Men and Yoga (To InnerAthlete)

[Learening Hand]

I think the major problem lies with the misperception that they physical aspect of yoga is not physically demanding enough for men. And many men believe yoga is "just stretching." I don't think sexuality has much to do with men not wanting to try it. I've had friends tell me they do not think they will get a good work out. Of course, there is more to yoga than working up a good sweat but I usually don't go there when I'm trying to get them to try it.

Anyway, I think most men in the 20s-40s would like ashtanga, bikram or iyengar yoga since it tends to more physically demanding. I fell in love with the physical aspect of yoga when I found an instructor who blended the ashtanga primary series with bikram so he made it very physically challenging. The problem is that if a physically active man attends a beginner's yoga class, he will likely not come back because it would probably not be challenging enough. The irony is that he may have the conditioning to last through the full primary series of an ashtanga class, he would not be able to do most poses properly to get the full benefits.

[Bridgette]

Hmmm...I'm not sure, I've heard of many men (as well as women) going to beginner's yoga classes and the reason they don't return is because it became frustrating due to the physicality of the asanas. Some people look at a pose and say, Oh yeah...I can do that, no problem. And also the reverse: A person sees a pose and thinks, "Thats impossible!". Many "fit" men that are very active and by society standards are healthy, discover there muscles are tight and stiff. Also, an unfortunate reflection of our society, at least in America, is there is massive fitness & diet crisis and so a large group of people are no longer active, over weight, and sick. Both male and female.

I agree that ashtanga is defiantly male friendly. It requires a great deal of strength to accomplish the poses but what I have discovered is that we like to play to our strengths. Example: I'm pretty flexible by nature but when it comes to strength and endurance I'm not so great. While I've been practicing Hatha yoga since I was 14, I was willing to dabble in power yoga and ashtanga and found allot of benefits. An active man might actually benefit from a different style eventually down the road. But what ever keeps you interested in yoga is super good!

[jmcdan3]

Yes I agree with you Bridgette. Some men may be interested in Ashtanga and Power because its very physical but may be out of reach for most people. I think the key to EVERY fitness program is flexibility. However, not everyone can touch their toes and because they cannot, they ignore "stretching". Ultimately, this results in injury and a loss of interest in physical activity thus creating obesity and sickness. Just keep things interesting and do activity that varies for your body's sake and for yourself. I got into yoga because I felt flexibility and functional strength were waaaay more important than being able to bench 225 lbs or something. Just my two cents

[WalterJ]

I just ran into something that I believe is kind of related to this topic and speaks to the American view of Yoga or at least one rather large bookstores view.

I was looking for Yoga Journal in my local Barnes and Noble and I could not find it anywhere or at least I could not find it in any area I thought it would be; not health, not sports, exercise not even alternative or religion so I decided to go sit in their café and have a cup of tea and as I sat there I look directly in front of me and I saw Yoga Journal. It was in a section labeled Women’s Interests.

This to could have something to do with the view men have about Yoga.

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by WalterJ

I just ran into something that I believe is kind of related to this topic and speaks to the American view of Yoga or at least one rather large bookstores view.

I was looking for Yoga Journal in my local Barnes and Noble and I could not find it anywhere or at least I could not find it in any area I thought it would be; not health, not sports, exercise not even alternative or religion so I decided to go sit in their café and have a cup of tea and as I sat there I look directly in front of me and I saw Yoga Journal. It was in a section labeled Women’s Interests.

This to could have something to do with the view men have about Yoga.

Having been a copywriter and editor for online magazines, I was really curious about this so I checked out B&N online. From what I can see, at least on their corporate main-site, Yoga Journal is only listed under Health & Fitness, Healthy Eating, Fitness Magazines and--seemingly odd to me--Food & Wine. I am guessing if you could only find YJ in Women's Interest, you may have either missed it additionally in its proper sections or it was incorrectly shelfed by a customer or by the store. Maybe you can ask them about it? That shared, I think YJ very deservingly belongs in Women's Interest too. Walter, if you are looking for a Yoga-inspired magazine that has much less advertising geared toward women and that does not overly identify with the female gender in content and look, you may want to check out Namarupa and Ascent magazines. Namarupa has NO advertisements and instead offers frame-worthy photograph of India, teachers and Yogis. Ascent, a Canadian mag, is also great; offering recipes and articles for the modern householder.

Kind regards,

[sarahy]

and bye the bye i ran into this article just the other day (which had some interesting obervations as to why we may not see more men in yoga classes):

Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Where Are All the Men?


and just as an aside, i am currently running a beginner ashtanga class, i had four men attend this past week (and no women). nice to see!

sarah

[mikesbytes]

Originally Posted by sarahy

and bye the bye i ran into this article just the other day (which had some interesting obervations as to why we may not see more men in yoga classes):

Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Where Are All the Men?


and just as an aside, i am currently running a beginner ashtanga class, i had four men attend this past week (and no women). nice to see!

sarah

Thanks for the link Sarah.

====================

Personally it doesn't worry me what the gender mix is, its up to each individual to decide what they want in life.

[WalterJ]

Originally Posted by Nichole

Having been a copywriter and editor for online magazines, I was really curious about this so I checked out B&N online. From what I can see, at least on their corporate main-site, Yoga Journal is only listed under Health & Fitness, Healthy Eating, Fitness Magazines and--seemingly odd to me--Food & Wine. I am guessing if you could only find YJ in Women's Interest, you may have either missed it additionally in its proper sections or it was incorrectly shelfed by a customer or by the store. Maybe you can ask them about it? That shared, I think YJ very deservingly belongs in Women's Interest too. Walter, if you are looking for a Yoga-inspired magazine that has much less advertising geared toward women and that does not overly identify with the female gender in content and look, you may want to check out Namarupa and Ascent magazines. Namarupa has NO advertisements and instead offers frame-worthy photograph of India, teachers and Yogis. Ascent, a Canadian mag, is also great; offering recipes and articles for the modern householder.

Kind regards,

The location of it does not bother me I will buy it from there just as easily as any other section I just found it interesting and I thought applicable to this thread.

And I am fairly certain it was not improperly shelved all of the Yoga Journals were there and there were at least 2 other Yoga Magazines stocked right next to it all in the "Woman’s Interests" section, I am sorry but I do not remember the names of the other 2 magazines one may have been Ascent.

Thank You for the magazine suggestions

This was the new B&N in Albany NY by the way.

Originally Posted by sarahy

and bye the bye i ran into this article just the other day (which had some interesting obervations as to why we may not see more men in yoga classes):

Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Where Are All the Men?


and just as an aside, i am currently running a beginner ashtanga class, i had four men attend this past week (and no women). nice to see!

sarah

Thank You

[Nichole]

Sarah, thanks for the link to YJ's story. It offered some really good stuff.

Thank you Walter--my thinking is inline with yours. Men, such as yourself, who are committed to a practice and finding the resources they are need will buy a magazine where ever it stocked. The concern that this thread, and other conversations, have raised for me, is how our culture may be continuing to message to the general population of men (and women) that Yoga is for women; reserving only Ashtanga Viniyasa and other more rigorous practices as the practices for men. In my Yoga therapy practice, I have recently had more interest from men who want private sessions in an effort to avoid the studios and "the scene." I have also noticed that studios in the Boulder/Denver area are advertising, "yoga for tight guys" classes and also other specifically targeted groups, outside of special needs like prenatal, such as the "45-minute lunch-time yoga for type-A personalities" and the like. This whole things makes me curious and remind me of something my mom would say to my siblings and me, "If you can't play nicely with the rest, you are going to have to play by yourself." Considering that, maybe we all should go practice at home alone until we regain that inward focus that transforms asanas and postures into Yoga (with a capital Y).

Originally Posted by mikesbytes

. . .its up to each individual to decide what they want in life.

This is so true!



Namaste

[PatR]

Some well known yoginis from ancient (pre Buddha) India : Maitreyi, Gargi, Sabri, Lopamudra, Chudala & obvioulsy there were many more.

Mirabai redefined bhakti yoga.