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But real men do practice yoga!
It’s true . . . an AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) bulletin recently reported that men—and often older men—are showing up with greater frequency at yoga studios across the country. Incidentally, the article also reported that 18.4% of yoga practitioners are now over the age of 55 years. The organization shared study findings showing that a regular yoga practice “leads to reduced incidence of chronic back pain, improved sleep quality and mood; a better sense of well-being and quality of life; improvement in heart health, rheumatoid arthritis and type 2 diabetes.”
So what’s not to like?
In my seven years of teaching yoga I have definitely seen evidence of this increasing trend. Younger and older men are coming to class. Athletes are coming to stay limber and improve and maintain the mental focus required by their sports. Other men are coming to alleviate back pain or to get a taste of the inner peace that yoga provides. Still others are dragged to class, kicking and screaming, by well-meaning partners, wives or friends.
Of course, some poses—especially hip openers—are more difficult for men to perform than for women. Just an anatomical reality. However, quid pro quo: Men often naturally excel at the difficult arm balances, handstands and other strength-intensive poses taught in more advanced or rigorous classes . . . areas in which many women struggle.
However, the truth is that yoga is not a performance art. It really doesn’t matter if you can bend over and place your nose on your knee. It actually feels just the same for the practitioner who succeeds at that as the one who is just trying to get there. Everyone is working to the level of their own ability, and bit by bit, flexibility comes. (To take it one step further, it really doesn’t matter if you achieve flexibility at all in yoga; “yoga” itself merely means the union of mind, body and spirit. So if you can keep your mind with the task at hand—whatever that may be—you are in a state of yoga.)
So, all you men out there . . . what are you waiting for? I’ll see you in the studio!
Enjoy.
Namaste (“The light within me bows to and honors the light within you.”),
Brianna Politzer Stevens
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Blogs: (follow my blog posts at http://twitter.com/briannapstevens)
S.F. Examiner.com blog on Yoga and Spiritual Living:
Scuba blog for women: http://scuba.girlswhogodown.com
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Yoga classes: Sunday, 5:15-6:15 p.m. and Monday 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Castro Valley Yoga (http://www.cvyoga.com)
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