they only focus on themselves.
All you will need is a yoga mat. You can use online tutorials to help you find the best poses and exercises for beginners.
You can even find tutorials aimed at men if you crave more specific instructions.
Do Your Research
Lots of classes are designed for beginner yogis. Yet, it cannot hurt to do your research before attending.
The main thing that you should research is the different areas of yoga. This will allow you to find the best classes for you.
You may also want to research the basics of yoga if you are feeling a little anxious about yoga classes.
This can include some of the most basic poses.
The child’s pose and the mountain pose are two of the best exercises for starters, so perhaps you should give them a try to increase your confidence.
Get The Right Equipment
As mentioned, yoga does not require much equipment. The main form of equipment you need is a yoga mat.
You can find lots of high-quality yoga mats online.
It’s always a good idea to bring your mat to yoga classes, primarily for hygiene reasons.
If you want to do yoga at home, you can also find other useful equipment, such as yoga balls.
Closing Remarks
If you are a man who is unsure about whether to do yoga, what’s stopping you? There are loads of benefits to this activity, both mental and physical.
Consequently, we encourage men to participate in yoga in the hopes that more males will feel comfortable getting stuck in.
The positive effect yoga had on me was indescribable. Every aspect of my life improved, from social to mental, physical to emotional.
I want my website to help more people get into the world of yoga and teach them how to be present for themselves - even if that’s just for a few minutes a day.
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