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Believe it or not, yoga started out as a practice for men. 5.
Yoga was created in India by male practitioners and
taught to boys only. Hundreds of years ago yoga was
ONLY practiced by men, and women weren’t even
allowed to take place in a class. Only in the past few
decades has this changed. It is interesting that even
though yoga has such a physical focus in our part of the
world, men are still not much drawn to it despite the
many benefits. Here are some reasons why men should
do yoga:
1. Relieve stress
We experience a lot of pressure and stress in our
society, more than we used to endure. Men have a
tendency to cross their limits, to not listen to their bodies,
to “man up” and avoid whining about stress. We all find
ways to deal with stress. Going to gym or punching a
punching bag can make you more aggressive or more
tired. Yoga, on the other hand, employs a number of
relaxation techniques, which, with regular practice, can
make you calmer overall.
2. Yoga is Really Challenging
A lot of men love a good challenge. Most men are
competitive and therefore turn to sports in which they
can win or succeed. At first, yoga doesn’t seem like a
competitive sport. And yes, this is true, but yoga practice
allows you to seek competition on a whole other level: a
competition with yourself, a competition in patience.
Whether you are learning a hobby, running a 10km race,
or climbing a mountain, there’s nothing like the feeling of
rising to a new challenge. Learning a unique style in
yoga or trying to master a new pose is no different.
3. Get flexible
Most series of yoga asanas (physical postures) include
one or more spinal twists to loosen the many joints that
make up your spine. This can improve your tennis game
and golf swing, as well as promote detoxification and
good digestion.
4. Build healthy muscle
Most yoga poses are held for a longer time than
traditional exercises. This causes your muscles to tense
without moving them for a longer time than usual, which
increases your muscular endurance. This all means
you’ll get stronger. Plus, yoga helps to improve blood
flow, so the muscles get more oxygen. This helps them
to recover faster so they can grow.
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Prevent workout injuries 5
Most yoga classes begin with a reminder to honour your
body’s particular needs and limits on that particular day.
This basic ability to scan and assess yourself as you
practice will help reduce the incidence of injury when
running or playing other sports. Plus, flexible, well- 1. Mountain (Tadasana)
stretched yoga muscles will heal and recover more
quickly after working out or getting strained. Yoga Why you should do it: Simple but effective, mountain pose builds a solid
improves flexibility and range of motion. It also helps to foundation for all other standing poses. It strengthens and returns flexibility to your
improve joint durability by strengthening connective feet, improves your posture, and works your thighs and core.
muscle tissue. If you’re not a sports guy, but spend your
time behind a desk, you might have some shoulder, neck How to do it: Stand with your big toes touching and heels slightly apart. Balance the
or back pain. That’s another reason why men should weight evenly on your feet and lift up the arches. Engage the thigh muscles slightly
practice yoga. Yoga is the perfect antidote for bad to lift up the kneecaps, but avoid locking your knees.
posture and injuries caused by sitting all day long behind
a desk.
6. Calm your mind
In the midst of a jam-packed schedule, committing to the
relaxed space of a yoga class might be the only way for
some guys to slow down and breathe right. The ancient
Indian practice also was found to help with improving
sleep patterns. Furthermore, 20 minutes of Hatha yoga
is said to stimulate brain function more than walking or
jogging on the treadmill for the same amount of time.
2. Tree (Vrksasana)
Why you should do it: Like other standing balance poses, tree pose will
improve your focus while strengthening the muscles in your ankles, calves and
thighs. It also stretches the inner thigh and groin muscles on the bent leg.
How to do it: Shift your weight onto your right foot, pressing it firmly onto the
floor. Bend the left leg at the knee and place the sole of the left foot on your
inner right thigh. Point the toes toward the floor. If this is difficult, you can also
place the sole of the foot on the inner calf or ankle (but avoid the knee). Bring
your palms together in front of your chest and keep your weight centered over
the left foot. Press the right knee back to open the groin while keeping your
hips parallel to the front of the room. Release the foot and repeat on the other
side.
3. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
Why you should do it: Standing forward bend can calm your
mind, while also stretching the hamstrings and muscles of the
spine.
How to do it: Start in mountain pose with your hands on your
hips, then exhale, tucking your chin slightly toward your chest
and bending forward at the hips. (As you fold forward, lengthen
the front of your torso to avoid curling the spine.) Relax your
head, neck and shoulders and let your arms hang loosely. Place
your palms or fingertips on the floor beside or slightly in front of
your feet. (If you can’t touch the floor, cross your forearms and
grab your elbows.) To come out of the pose, bring your hands to
your hips and lift up on an inhale. Keep your chin tucked and
lengthen the front of your torso as you come back up.
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