Every now and again, I'll teach a Yoga for Men class at the local YMCA and today I was asked to sub the same class. When asked by family at lunch this afternoon, "what makes this class different?", my immediate response was that it is more quiet. They don't seem to give feedback as much as my mixed classes and that could be because they don't know me on a personal level like my regular students but the energy does seem to be very different when men are practicing in a men only class. Men actually seem to be able to quiet the mind and tune out the world and internal mind chatter more easily than women. Again this might be just how it appears on the outside, but I see a heaviness releasing from men when they practice.
There are so many benefits of yoga, and I'll delve deeper into those at another time, but for now I'll focus on the benefits for men.
The livestrong.com blog mentions the benefits for athletic men:
Regular yoga practice can improve your athletic performance and decrease discomfort after other workouts. Yoga stretches out your muscles, which can relieve tension and muscle cramps. Yoga may also decrease the buildup of lactic acid in your blood after working out, which can relieve muscle stiffness and discomfort.
Men often suffer from tight hips and hamstrings from running or cardio type repetitive workouts. After years of strain and unbearable tightness, that's usually when I see men coming to my classes. Yoga provides a relief that they don't necessarily receive from other forms of exercise. Yoga is a full body workout that creates both strength and flexibility.
If you are an athletic man who suffers from repetitive stress injuries or needs a healthy outlet to bring relief and clarity of mind, I strongly recommend adding yoga to your weekly activities. If you are a man already practicing yoga, what benefits have you experienced?
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