Yoga Considered

December 19, 2011, By Jack Heffron 4 comments

Jack Heffron

It's no secret that a lot of the serious health issues men face are tied to stress. For that reason, more and more doctors are recommending ways to reduce stress, including yoga. 

And more and more guys are feeling squeamish about the prospect of striking poses in public.

First of all, it seems sort of girly. Go to a yoga class outside of certain sections of Southern California, and 95 percent of the participants will be women. The bending and stretching and posing in tights just seems better suited to the fairer sex.

We also fear we'll look ridiculous twisting into a Warrior Three in a room full of people, mostly women, who we really hate looking ridiculous around. I remember seeing a cartoon showing a guy in a yoga class, the woman next to him saying, "You down-ward dog like a guy," just as we scoff "you throw like a girl."

So it's clear we're not really comfortable with the whole thing. The only guys who look good doing yoga are the small, wiry types, with no body fat and instinctive physical coordination. Fred Astaire—he'd have looked okay doing yoga. Bruce Lee probably. Maybe a handful of NFL wide receivers, the skinny ones. But average guys, not so much.

The fear of looking like a doofus while you teeter on one foot with your arms spread wide, however, shouldn't stop you from trying yoga. It doesn't give you the exhilaration of running or the testosterone rush of lifting weights, but yoga has a power and a high all its own. While it's improving your posture it also makes you feel centered and in control. 

I did yoga for the first time about 10 years ago—talked into it by a friend/colleague. I was going through some personal and professional difficulties that were creating a lot of tension and stress in my life. My friend said she had "just the thing." It took a few classes for the weirdness to rub off, a few more to understand what I was doing and I still can't claim to be "good at it," but the benefits were apparent from the start.

Comments (4):

Jeff P. Bruce: I understand your feelings about yoga. A few years ago, as I was rehabbing my knee, my therapist asked me to bend and stretch. Needless to say, it was awful and she told me I was on a 'negative' scale for stretching. I did my rehab and got a little better, but this new year I'm going to give yoga a real shot. I'll let you know how it goes. - 12/28/2011

Bruce S. I just can't do yoga...I actually tried it for years and even hired a private yoga instructor. She finally said to me, "You're hopeless." I have tighter muscles than anyone I know. I've NEVER been able to touch my toes. I totally see the value of yoga, but it ain't for me and the one thing yoga misses is abs. The best yoga class I ever took included an old-fashioned abs workout right in the middle of all the poses! - 12/20/2011

Jack H. A great point, David! All single dads, take note. Yet another reason to give yoga a try. - 12/20/2011

David C. Geez, if you can tell your Monkey Mind to shut up you'll usually also find that Yoga classes are a great way to meet girls! Somehow a man in the clumsy beginner stages is "endearing" and some lass will usually take you up as their pet project. I tried a yoga class after I had already been working out regularly and most people were impressed I was so flexible. That didn't mean I didn't fall on my butt trying some of the harder moves. Thanks for reminding me how great those classes were. - 12/19/2011