Yoga has amazing benefits for men — don’t believe anybody who tries to tell you otherwise. Yes, it may seem that there are more women practitioners than men, but don’t let that fool you.
Men are increasingly turning to yoga as a very effective part of their fitness regime while also realizing the emotional and spiritual benefits that yoga can bring. Even professional athletes have been singing yoga’s praises.
We’ll show you some of the many ways that yoga can be beneficial for men — regardless of your experience or athletic ability.
Absolutely, men can do yoga. Cultural stereotypes and misconceptions often result in men thinking that yoga isn’t right for them, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Yoga is often marketed towards women and portrayed in the media as a woman-dominated fitness activity. Men need to know that they can achieve all of the same benefits from yoga that women can.
Men often associate physical fitness with activities focused on strength, speed, and competition. Yoga is essentially the polar opposite in that it focuses more on flexibility, balance, and meditation. When thinking about how to schedule fitness into busy lives, men might not treat yoga as a priority.
Men considering yoga may fear that they will not succeed because they are not flexible enough. With women tending to be more physically flexible than men, it’s understandable that some men may think that yoga just “isn’t for them”. They might feel awkward or judged, being one of a few men in a majority-female class.
With the growing popularity of yoga in the United States, the amount of men practicing yoga has significantly increased. Attitudes toward overall wellness have shifted, and many tools, such as meditation and yoga, are becoming more mainstream.
Even professional athletes — the ones we see on TV as peak examples of strength, power, and speed — are increasingly incorporating yoga into their fitness regime. Yoga provides a therapeutic effect that can help with training recovery as well as injury prevention, which benefits elite athletes who need to always be at their best.
Join the millions of men who have experienced the many benefits of yoga. Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi is offered at many locations across the country — find a class near you.
Raw strength is one thing, but flexibility is equally important. It seems that men are often encouraged to focus too much on building strength and spend too little time improving their flexibility and mobility.
Yoga provides a structured and proven approach to lengthening your muscles and improving the mobility of your joints.
Yoga is a great way to build functional strength throughout the core, arms, legs, and back. The various poses and compound movements guide the body in engaging multiple muscle groups, which builds strength and coordination — especially with those stabilizing muscles that often get neglected with traditional strength training.
Depending on the style of yoga and the intensity you practice with, men can see real improvements in their physical conditioning. Holding poses and flowing through various movements — all while focusing on controlled breathing — can get a sweat going and improve overall endurance.
When athletes push themselves to the limits — day in and day out — the risk of injury is quite real. Watch nearly any professional team sports match, and you're almost guaranteed to see an injury of some sort.
Repeated high-intensity training improves performance but creates physical stresses as well. When it’s time to compete, athletes push themselves to their very limits. Yoga has been shown to help with flexibility and stability, which can help prevent injuries that commonly occur when the body is pushed too hard.
Yoga has also been seen to have beneficial effects on the nervous system. These effects can help to create a state conducive to improved healing and regeneration while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Yoga can significantly improve sleep quality with its effects on the mind and body. With consistent and intentional practice, over time these effects can help your sleep to be more restful and restorative.
Reducing stress and worry helps you relax and get a restful sleep. Racing thoughts can keep you up at night, but a calm mind can better prepare the body for sleep. Yoga’s deep breathing and restorative poses have been shown to reduce cortisol levels, a key stress-related hormone.
Often it’s physical discomfort interfering with a good night’s rest. Releasing physical tension in the body also helps prepare for rest — the stretching and gentle movements of yoga can help release this tension.
If you are concerned with your overall physical health, then you cannot ignore your heart health and the rest of your circulatory system. Fortunately, yoga has various benefits in this area:
It may be surprising to hear that yoga can improve your digestive system, but it’s true. You may not see dramatic effects at first, but consistent practice can benefit in a few ways:
Mental health is a very important issue in men’s health. One of the sad effects of poor mental health is that men are more likely to commit suicide than women. Seeking treatment for mental health issues can be difficult, and anything that can help support positive mental health should be a welcome part of our routine.
On top of the general benefits to mental health in terms of reducing stress and anxiety, there is evidence yoga can be beneficial in people with elevated levels of depression.
A form of exercise that can help your mental health as much as your physical health is a wonderful thing. Why not take the first step and find a yoga studio near you?
The effects yoga has on various aspects of emotional and physical health can also be beneficial to the immune system. It has long been understood that elevated stress levels can weaken the immune system. Cortisol — the “stress hormone” — can suppress immune function and increase inflammation. When practicing yoga reduces stress, it can help your body function better.
Men tend to be naturally less flexible than women, which can make certain poses or movements more difficult to perform. This does not mean, however, that men can’t realize all of the same physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of yoga — it just might take some extra effort.
The benefits of yoga don’t come from becoming an “expert”, but rather it’s about developing a consistent and intentional practice that brings progress over time.
All body types can benefit from practicing yoga. It is a great way to start a fitness journey, as many poses and movements can be modified to accommodate different bodies and abilities.
Yoga is a low-impact way to improve metabolism, strength, and digestion — areas that are beneficial to weight loss.
There are many types of yoga, each with unique approaches and areas of focus. There is no specific type of yoga that is better for men, it’s really about what your individual goals are. Some yoga is very energetic, whereas some yoga focuses more on meditation. Consider exploring different styles to see what works for you.
If you are just starting, look for beginner-friendly classes where you can get some personal attention from the instructor. They can help you with adjustments and potential modifications so you can get a good feel for that particular type of yoga.
Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi instructors teach a range of classes, each beneficial in their own way. We make getting started easy by offering introductory sessions that provide you with personalized guidance.
Plenty of men have experienced many benefits through their yoga practice at Body & Brain Tai Chi yoga classes. Start your personal yoga journey today, by finding a studio near you and learning what we have to offer.