Real Men Do Yoga
By Kelli Calabrese MS, CSCS, ACE
It is estimated that 20 million people are participating in yoga and 10 percent of them of men. Care to join the ranks? If you think yoga will cripple your ego, think again. People laughed when professional athletes took ballet to enhance agility, flexibility and coordination. Now many of today’s superstars both on the field and in Hollywood are taking part in the practice of yoga.
When you think of yoga, images of zoned-out new agers in pretzel-like positions chanting mantras, may come to mind, but consider this: Yoga is an ancient practice that can help you deal with the stresses of modern life including weight. You don’t need to be fit to reap the rewards of this discipline that is thousands of years old.
Many weight lifters and weekend warriors haven’t stretched in years -- at least not properly. If you feel your joints stiffening up and gravity taking its toll on your posture, yoga is for you. How nice would it be to stand taller, breath deeper and have more energy throughout the day and night?
Research shows that from ages 35 to 50, the average guy's flexibility decreases by 25 percent. That can lead to shoulder injuries and runner's knee. Plus, tight chest muscles limit your strength, so your weight workouts will suffer, too -- not to mention your ego.
Even though you may be resistant to yoga, you have a lot to gain. Obesity continues to grow in our country in epidemic proportions. One of the latest guidelines for weight loss is for 60 minutes of physical activity. However, the intensity does not have to be vigorous or continuous. If heading to the gym is more frightening than public speaking, beyond your budget or simply inconvenient, a yoga video may be just the prescription to help you meet your weight loss goals and so much more.
Yoga, which means “to unite,” was invented in India. It is the practice of uniting body, mind and spirit. That's achieved through physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation.
The physical postures all have beginner positions that just about any man can handle. Are you up for the challenge? The breathing exercises simply feel good since you are oxygenating all of your muscles and getting rid of built up toxins. And don’t let the mediation scare you. It can be as effortless as sitting quietly and clearing your mind of clutter.
Those who have lost weight practicing yoga have said that it's so much more than physical. When you practice yoga you begin to make more positive decisions in other areas of your life including the food you eat, the people you hang around and your environment. Why not kill two birds and get rid of some dead weight physically and emotionally?
Practicing yoga can help with sports performance, improved circulation, increased flexibility (which can always come in handy), decreased your risk of injury and improve posture and stress reduction. It's designed to alleviate everything from stiff backs and sore muscles to low energy and work-related stress.
Taking even 15 minutes to concentrate on your body instead of business clears your mind of any distractions, letting you focus on your job and get firmer abs.
Yoga may be just the piece you need to complete the puzzle of how to keep both the body and the mind fit. The exercises are performed with very few, but extremely precise, repetitions. Current research indicates that stress-related diseases respond favorably to yoga.
If you're looking for a place to start I highly recommend Yoga for Weight Loss Solution. The kit provides you with a mat, blocks, stretching strap and most importantly, a 48 minute video that takes you on a journey to well-being.
The instructor has personally lost 60 pounds in the past year by partaking in yoga and eating wholesome and nutritious foods. The cues used during the video will walk you through the exercises step by step and leave you feeling like you exerted yourself to a comfortable limit. You’ll feel both energized and relaxed.
The practice of yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream. People are taking up yoga because it's less intimidating than other exercises. They're sticking to it because they see and feel the physical and emotional improvements in their daily lives. Be a man and give yoga a try.